making the switch to oil/gas

[Denob]

I have been contemplating the move to an oil/gas company lately. The reasons: 1. bored with my current work in land development and 2. I love the prospect of travelling.

Any advice on making this transfer? How would a PE in general civil engineering go about making such a move?

 

[francesca]

A friend graduated with a degree in civil engineering and started out in the Oil & Gas industry. I would give a recruitment consultant a call and be prepared to start at the bottom. If you're prepared to live in some difficult climates (politically as well as weather wise) then you can still make a good deal of cash at the bottom of the ladder, I'm told.

 

[MTPipeliner]

If you are willing to re-locate to where the work is, finding a job shouldn't be very difficult. The company I work for seems to be constantly looking for engineers. Almost all the engineers here have a civil or mechanical education.

Which area of the country do you currently live in?

 

[Denob]

I work in Houston, Tx. There are plenty of oil/gas companies here so it seems. PatrickR, any recruiters you can refer me to?

 

[MTPipeliner]

I'm way further north than that. I don't know of any recruiters for you, and I don't have much for contacts in Houston.

Houston is a huge hub for oil and gas companies, so like you said there should be lots of jobs in the area.

One thing I would look into is some of the companies websites that may be advertising jobs. That doesn't give you much advantage over anyone else looking for a job, but it is a start.

Depending on your interests, there is a lot to oil and gas besides just the wells that a civil engineer should be well qualified for such as roads, pipelines, compressors, pumps, construction, inspection, etc. Petroleum engineers, are obviously the best canidates for the downhole work, but there is a lot of other work as well.

 

[bimr]

You have picked two areas to specialize in and both of those areas are cyclical businesses.

You should probably expect more travel in the petroleum business than land development, but the amount of travel would depend somewhat on the type of company that you work for.

Your job satisfaction probably depends more on the people that you are working with than the business sector that in which you are employed.