Rambling Advice on Seeking Employment


I’ve compiled some of the advice I’ve given people. Take it with large doses of salt (BTW, this term came about when it was believed salt was an antidote to most poisons. Good thing chem eng came about, eh?):

  • Let’s be realisitic. Is it hard to get work in the O&G industry, or is it just as hard to get work anywhere? You need to look at your qualifications and grades, your presentation skills (oral and written), your target job (highest pay not matching your skills and aptitude), your letters (writing ‘I want to join your prestigious company’ when you write to a two man startup in Subang shows lack of particular interest, not to mention lack of research). And tawakkal. Also, most companies only inform short listed candidates of success.
  • As for working outside the office, a support engineer role  would be your best bet. Look at the papers for openings, esp. companies that supply good after sales service, turbomachinery, DCS systems, specialist measurement equipment.

A second option would be working for the PSC companies. Woohoo, you get more site experience then you want after a few years if you end up being a facilities or operations engineer.

  • There are positions for persons (telecomm) in oil and gas. What do you consider when you mean O&G? Some big telecom companies have an O&G division. If you have customers who supply products to O&G, then that’s a way in. You can try adverts in the papers, or on the Net.

If you mean that you want to work for a big multinational that operates O&G assets, then you may be limiting yourself, as telecom is a small part of opns. If you have electronics or systems background, then that give you a larger opening.

5 Responses to Rambling Advice on Seeking Employment

  1. Yumi says:

    I’ma recent BEng graduate in Mechanical Engineering with a broad knowledge on engineering in gerenal, but withlittle technical skills, zero work experience and no specialized field to boast about. I really have little to go with and I’m not seeing what path I should be pursuing to secure and entry-level job in O&G. I’m afraid that I might be aiming too high and should look somewhere else instead.

  2. zzeed says:

    apply exxonmobil, bro. they like fresh starters.

  3. Fadzli says:

    Dear Mr Zzeed

    Can I get yr email pls…sir.Tq

    Fadzli , Kemaman.

    fazlin_8081@yahoo.com

  4. JabbatheHutt says:

    Its difficult. I think try the big companies like technip, worley, kvaerner, sime etc. chances are easier compared to oil companies.

  5. Relax says:

    I am a fresh MEng graduate in Mechanical Engineering. I have a bit of internship experience but know little about O&G. I hope I have the chance to grow into a star employee!!!

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