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.
Posted by Wata 
Wata - Malaysian Oil and Gas Engineer 