How to Get a Job in the Oilfield

Discussion in 'Oilfield Trucking Forum' started by SuperDuperCajunTrucker, Oct 19, 2017.

  1. SuperDuperCajunTrucker

    SuperDuperCajunTrucker Bobtail Member

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    Oct 18, 2017
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    Originally posted: here. This is a great article to understanding the oilfield job market.

    If you’re wondering how to get a job in the oilfield, this is your ultimate guide. After many years in the industry, we’ll provide all the tips and tricks to getting your start in the oil and gas industry and on your way to earning good money.

    Getting started in the oilfield is tough. Jobs in the oil and gas industry are highly sought after because it can pay so well, and you don’t necessarily need to go to school for years to make a decent living.

    Personally, I know guys with a 6th grade education making $300k a year. Let’s be honest… This is rare, but it certainly happens. Realistically, if you’re a hard worker and have a good head on your shoulders, you can make a really good living, sometimes working only half the year.

    The Oilfield – It’s Not all Sunshine and Rainbows
    Oilfield workers are a tough breed. Some may be a little bit rough around the edges. Some may have little formal education. Some may have advanced degrees. Some do very hard physical labor. Some have it easier. It really depends on what role you play and what profession you are in. The oil and gas industry in enormous, and you wouldn’t believe the number of jobs available in this industry.

    But… It’s a hard life. You’ll typically either work on a rotation schedule or a 24/7 on call schedule.

    With a rotation schedule, you’ll typically work 7 days on / 7 days off, 14 days on / 7 days off, or 28 days on / 28 days off. This type of schedule is nice because you know when you’ll be working and when you’ll be off, plus you have a lot of off time. The downside is you have very little power to change your working days and you miss many birthdays, holidays, and other special events.

    With a 24/7 schedule you are basically on call ALL the time. If a job comes up, you got to go.

    The Oilfield is Like Riding a Bull
    When considering a job in the oilfield, always remember that it is a cyclical industry.

    You’ll be making more money than you ever imagined when the oil price is high. You’ll be holding on for dear life, when oil prices are low.

    Having lived through the 80’s, 90’s, and the latest downturn in 2015 – 2017, I can tell you that I’ve seen many people laid off, having their salaries cut, and some that have lost everything. When times are bad, they are really bad.

    [​IMG]

    But, when times are good, the potential to make money is enormous! In good times, you’ll be rewarded financially and jobs will be plenty. Just make sure to save because you never know when the next downturn is going to arrive.

    What Type of Oilfield Job is right for me?
    The oil and gas industry is very diverse, but this article is geared toward field positions. In the field, there are three types of companies:

    Operators – Operators are the companies that own the well. They make the decisions on the drilling contractor that will drill the well and the service providers that will help drill, complete, and maintain the well. The most common field position is the production hand. These are the guys that maintain production for the operator.

    Drilling Contractors – Sub-contracted by the operator, drilling contractors are the company that is contracted to drill the well. Working for the drilling contractor means you are contracted by the operator to drill a well which they will later produce. In this case, you will be employed by the driller to drill a well They utilize a drilling rig to drill the well and can help the well completions team run their downhole equipment as well. There are many positions available on drilling rigs. If you’re just starting out you’ll probably start at the bottom as either a roustabout or roughneck.

    Service Companies – Service companies provide many different services to both the operator and drilling contractor during drilling, completions, and ongoing operations. You could work in the field, in the shop, or in the manufacturing plant for the service company.

    Location
    Where do you want to work. Many oilfield jobs are not going to be close to home. If fact, you may work in a far-away location whether that be in the continental US, offshore, or over seas.

    The map below shows the world’s hot spots for oil and gas.

    [​IMG]

    Offshore

    1. Gulf of Mexico
    2. Alaska
    3. West Africa
    4. Brazil
    5. North Sea
    6. Asia
    On-Shore US

    1. Bakken – Montana / North Dakota / Canada
    2. Marcellus – Ohio / Pennsylvania
    3. Barnett – Texas, Bend Arch – Forth Worth
    4. Haynesville – Arkansas, North Louisiana, and East Texas
    5. Utica – Pennsylvania
    6. Permian – West Texas
    7. EagleFord – South Texas
    OnShore Outside US / Overseas

    1. Canada
    2. Argentina
    3. Columbia
    4. Ecaudor
    5. Mexico
    6. Venezuela
    7. Papua New Guinea
    8. Saudi Arabia
    9. Iraq
    10. Kuwait
    11. Russia
    What Qualifications are needed to work in the oilfiled?:
    1. You must be 18 years of age and have proof of ID or a work Visa.
    2. Field work is often physically intense. You will need to be in good physical shape, and often you will even be required to take a physical fitness test before you are hired. You must be able to lift 50 lbs. You must be able to go up and down stairs.
    3. You must be able to work long hours. A lot of oilfield jobs will require you to work extended hours, perhaps 12-14 hours per day. I’ve actually worked 34 in my longest stretch. Depending on your job role, you may have to work until the job is complete. Other jobs work 12 hour shifts and you swap out with the night or day crew. In some instances, the operator will only allow a maximum of 12 hours shifts.
    What are the best places to look for oilfield jobs?
    Let’s be honest, most people blindly submit resumes until they can’t think straight anymore. Then… Crickets.

    Submitting resumes is actually the hardest way to find a job. Here are some tips to get past the gatekeepers and get noticed.

    When starting out, most people do a Google search or find job listings for the large oil and gas companies. If you do not have connections or experience, it would be easier to get your first job with a smaller company and work your way up as you gain some experience in the industry.

    Your Network
    The oil and gas industry is a very tight knit community, and by far, the easiest way to find a job is getting a recommendation from someone you know who already works at one of these companies.

    If you don’t know anyone, this makes it hard to get in. But for the guys that have been in the industry for a long time, this is their biggest asset. It’s not uncommon for an experienced hand to jump to their competitor to get more pay because one of their buddies made the jump and entice them over.

    Ask family, friends, and friends of friends if they know anyone in the oilfield. If so, ask them if they know anyone hiring. A recommendation goes a long way, and even if it is just a foot in the door, this is 1000X better than submitting resumes.

    Websites
    • Rigzone – The premier oil and gas job search website.
    • Indeed – Aggregates jobs from all available sources. Basically a one stop shop for job search.
    • Craigslist – Still a great place to find entry-level oil and gas jobs
    • LinkedIn – LinkedIn’s job search list its own jobs as well as aggregates from other job listing sites. The best thing about LinkeIn is you can also see who you know at each company.
    • Oilandgasjobsearch.com – A niche oil and gas job search site
    Employment Agencies
    Employment agencies are a good place to start if you have little experience and are trying to get into the field.

    They can look for openings and start putting you in contract positions to build your experience. These will be mostly hard manual labor jobs, but sometimes you have to start somewhere.

    Trade Schools
    If you went to a trade school, almost all schools have programs in place to help their students get placed in a job after school. Leverage this to your advantage.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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  4. Dick Danger

    Dick Danger Medium Load Member

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    Good write up. I would only add the closer your job is to the wellhead the more you'll make, but you'll also have the potential to be laid off sooner in a downturn. And international sounds cool until you actually do it, I watched lots of people work one hitch and never go come back.
     
  5. Tanker312

    Tanker312 Light Load Member

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    Apr 16, 2017
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    I had a friend that was a driver at a oil field company. He told me who to talk to in the office. It was for a job on a rig, not a driving job.

    I walked in, dropped his name, filled out an application and went for a pee test same day. 91k job.

    Lots of people want the money, but cant handle the hours and the -60f temp and 20 mph winds(not gusts) at -65f. Frostbite left its mark on me.

    Most people in the oilfield want you to fill out an application, in person, to size you up.
     
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  6. CleverNDGuy

    CleverNDGuy Light Load Member

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    Jan 25, 2016
    Bakken Basin
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    As I stated in another post the pre internet days of driving around walking in and filling out interviews really works. Guys just need to stop being lazy and pack up the truck and go get it.
     
    Tanker312 Thanks this.
  7. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    Plymouth MI
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    I went up to ND in 2010 from Michigan. I found a few jobs on Craigslist, made a few phone calls and found a driving job with housing. I was hired over the phone and left the following day. Stayed up there 3 years, bought another truck and came back to Michigan. It was fun, NO it was work, not looking to go back anytime soon. They still call.
     
  8. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    I pray that one of these days the United States will become a Creditor Nation to the world within oh 150 years or so once all the fields are fully developed.
     
  9. bbq247365

    bbq247365 Light Load Member

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    Oct 19, 2012
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    Why does that being a creditor nation matter to you?

    I also think your being awfully optimistic about the USA ability to pay back $20Trillion before we can even think about being a creditor.


     
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  10. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    We were a creditor nation in the time of whaling fleets which converted whale fat into fuel of a variety of purposes among other substances for advancement of medicines and good things needed by the people. Then we were a force in the world of Coal. Exporting Coal to Nations that have need of it. Then oil. We stand now shipping from newly converted Natural Gas Ternimals to Italy and to Poland double hulled tankers of LNG which will cost a European Household half what they purchased before from Middle East and in particular the Russian Federation. If you recall, the Russian Federation had no qualms about shutting Europe off it's Pipelines of Natural gas supply in winter now and then. The cost of their gas is twice the cost of ours. Eventually there will be a larger number of Export LNG gas going to Europe. To Compete effectively in Commerce and in Trade as a Creditor Nation to many Lands and people who will see their costs half or even better.

    There is about 3 Pipeline systems that are trying to be built for Europe from Asia by way of Turkey and also Syria as well as Monterego and other lands. By those who wish to assert that the United States will no longer be a world power in both finances, trade in fuels or anything else. China is working carefully in Africa to both raise them up but also to gain a quiet military foothold for a future effecitve counter to our own apparent activites in that sphere. Africa stands to mature into a future place to do business once they get the fighting and killings etc out of the way.

    I know our history and it will be a nice dream to think that this paltry 20 trillions of debt will vanish when we become a Creditor Nation in about 150 years or less if we develop the gas fields to the point of supplying the world again. In addition to essentially causing a halt to all imports from the Middle East, Africa and Venezula (Which has literally been trying to ship about 18% of really bad product that has been diluted with water in a attempt to remove impurties that otherwise causes Citgo and other associated gas station chains not to accept such product. Among other problems, our Refineries on the Sabine River, Lake Charles and Hammond etc. Are suffering losses trying to refine a really poor quality product from that part of the world.

    I think we are in a time in which energy in any form will become precious. I don't know what the future holds beyond my death which could happen at any time where I am today. I love these United States of America and frankly now is the time to put on the boots and start drilling. And we are beginning to be drilling incredibly deep which might be just a start. There was a discussion to drill Yellowstone super volcano and extract heat with just water to where the Nation might potentially defuse the threat of a total loss to a super eruption which has happened before (Arkansas was buried in 2 to 5 feet of ash 640,000 years ago. Such a event today will pretty much end life as we know it.) And in the risk matrix the chance to supply the entire Nation as well as this part of the world with awesome amounts of power in some form would be a epic benefit to mankind.

    We have a fighting chance. I say we push on and give it a go.
     
    bbq247365 Thanks this.
  11. bbq247365

    bbq247365 Light Load Member

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    Oct 19, 2012
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    Very informative, well written and thoughtful. Thank you for sharing.

     
    x1Heavy Thanks this.
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