Breaking into the oil and gas industry as a lawyer
Dear Jarus,
I am in a bit of a bind. I am highly qualified on paper with an LLB from a top university in the UK (2:1), LLM- from another top university in the US, LPC City University London, BL Nigerian Law School (2:1).
I am in my mid-20s, and I have completed the NYSC. I have experience in the legal industry as well as media and education. But I am finding it really difficult to get a job at the moment.
I attended the NNPC oral interview in July but I am yet to hear back and I am tired of waiting.
I don’t want to practice as a conventional lawyer but I feel so restricted.
Also, I live in Abuja where there are fewer jobs when compared to Lagos.
Kindly advise me on getting a good career? I am interested in working in the oil and gas industry or an NGO. I write really well and I have been published on various media sites .
Thank you and sorry for my rambling thoughts.
Warm regards,
Lami
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Dear Lami
Good to hear from you.
I suspect your being in Abuja with limited private sector job opportunities may be the issue here.
How long have you been at home post-NYSC? If less than 1 year, frankly, I will say it’s not a bad situation yet and you need not get worked up much. It happens to most people. Making the first step into the industry can be a little tough.
The other issue is, you have restricted yourself to oil and gas industry, which I must admit, has little openings at entry level positions. I would have advised you try other companies like PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, EY etc (their relevant departments like regulatory, risk etc) which provide good platform to start career and build a decent experience before jumping into the industry.
The truth is, apart from big corporations like NNPC, most oil companies don’t really have time to train, so they go for experienced hires.
This does not mean you cannot start your career in the oil and gas industry. You surely can. I started my post-NYSC career in the industry and have been there for 12 years. You just have to keep your eyes on the openings
You can also try networking into the industry. Sometimes, referrals and recommendations can help. So you can make friends with folks that work in the industry and ask that they help you submit your CV in their companies (you have a good CV).
I hope NNPC clicks in any case, which will be a perfect place to start. In the meantime, you may try all the things I mentioned up here.
All the best
Jarus
