Career Advice to a Young Petroleum Engineer

Dear Jarus,

I am a graduate of Petroleum Engineering from a Nigerian university. I currently work as as an engineer with a leading oil services firm.

I came across your website via Nairaland – I went on to read your blog and I was very encouraged – that it is possible to get a career I love while impacting the society positively. 

I finished my NYSC in 2018 and started working with in the company that same year. My usual stock taking show me that I am desperately unfulfilled in this role. In my jobs at various locations, I see some things that I can do to make sure the Nigerian energy industry begins to thrive and becomes a more responsible member of society, but I cannot do these things for want of time.

To be fair, I make above average money and at my young age that should be enough, but it’s not. I have identified some IOCs whose core values align with mine, and roles I can work in – Production engineering, Process engineering, Reservoir engineering, Unconventional resource strategies, Gas etc. Not only did my background prepare me for these things, I have published works in these areas in Society of Petroleum Engineers International journal. I am also currently undergoing NNPC recruitment.

 I want to find out three things;

1.     How did you combine your profession/ career with your passion to help young professionals?

2.     How can I get a job – in these areas I really like even when I don’t see a vacancy advertised?

3.     What are the best strategies for cold emailing – do I contact HR or the Heads of the Department I want to work in?

I would really appreciate your response.

Regards,

Tope

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Dear Tope,

Thanks for your email.

You are on the right track – you read a good course, made a good grade, already got a job in a leading oil services company and you know what you want. In moving to the other side of the oil and gas industry, beyond the services side, I believe your experience here will be very valuable.

IOCs are a very fantastic place to work, as they provide transnational opportunities and experience that widen your knowledge, even your thinking. They are perhaps the ultimate aim of any oil and gas professional, but NOCs, including NNPC, are also great places to have broad oil and gas experience.

If you get the NNPC job, I will advise you take it, and make active efforts to be posted to areas of your interest. For permanent jobs in IOCs, at lower level, they are usually advertised and candidates go through a structured recruitment process, so you need to watch out for them.

However, please note that oil and gas goes beyond IOCs and NOCs, there are at least 30 other independent oil producing companies in Nigeria – from Seplat to Eroton to Lekoil to Elcrest to Sahara and many others – so I will advise you keep an eye on them too. They are all good companies as well, and unlike IOCs, networking (referrals) can be very helpful in getting jobs in those at any level. I will advise you list the companies, find relevant people that work in them on LinkedIn or other medium, and try to establish a contact. Start by asking to be mentored as a young oil and gas professional, and at the right time later, ask whether they could help submit your CV in their company or circulate within their network. You could also send polite emails to HR executives and top guys in these companies. Many will not respond, but you never can tell who will respond, so there is no harm in trying.

Ultimately, you have a very good job already so don’t be desperate. Build experience and expertise and trust me, the industry is a small one, for smart folks, moving is not as difficult as it seems.

To your first question, if you have passion for something, you will always find time for it. I enjoy advising people on careers because I love seeing people excel. I am a beneficiary of timely information sharing myself and I always feel happy to share beneficial knowledge or experience.

All the best

Jarus