Question:
The employment section of the Detroit News ran a small clip regarding the
demand for geologists, geophysicists, and petro. engr.'s by energy (oil &
gas) companies. The article stated that "Energy companies are in hot
pursuit of professional workers...." because of shortages created by
dwindling numbers of geology college grads and retirement.
Answer:
The companies are certainly after current and soon-to-graduate students;
I have friends in their first year of grad school with 8 offers for
summer employment, at rates up to $4200/mo (average about $3500).
Likewise others have multiple permanent offers for next year after they
finish their masters degrees. Its mostly majors -- word is Exxon wants
to hire 65 for next year, way up from 4 or so years ago -- but also
companies like Marathon, UPRC, Anadarko are recruiting, some for the
first time in over a decade. Whether this turns into work/employment
opportunities for experienced people is another question, but one can
see immediate opportunities possible for training and mentoring.
I did have the amazement of a real headhunter call a couple weeks ago,
seeking 15+ year people for Gulf of mexico and international work.
to find secure employment in the petroleum, nuclear, mining, and
environmental industries since 1985 and I'm currently emplolyed as a temp
at Rockwell in the stockroom and shipping departments. The news media
began to run something like this back in the 70s when there was a
so-called oil shortage. But, it never affected the other industries I've
mentioned sp far. Why? Because oil is the only profitable business a
geologist (BS, MS, PhD) can work in and make a decent living. Its a money
generator. The rest are capitol expenses. A questiopn to ask yourself is,
"Why make a statement like that in a northern newspaper, in gthe northern
part of the country where there's hardly any or non-existant drilling for
oil in the state of Michigan????" The oil's in the southern states. Try
to get into that business without references already in the oil business,
GOOD LUCK!!! Or, if your not born and raised in the oil-patch itself,
what makes this newspaper article say the companies are dying for
geologists???? In 1985, 4000 geologists in Houston alone were out of
jobs. This didn't include OK, CA, International, Denver, Calgary...
They won't hire the old timers because they know to much, too efficient,
and they'll tell management they screwed up to many times to warrent
their employment.
I recently replied to an AMOCO ad for Entry-Level Structural Geologist. I
have the training and academic credentials, although my experience has
been in ground water and the environmental field. I was turned down
because of no oil field experience. THat should give you the current
state of affairs.
