Are you looking for work in the oil and gas industry straight out of high school or college?
Or maybe you are already working in the construction field and want to advance your career as well as your salary?
The oil and gas industry is a unique one - with so many moving parts, the industry requires a multitude of skills and knowledge in order to function efficiently and effectively.
While you may think of construction in terms of building houses and fixing roads, the oil and gas industry relies on construction workers.
Let’s look at the construction jobs available in the oil and gas industry and how to land them:
5 Construction Jobs in the Oil and Gas Industry
While there are a variety of different construction jobs in the oil and gas industry, here are a few to give you an idea of where you can start and where you can end up:
1. Construction Craft Worker
Construction Craft Workers assist carpenters as well as other tradespeople in the oil and gas industry, by being a second set of hands during construction projects.
This is a great entry-level position if you are just getting into the oil and gas industry. Since you get to perform a wide variety of construction-related tasks, it’s a good way to build up some skills and experience.
2. Carpenter
In the oil and gas industry, carpenters are needed to construct facilities as well as assist with turnaround maintenance by building structures such as scaffolds or braces.
Some of the tasks completed by carpenters include building, assembling, and installing.
3. Industrial Electrician
Industrial electricians install, repair, and maintain electrical devices and equipment.
They may be tasked with testing and troubleshooting industrial controls and transmitters. They can also plan and layout electrical systems and work with equipment operators to detect equipment issues.
4. Crane Operator
Crane Operators play an important role when it comes to construction in the oil and gas industry. They use cranes to lift, move, position, or place large and heavy materials during construction projects.
This job involves the ability to operate the levers and pedals of a crane as well as ensuring the safety of the crew during the lift operations.
5. Construction Project Manager
Construction Project Managers oversee and assign resources during a construction project by working closely with crewmembers to develop plans, timelines and budgets.
They are responsible for making sure the construction project is completed efficiently on budget and within scope.
How to Get a Construction Job in the Oil and Gas Industry
Even though the oil and gas industry is constantly hiring, especially in the construction sector, the competition can be fierce for landing these jobs.
To give yourself a competitive edge, follow these tips for getting a construction job in the oil and gas industry:
Invest In Training
Whether you are coming into the industry new, or have construction experience, it’s worth it to invest in training to give you a competitive edge and boost your resume.
You can reach out to local trade schools to see if they offer any introductory courses to the construction position you are interested in. For example, if you're a Pipefitter, there are several excellent schools available.
You should also look into getting some safety certification under your belt - health and safety are huge considerations when it comes to working in the oil and gas industry.
Prepare Your Resume
While you want to keep your resume short and sweet and to the point, you have to make sure you include the relevant information that will catch an employer’s attention.
Apart from including your contact information, work experience, and education, be sure to include a professional summary as well.
A strong profile summary (i.e. introductory paragraph) should highlight your skills, experience, abilities, and passion for the industry and job you are applying for.
Network
Before you feel tempted to bomb every oil and gas company with your resume, remember that there are benefits to taking the time to network with peers or other industry professionals.
For instance, if you know someone who works in oil and gas construction, they may be able to give you a good, strong referral.
You can also join Facebook groups where other oilfield workers will share job leads that you may not find on job boards.
Look at Job Boards
You can always look at the internal job boards for oil and gas companies in your area and apply directly to them. Otherwise, you can use job boards to see the positions posted by a variety of companies.
Our job board, for example, sources job postings from all over the internet to give you a one-stop-shop for finding jobs in the oil and gas industry.
Check out our job listings for construction positions!
Otherwise, you can visit the Job Seekers section of our site to really kick off your job search!
