In this article are some helpful tips and tricks for some of those that may be struggling to find oilfield jobs with limited-to-no experience. While you may seem stuck on the outside while those with previous experience are consistently getting called back to new jobs, remember that there is always a way to find a job. Everyone had to start somewhere and you’re no exception.
Basic Qualifications
Before you start applying for jobs, you need to understand what the basic qualifications are for entry-level positions. These aren’t set in stone but should at least be taken into consideration.
- You are at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license.
- You are medically fit to operate machinery.
- You are in decent physical shape and can lift at least 50lbs multiple times throughout the day.
- You are willing to work extremely long hours. It’s not uncommon for entry-level employees to work 12-14 hours, 7 days a week.
- You are willing to move to the job’s location. Most likely you don’t live in the area where your company will need you. You MUST be okay with leaving your current residence for long periods of time.
- You own all the necessary protective gear.
Next, we present to you our resume tips for landing your ideal position as an oilfield worker.
State your Previous Experience
This is an absolute no-brainer. If you’ve ever had ANY kind of experience working in an oilfield environment, put it on your resume. Whether you were a roughneck or a roustabout, don’t forget to update your resume every so often. No matter how brief or limited your experiences were, it’s important to account for every single second you spent on a rig on your resume. A little experience is better than none.
List Other Trade Jobs
If you haven’t had the privilege of working in the field before no worries, there’s still hope. If you’ve ever had similar manual labor jobs where you’ve worked extensively with your hands, you’re going to want to emphasize those skills. Positions to highlight are contractors, plumbers, mechanics, and other trade jobs. So, if you’ve ever held one of these positions, don’t be afraid to go into extensive detail on your resume about it.
The smartest thing to do is make an encompassing list of your duties and responsibilities and include those that will translate well to the oilfield on your resume. Such skills might be:
- Ability to work long hours
- Capable of thinking on your feet
- Able to manage a high-stress environment
Emphasize Your Ability to Learn on The Job
Learning new skills in a fast-paced environment can be overwhelming to say the very least. When you’re out in the oilfield, it can sometimes feel like the events happening around you are going at about 100 miles an hour. That’s why one of the key skills employers look for is the ability to learn things quickly.
The activities on a rig are constantly on the move and not many bosses are going to be thrilled if they have to wait around to teach you things that they already went over. Showing potential employers on your resume that you pick things up quickly will put them at ease that you won’t be needing constant help and supervision.
Talk About the Importance of Safety
While it may seem obvious that you don’t want to get yourself or anyone you’re working with injured, it’s certainly worth letting your potential employers know you understand just how important it is to them. Even just a few seconds of a lack of focus can lead to a careless mistake.
In most other careers, careless mistakes are normally harmless and can be fixed. However, when operating heavy machinery on rigs mistakes could lead to a serious injury or worse. Oil drillers want to minimize the number of liabilities they have running around including any careless workers.
Make Sure There Are No Spelling Mistakes
Just because your job will primarily value hands-on skills over grammatical knowledge doesn’t mean that you can ignore it on your resume. Oilfield employers will like to see that you pay close attention to detail as this will come in handy when working on a rig. Proper spelling and grammar also signals to them that you’re a competent individual. If you realize you’re not getting any calls back, go back through your resume and double and even triple-check it to make sure it’s completely error-free.
Apply To the Right Places
Most people make the mistake of trying to apply to large companies by submitting their resumes online. The problem is that many of these companies actually give their work to private contractors. So instead of applying to large firms, try looking at smaller contractors. Try going on general employment websites to see if there are any oil field postings. Also, consider submitting your resume to online job boards where the contractors may be able to search for you.
Never get Discouraged
Time and time again we have seen people start with a burning motivation, only to get completely and utterly grounded when they realize that nobody is replying back to them right away. Persistence is a quality that employers find extremely valuable in the oilfields so you need to embody that in your job search. No matter how hard it may seem, it’s important to keep your head up and your nose to the grind.
Reach Out to Tiger General
When forming your resume, make sure you use a solid mix of skills and that you’re not beating one of them to death. It’s important to show you’re balanced and understand all the facets of the industry.
We hope you found this article helpful and interesting. If you need a new piece of equipment, fill out the Tiger General Truck Inquiry Form today!