It’s a hard time for Young Members and Students to develop their careers in the Oil and Gas Industry. With a generation of people in the same position you don’t have to go far before finding some interesting articles and advice for young professionals such as the OilPro.com blogs by Elizabeth Vinson (links below). I work with a lot of volunteers and I thought it may be useful to provide a bit of advice on making the most of these opportunities.
The points often raised by those interviewed, are to keep involved in the industry and make your self known even when no one is recruiting. The idea being that in the long term when recruiting eventually picks up again you will be at the first one people think about and can also show what you have done in time outside of employment.
Two suggestions are to join industry organisations and keep attending events and exhibitions. As SPE Members, this would suggest you are already on the right path and the increases in membership for Students at SPE would support this. However the obvious difficulty in keeping involved is the expensive nature of traveling and attending events, especially when unemployed, budgets are low and time is precious.
While volunteer opportunities, by definition, are often unable to provide financial assistance travelling to events, I thought it may be useful to highlight ways on making the most of opportunities you do get.
Multiple opportunities
Often at SPE events, especially the larger exhibitions, there are a lots of programs going on. If you can make a conference don’t just volunteer for one event, do as a many as you can. This will give you prolonged contact with committee members and organisers from all over the world. If you keep showing up organisers will quickly remember you.
Keep involved
Don’t just keep involved during the event, now you have taken part, you are experienced and your options have significant value. So if you think of suggestions for future events talk to the organisers about it, they will be welcomed and you will be remembered.
Variety
Apply for a variety of events, this will give you lots of experience with different programs, but more importantly you will be involved with a much greater number of people compared to helping with the same programs over and over again.
Be professional
This may seem obvious, but remember in event environments any number of Senior Engineers, CEOs and future employers may be there. If you don’t take the role seriously it may be harder for people to imagine you in a professional environment later on.
Enjoy it!
Remember to enjoy your time volunteering, not just for your own benefit, but if you appear unengaged, bored or unprepared this may give negative connotations to how others see you. This is not contradictory to the previous point! You can have fun and be professional at the same time!
Don't forget SPE has a lot of resources to use such as the job lists and training pages. I also recommend reading the articles by Elizabeth Vinson for a wider professional perspective on getting ahead. I will aim to use this blog to list opportunities with the events I am helping out with and if I have time maybe add few more tips on volunteering and how to get volunteer positions in the first place.
Do let me know if you have any questions or if you would like tips in more specific areas. I work with Student and Young Professional events but please ask about anything you want!
OilPro.com - Students Of The Downturn: Where Are They Now? - Elizabeth Vinson
OilPro.com - Downturn 101: How To Survive As An O&G Grad - Elizabeth Vinson
James Whitaker
Young Members Programs Specialist