Job Search Tips

The oil and gas industry is large, diverse and complex so you need to narrow your job search. Here are some quick job search tips to get your career in the oil and gas industry moving in the right direction:

• First, learn about the industry, so you know how it works, what sector you'd like to work in and where you would likely be working.
• Use the Choose Your Future Interactive Quiz or search Career Options to find out what types of jobs are available, which ones interest you and what training would be required.
• Use the Internet. Companies in the oil and gas industry, just like companies in all other industries, use the web extensively. They post jobs on their own websites, and often on job search sites like Workopolis and Monster too. Many Canadian oil and gas jobs are also posted on industry-specific job search sites.
• Some sectors of the oil and gas industry operate on a seasonal basis. For instance, the drilling sector is typically busy from November to March, but then slows down in April for "spring break-up" when the ice melts in the north. If you're looking for a job in drilling, apply in September, not April, to get the best results.
• The oil and gas industry is somewhat volatile. That means it speeds up and slows down depending on the price of crude oil and natural gas. When prices are high, there is plenty of activity in the industry - and plenty of work. When prices are low, activity slows and jobs are harder to find. Keep your eye on the news so you know whether prices are up or down, then use that information to decide when to apply. There are however plenty of hot careers anticipated in the industry - it's just a matter of finding a career that works for you.
• For more job search information, check out our Industry Career Resources listing, where you will find industry fact sheets and brochures, as well as job and career interactive tools, websites and guides. For example, the Job Seekers' Handbook (PDF) from the Government of Alberta offers a clear, step-by-step process for finding entry-level work.