Trying to get a foot in the door in the Petroleum and Natural Gas industry - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Robbob · 05-09-2007, 10:48 AM

Hey guys just have a quick question. I'm currently enrolled in SAIT for the land administration certificate program but the thing that I have noticed is that almost all the prople in the class already have jobs in the industry. Currently I'm working in the construction industry and taking these classes at night but I wanted to think ahead a little because a desk job for this winter wouldn't hurt.

What is the best way to get the foot in the door without having finished the program. I know of the CAPL website but every there requires experience. I figure that spring time is probably the best time to try to get in. Anyone with any suggestions or tips.

I'm currently not scheduled to finish the program until early next year if all goes well. If I can I want to fast track it and take the final 4 classes in fall.

Anyways thanks for the time and any thoughts.

Incinerator · 05-09-2007, 11:02 AM

Have you asked around your class? One gal I know got her job that way, just asking her already employed classmates. As far as I know you shouldn't have a problem with getting in as you're already in a very high demand program.

Cowboy89 · 05-09-2007, 11:02 AM

Work your networks. Friends and family are always a good bet. If you don't have friends / family working in O&G then try to find ways of meeting and talking to people at these companies. Ie check out career fairs on campuses and other places. Making friends at your courses is also a good way to get in. Let it be known to your peers that you're interested in getting employment before completion of the program. Many companies also have 'student programs and jobs' that pay $20 an hour or more, some even starting in September. Check out your career office at SAIT or the company websites directly.

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 11:22 AM

Great ideas noted above. As well, why not take a chance and apply for some of those jobs that require "more experience than you have"? You never know what may happen; the posted qualifications are often for the perfect/ideal candidate. But that doesn't always mean that they will not consider otherwise.

So my advice would be to apply for those jobs as well....(although do keep it in the rough ballpark...e.g. a job asking for 10 years experience is obviously not worth your time applying...nor the company's).

Cowboy89 · 05-09-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Great ideas noted above. As well, why not take a chance and apply for some of those jobs that require "more experience than you have"? You never know what may happen; the posted qualifications are often for the perfect/ideal candidate. But that doesn't always mean that they will not consider otherwise.

So my advice would be to apply for those jobs as well....(although do keep it in the rough ballpark...e.g. a job asking for 10 years experience is obviously not worth your time applying...nor the company's).

Great advice too, companies that are looking for an entry level position often ask for someone that has '3 years experience' when in reality they have use for someone more green.

Robbob · 05-09-2007, 11:30 AM

Thanks guys, really good advice. I wish I knew people in the industry because I know for a fact thats how many get in to start.

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbob

Thanks guys, really good advice. I wish I knew people in the industry because I know for a fact thats how many get in to start.

It looks like you do, though - your classmates.

Agamemnon · 05-09-2007, 12:04 PM

Send out 100 resumes, send one to every single oil and gas company in town (that's big enough to do it's own land work).

The industry is slow right now (for my company, biggest Land co. in Canada), but we figure it will pick up again during the summer/fall... some of our biggest clients have said they have large spending programs that haven't quite started yet.

When the industry heats up, anyone can get a job... I got mine with zero experience/education in the field. Its all about timing if you don't know someone who can get you in the door. I got mine by just flooding out the resumes.

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 12:06 PM

Yup, straight up cold calling is one of, if not the, most effictive ways of looking for work. A lot of times positions may be available and not even advertised - hence the importance of sending out your resumes as noted above, talking to your classmates already working in the field, etc etc.

Robbob · 05-09-2007, 12:13 PM

Whats perfered format for resumes if your emailing them. Been so long since I've had to fire them off and back then it was just paper and leg work.

Agamemnon · 05-09-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbob

Whats perfered format for resumes if your emailing them. Been so long since I've had to fire them off and back then it was just paper and leg work.

Take a look online, just type in 'resume template' and see what comes up. I don't think there is a 'set' or 'preferred' resume format... just don't use the MS Word one that everyone uses...

Incinerator · 05-09-2007, 12:17 PM

Really depends on the employer, some specify they want no attachments meaning you have to paste the text into the email. Others prefer MS Word .doc, yet others prefer Adobe .PDF

Those are the most commonly requested formats nowadays

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbob

Whats perfered format for resumes if your emailing them. Been so long since I've had to fire them off and back then it was just paper and leg work.

WEll....in all honesty, that may still be the most effective way to day...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Take a look online, just type in 'resume template' and see what comes up. I don't think there is a 'set' or 'preferred' resume format... just don't use the MS Word one that everyone uses...

Ick, stay away from templates. Maybe use a couple to get you started, but try to avoid them.

ernie · 05-09-2007, 01:02 PM

I usually send out CVs in Word and .pdf format to give the employer a choice. Remember in Word some things can get messed up depending on the default printer on someones computer.

If you are lucky enough to be in a class with a bucnh of people already in the industry start by getting to know those people and finding out what the companies are looking for. And as also mentioned, never be afraid to apply for a job.

Agamemnon · 05-09-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Ick, stay away from templates. Maybe use a couple to get you started, but try to avoid them.

Meh... there are probably 60-100 million resumes in existence in North America, trying to make yours 'unique' probably ain't going to happen. The only templates I'd avoid are the 'known' ones, like the one from MS Word that everyone uses. Maybe template is a bad word... how about 'examples'. To make your own resume out of scratch in Word is doable... but unless you're a Word expert you'll miss out on including some 'cool' functions... like line/spacing stuff, formatting, etc.

Agamemnon · 05-09-2007, 01:04 PM

I'd also look for work in related industries, like Records Management... it'll look good as 'related experience', that was essentially what got my foot in the door where I am now.

Agamemnon · 05-09-2007, 02:04 PM

Land tends to follow the Industry by about 6 months, give or take. When things heat up, it takes time for Land companies to gear up, hire employees, etc. There's a lot of inertia involved that make it difficult for Land companies to up-size/down-size on the Industry's whims... a lot of them just finished down-sizing just before/after Christmas... they don't want to hire a bunch of people back again just to have to lay them off/not renew their contracts 6-12 months later.

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Meh... there are probably 60-100 million resumes in existence in North America, trying to make yours 'unique' probably ain't going to happen. The only templates I'd avoid are the 'known' ones, like the one from MS Word that everyone uses. Maybe template is a bad word... how about 'examples'. To make your own resume out of scratch in Word is doable... but unless you're a Word expert you'll miss out on including some 'cool' functions... like line/spacing stuff, formatting, etc.

Yah I can I can live better with that idea. Just make sure you personalize/change it.

Tron_fdc · 05-09-2007, 02:15 PM

Ask your teachers too; most (if not all) are in the land industry. My g/f had about 4 offers from her teachers by the time she was done at SAIT.

Robbob · 05-09-2007, 11:27 PM

Thanks again everyone...funny thing is that tonight at class we had a couple people from CAPL come by and to describe to themselves and couple things I found informative is that networking is essential and that they said over 60% of PNG jobs aren't posted.