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THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
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The Daily Telegraph
GRADUATES CAREERS IN OIL AND GAS
TANTS THE CONSUL
Priya Sodhi, 25 Consultant accountant, Deloitte
Consultancy is another great career option for those looking to enter the oil and gas industry, with a variety of areas for workers to specialise in. Most consultants will sign up with a reputed recruitment firm, such as Fircroft (www.fircroft.co.uk), which specialises in finding the right technical consultants for the right jobs, pairing employees with employers across the globe. Indeed, international travel is a major draw for those considering a job in the industry. Here, two oil and gas consultants reveal what made them take the specialist route:
"I got the opportunity to work overseas with Deloittes energy, infrastructure and utilities sector just five months after joining the company. Now I travel mainly between Switzerland, Jersey and the Isle of Man, and Im hoping to go start working in the US and Chile soon. Seeing organisations in other countries at close quarters can be an eyeopener -- the culture and the legislation can be very different. What I do varies tremendously, and I find consultancy work presents amazing challenges. And, I get to work with fantastic people all over the world."
Adam Brooks, 23 Consultant engineer, Atkins Global
"The great thing about my job is that it varies from month to month so, depending on what a client needs, I deal with a range of people, from riggers and offshore scaffolders, to visiting professors. We work across areas such as structural integrity, piping and health and safety. Different career options come up all the time and, because Atkins operates in so many different fields, I could transfer to a completely different part of the industry entirely if I wanted to."
The Oil and Gas Academy
The newly formed Oil and Gas Academy (Opito) was set up to improve the skills of those working in the industry. Established in December 2007, it brings employers, training bodies and learning providers together to set standards for
WHERE IN THE WORLD? KAZAKHSTAN
CIARAN DOLAN, 32, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CAPITA SYMONDS A graduate of the University of Portsmouth, Ciaran joined Capita Symonds in 2005. "The initial
WHERE IN THE WORLD AUSTRALIA
LIAM MACINTYRE, 24, SENIOR ENGINEER, MCS A senior engineer with advanced subsea engineering firm, MCS, Liam joined the company straight after graduating from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and now
The industry is more laid-back in Australia. When I was working in Perth, no one ever wore a tie at meetings and everyone always had a pair of sunglasses either on their head or hanging on their shirt
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Andrew is now responsible for the maintenance schedule of rotational equipment at the refinery, such as turbines and pumps. "Ive learned so much in just seven months on the job." Where to next? "The Middle East and China are next on my list," he confesses.
attraction of a career in this sector was the opportunity to work on large projects for a big company," she recalls."But I knew that I also wanted to travel and see other countries." Capita Symonds, a partner of the ExxonMobil corporation, presented Ciaran with ample opportunity to fulfil her ambition. "Although Im based in London, Im likely to be somewhere else in the world every fortnight or so, such as Kazakhstan, where I worked on a large fit-out for ExxonMobil in Atyrau, the countrys largest oilfield." Ciarans other recent stop-offs include Libya, Milan and Nigeria.
"One of the key things about working internationally is the experiences you encounter," she says. "Youre meeting new people in unfamiliar cultures, and approaches to the job can really vary, especially in some developing countries. Dealing with different people requires a different set of skills. I cant take anything for granted as theres always a surprise element." In Kazakhstan, Ciaran found that there was an acute shortage of materials and so she had to arrange to have everything imported from Europe. "Every piece of construction material, from masking tape to
paintbrushes, had to be imported thousands of miles. Then again, its this sort of challenge that really tests your skills and, in successfully negotiating the hurdles, you quite simply become better at your job."
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education and safety, and to ensure best practice. Its stringent safety and training standards are now recognised worldwide: Opito training resources are employed in 25 countries, with 100,000 people trained to Opito standards last year. The Academys Modern Apprenticeship scheme is also highly regarded by employers. "We want to see the inclusion of practical, relevant industry-based
learning in the curriculum and to enthuse a whole new generation to come and work the industry and see the varied choices of career on offer," says David Doig, chief executive. The Academys website is packed with information and practical advice about training and living and working offshore. Users can take a computer-based "taster test" to match their skills and experience with industry
roles, and there are direct links to companies that are currently recruiting, as well as salary guides. "Our aim is not only to increase the number of applications to courses that support the core activities of exploration and production but to ensure qualifications are developed to meet the specific needs of the industry, in what is an increasingly complex and technologically advanced environment."
The Academy, which also organises interactive recruitment fairs throughout the year, offers links to Petroleum Open Learning, which runs course modules that can be completed at your own pace. In conjunction with on-the-job skills and techniques training, the Open Learning course culminates in a City and Guilds qualification. www.opito.com
works as an advanced subsea engineering consultant. Earlier this year, he spent three months in Perth, Australia. " The industry is more laid-back over there. At meetings, for instance, no one ever wore a tie and everyone always had a pair of sunglasses either on their head or hanging on their shirt." His Australian colleagues valued his in-depth knowledge of the North Sea oil industry, and Liam felt he was able to punch far above his weight. "My colleagues were really keen and eager to listen and learn about North Sea practices. Here was I, with only two years
experience in the field, but because I had been involved in some industry-leading techniques for integrity management I was considered a real expert and had the full attention of some very senior personnel from Australian oil and gas operators." As a result, Liams career is progressing at a rapid rate. He was promoted after just six months with the company -- something he puts down in part to his international outlook.
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*** II *** *** THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | *** CAREERS IN OIL AND GAS SUSTAINABILITY The Daily Telegraph CUTOUT ANDKEEP WORLD THE RACE TO MAKE FOSSIL FUELS A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTION IS RESULTING IN SOME OF THE INDUSTRYS SMARTEST IDEAS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COM
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 *** *** | III The Daily Telegraph GRADUATES CAREERS IN OIL AND GAS TANTS THE CONSUL Priya Sodhi, 25 Consultant accountant, Deloitte Consultancy is another great career option for those looking to enter the oil and gas industry, with a var
*** IV *** *** THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | ***
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 *** *** | V The Daily Telegraph OUTLOOK CAREERS IN OIL AND GAS MILES DONOVAN AT PEEPSHOW FANTASTIC DAY 10: The storage distribution depot Over 150,000 people and several thousand contract workers are directly or indirectly employed by Br
*** VI *** *** THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | *** CAREERS IN OIL AND GAS NEW RESERVES The Daily Telegraph T CORBIS THERES SO MUCH SCI FI-LIKE ACTIVITY GOING ON BENEATH THE OCEAN FLOOR, IT TAKES DARING AND A SPECIAL KIND OF SKILL TO WORK THERE. JO CLARKE UNRAVELS THE MYSTE
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 *** *** | VII The Daily Telegraph INNOVATION CAREERS IN OIL AND GAS THE EDGE OF REASON THE DRIVE TO MAKE FOSSIL FUELS CLEANER AND GREENER IS RESULTING IN SOME AMAZING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY, SAYS ESME MCAVOY. WE TA
*** VIII *** *** THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | *** CAREERS IN OIL AND GAS PEOPLE The Daily Telegraph industry means workers can probably afford a good break too. So far this year, Jennifer Watson, a lab technician for InterTech on the Beryl Bravo platform, says she has tra
