dirtymoney: i need career advice here pls. i have an HND in Mechanical Engineering (production Option) from fed poly mubi, i ve completed the one year mandatory NYSC scheme, a member of Nigerian Association Of Technologists in Engineering, i did a HSE level 2 of 3 course while in service, am computer literate, can undertake simple designs using AutoCAD. i have a good knowledge of arc welding and other metal joinning and manipulation processes as i did a part time apprentice job with a welding and fabrication workshop during my ND days. the challenge i have now is, am currently running a post graduate diploma course which is a prequisite for all HND grads before they can run a masters program. but i have this strong zeal to work in a company. recently i ve been contemplating on whether to dump the pgd program and go for a 6months-1yea/r trainning on pipeline welding or any other oil and gas related trainning ( as i ve discovered that most vacancies these days, not just limited to the oil and gas industry, requires one to possess a particular skill or trainning related to the industry), or to continue running my pgd, then masters before looking for job in the industry. i need serious advice from experienced workers (in the field). would my HND + other related qualifications i stated above with a good pipeline welding trainning increase my chances of getting a spot in the industry or a pgd + masters.

x-fire:

Well, this is a tough one....
The answer still lies with you. Personally, I will suggest you go for the short time specific oil and gas trainings since you desire to work in an oil firm. The disadvantage is that you may find it very hard to cross over from operator (or technologists) to engineer even with donkey years of experience, but that's a better option to take.
I will be very frank with you. The problem with PGD+Masters is that it does not give you any edge over a BSc holder in engineering. It may even be a disadvantage. Most O and G firms don't recognize PGD+Masters. I won't want to go into specific details. I have never seen any entry level engineer coming in with HND+PGD+Masters. Even in NNPC, entry level engineers come in as BSc holders. Conversion can take place later after PGD though career exposure may not be as bright as an entry level engineer.
The only exception is if you choose that PGD+Masters path and garner experience from small oil firms (which are hard to come by) before gunning for the 'big boys'.
Or better still, the compromise is to get oil and gas experience NOW (before or after the short time trainings) for a couple of years and then try PGD+Masters to give you more edge in the oil and gas job market.
My 2 cents

mko abiola:
Morning, I studued physics and graduated with a very high CGPA and d best student in my dept. Is there a good chance for me to getting a job in d oil company?

efe2luv: why is it that when we talk about oil coys in 9ja the only ones that come to mind are SHEll.MOBIL, total ,lng, chevron...i know they are production coys...but when we want to talk about remunerations not only these popular coy pay well...oil servicing company and offshore construction coys give competitive packages too.. It may even suprise you to know that they pay higher than these production companies.....Also for the issue of contract staff n permanent staffs.....Internationally, contract staffs are paid better and higher remunerations than permanent staffs...we have people who go home for example in 9ja 500euros per day rate u can calculate that n see that people are paid salaries of 30 milliom naira or more in a year....shine your eyes it is true without mincing words.....i work offshore and i can confirm this to be true......on the other hand a permanent staff may not receive up to half of his yearly pay....contract staffing in 9ja is being abused by contractors who collect bulk of the money n chop the others....There are companies after paying u all these money gives u a fone for unlimited calling as u like and also open an a company personal account for u where they load it with minimum of 1000pound or so for company emergencies assigned to u..this is not part of your salary o.....guys things are happening in the oil/gas sector that if u hear more u will just be drooling......forget party n monthly food ...thats not the important thing..........Its fun working for oil servicing coys..esp the offshore company cos u dont go to work every morning and come back in the evening...u go offshores and when u are at home u have time for urself no work and your family...u can do whatever u like travel to which ever country u like and be free.....so leave SHELL, MOBIL...LNG...Or the others mata jare......LG....

leo2008: Hello friends
I don't mind your view on my situation, I have a b.Tech in civil engr with a 2.2 class division, I was adviced that to be able to enter the oil nd gas industry I should do some courses relating to the industry,am on the verge of paying 350k for a two months training in pipeline welding (argon welding or T-fillet welding)in benek school of engineering phc.I want to know if doing this course will increase my chances of getting a job, if it won't please which profesional course do you think will help me so I won't waste the money cause it took me close to a year to save it...tanks 4 ur anticipated replies.....(Pls ignore d typos...tying frm a fone)

kokosheen:

That you graduated with a B.Tech doesn't mean you're a technician. The course you're going for would prepare you for a job done by artisans and contractors/contract workers, and won't be a leverage for a direct staff position for engineers/technicians (that's if you don't mind) in a major Oil & Gas coy.

I would advise you to look for training institutes that deliver specialized training with regards to construction & construction mgt., environmental sciences (soil studies etc) and pipeline construction/maintenance (Cathodic protection/pigging)/materials (HDPE/GRE/GRVE/SS/CS).. These courses would serve you better instead in your search.

Also, Oil&Gas safety courses (any engrg/science discipline can perform as a safety officer).

Good luck

kokosheen:

That you graduated with a B.Tech doesn't mean you're a technician. The course you're going for would prepare you for a job done by artisans and contractors/contract workers, and won't be a leverage for a direct staff position for engineers/technicians (that's if you don't mind) in a major Oil & Gas coy.

I would advise you to look for training institutes that deliver specialized training with regards to construction & construction mgt., environmental sciences (soil studies etc) and pipeline construction/maintenance (Cathodic protection/pigging)/materials (HDPE/GRE/GRVE/SS/CS).. These courses would serve you better instead in your search.

Also, Oil&Gas safety courses (any engrg/science discipline can perform as a safety officer).

Good luck

Playgal: I also work wif an Oil Servicing Company. Is okay but i still want to work wif the real oil companies(They pay better money)
So Help Me God.

Playgal: why is it that when we talk about oil coys in 9ja the only ones that come to mind are SHEll.MOBIL, total ,lng, chevron...i know they are production coys...but when we want to talk about remunerations not only these popular coy pay well...oil servicing company and offshore construction coys give competitive packages too.. It may even suprise you to know that they pay higher than these production companies.....Also for the issue of contract staff n permanent staffs.....Internationally, contract staffs are paid better and higher remunerations than permanent staffs...we have people who go home for example in 9ja 500euros per day rate u can calculate that n see that people are paid salaries of 30 milliom naira or more in a year....shine your eyes it is true without mincing words.....i work offshore and i can confirm this to be true......on the other hand a permanent staff may not receive up to half of his yearly pay....contract staffing in 9ja is being abused by contractors who collect bulk of the money n chop the others....There are companies after paying u all these money gives u a fone for unlimited calling as u like and also open an a company personal account for u where they load it with minimum of 1000pound or so for company emergencies assigned to u..this is not part of your salary o.....guys things are happening in the oil/gas sector that if u hear more u will just be drooling......forget party n monthly food ...thats not the important thing..........Its fun working for oil servicing coys..esp the offshore company cos u dont go to work every morning and come back in the evening...u go offshores and when u are at home u have time for urself no work and your family...u can do whatever u like travel to which ever country u like and be free.....so leave SHELL, MOBIL...LNG...Or the others mata jare......LG....


Humnnnnn

Phinga: Hello house pls after completing HSE level 1&3 @ NISP which other HSE course would u advise I take that would also giv an edge in d oil and gas coy.

Phinga: Hello house pls after completing HSE level 1&3 @ NISP which other HSE course would u advise I take that would also giv an edge in d oil and gas coy.

godello: NABOSH