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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Career / Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. (23374 Views)
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Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by streetzdreamz(m): 6:22pm On May 28, 2017 |
damayor001:can we have a conversation outside this forum? |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by ayusco85(m): 6:33pm On May 28, 2017 |
AkanUdoette: U can be so petty |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by kay9(m): 7:41pm On May 28, 2017 |
OP, Saw your topic earlier, decided to sit back a little and see what kind of comments come in... and I'm not surprised in the least. I understand your request for info from fellow geoscientists who managed to get into well paying positions in IOCs, but the truth is very few, if any, would want their online identities associated with such lucrative stories. It's not the sharing of information that is the problem, its the risk of having your I.D hacked, personal info retrieved, and then some not-so-nice gentlemen paying you a visit later in the evening. Sad, but its the reality. IOC-employed geos are extremely well paid and in a country as insecure as Nigeria, disclosing that you are one may not be such a good idea. Luckily though, i am not one. ... but i know a few. I studied geophysics, graduated some donkey years ago and had a shot with SPDC's SITP program. Passed all the tests and interviews like no man's biz, and got invited for medicals... and that was it. They kept me waiting for almost 18months and then one morning like that, i got a mail that Shell was no longer interested in continuing my employment process. Sh!t like that can devastate a young man; i know it devastated me... But hey, I've since moved on. Ok, that was my story. But you're not interested in that; what you want is how you can succeed where i failed. No problem, I'll tell you. 1) A Masters degree 2) Some experience, the closer to your desired job role, the better. That's how most OND holders get in: they've got experience while all you have is a piece of paper. 3) Network. If you have any relative or friend already employed there, better start kissing his or her ass now. 4) Luck. That's right, pure dumb luck... a lots of it. 5) Perseverance. The fanatic kind... cos that's the only way you'll dedicate 10yrs of your life just to get an employment offer from Exxon. Finally, a word of advice: Geoscience is a very dry field right now; new drilling contracts are virtually nonexistent worldwide, so you need to decide if that's a field you want to go into. Learn an alternative skill; if it can also be applied to you chosen geo-career, even better. But whatever you do, don't spend your youth waiting for a job offer that may never come. Cheers. 10 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Rockboi: 8:26pm On May 28, 2017 |
majekdom2:I think any aspiring geoscientist will heed to this advice. The oil industry is not as it were before, geoscientist are very few because an engineer could easily be trained to do a geoscientist it job. I have read all the comments on this thread but this happens to be the best so far. Most of the guys in the oil industry (servicing companies) are looking elsewhere because there's eminent threat of job loss when the IOC stop developing their fields. So I advice u guys to look elsewhere as oil is loosing its revelant by the day. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by niyogeol(m): 8:53pm On May 28, 2017 |
kay9:I'm impressed by your story, and I won't mind having the full gist offline. I can only imagine how devasted you were when the said Shell mail rolled in on that faithful day. Your contribution shows your comprehension and attention to details skills are top notch. You have stated the obvious as it is without mincing words. Are you still in the Geoscience circle? Thanks for your contribution. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by GeoOla25(m): 8:59pm On May 28, 2017 |
OP I must first Salute your courage for creating this Thread |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Pinkybush: 9:48pm On May 28, 2017 |
This thread is the best I've read since the start of this year.
Long Live Geoscientists
Long Live Geophysicists
Long Live Segites |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Icon4s(m): 11:04pm On May 28, 2017 |
niyogeol: Sorry I am responding late to this mention. I saw it since early this morning but have been too busy. Getting into the Oil industry is not as difficult as most peeps here term it. However it is about the most difficult of all the industries to break into. I am referring to comments like 'it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.....' bla-bla-bla. You have to make up your mind early enough. And go for it. How? It is very true that what worked for Mr A may not work out for Mr B but generally speaking there is a common story we Oil workers have. That is: I saw the advertisement, I applied, I knew nobody and I got the job. Sounds easy right? But not really that easy. Remember I said make up your mind early. I had always wanted and dreamt of being an 'Oil worker'. I had this dream and actualised it but know also there so many, in fact most people that had that dream that never actualised it. Success comes from God but you have to play your part. There is no easy way to success. In my graduating class(Geology) of about 60 only about 5 actually got to work in the Oil industry! Yes that is how slim it is. It may also interest you to know that I spent the whole of my NYSC studying for aptitude tests. Apart from the Gmat and GRE books I inherited from my elder brother I bought GMAT booklet in NYSC camp. Not satisfied, I bought O level Physics text book(Nelkon) and Further maths text book(Godman). I acquired the physics and Further maths text books just to be able to compete with engineering graduates. I focused on the mechanics and Electricity parts. I like wahala right? One thought got me going: 'I am the best' and so I deserve the best. I made up my mind early enough that I would work in the Oil industry. I developed so much interest in fields like Stratigraphy, Structural geology, petroleum geology, sedimentology, Petroleum Geochemistry, Geophysics and co. My project was on biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of limestone facies in the Dahomey basin using Foraminifera and Ostracods. Believe it or not, that project got me into the Oil industry. How? By the time I graduated from NYSC I had written NNPC, ELF and Shell tests. I was not successful in all 3 despite all my preparations. Post-NYSC while I was still looking for job. I saw an advertisement by an indigenous Oil servicing firm. They were looking for Biostratigraphers with a minimum of 2yrs industry experience. Initially I was discouraged but something just spurred me to apply. I was dragging my feet and finally submitted my application on the last day of submission. Shortly after I got a contract job with Access bank. A one month contract. The next day after the contract expired I received a call from that Oil servicing firm for an aptitude test. We were also interviewed same day. All 50 of us that wrote the test were interviewed. At the interview I was asked what I did as my final year project. O they virtually begged me to stop talking paleontology. They needed an experienced biostratigrapher but here they had a fresh graduate that knows so much about biostratigraphy. There and then they asked me how much they would pay me. We discussed that(negotiated). As I was leaving the interview room I heard a man telling the MD, who is a renowned and recognized biostratigrapher nation-wide, that ' this boy is trainable'. Two weeks after I was called for another interview. This time just me alone. I was taken to the MD's office and there I saw forams slides, forams catalogues and a paleontological microscopes. In no time I was asked to analyze the slides. I did that and within 1 hour I was done. The MD checked my result and called the Head micropaleontological unit to assess it. He nodded in the affirmative. I was asked to resume in two weeks. So that is how I entered the industry. Though I spent just 1 yr and 2months there before I made a bigger move but the experience I acquired withing that period is invaluable. I hope my story will inspire you and other young geoscientists. 13 Likes |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by niyogeol(m): 12:16am On May 29, 2017 |
Icon4s:Thank you for making out time to contribute to this thread. I sure have take away from your story. If I may ask, do you have MSc? If yes, Nigerian or overseas. Thanks once again. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Culin(f): 2:55am On May 29, 2017 |
majekdom2: That was helpful. Thanks. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by OjaP: 3:37am On May 29, 2017 |
Reading all the comments has further confirmed my belief that it is tough to get an entry level position in the Nigerian O&G industry. From my findings, it appears those who entered the industry pre year 2000 are the lucky ones. Those who got in in the 80s and 70s are even luckier. It seems as though the oil companies are no longer interested in Nigerian trained geologists. At least going by their recent recruitment exercises. I am a geologist myself. Many of my classmates couldn't get a job after we graduated. Less than 1% of us who are still in the industry got our jobs only because we schooled abroad. One of my friends who had a first class couldn't get into Chevron until he got a scholarship to study at Herriot Watt for his masters. Same thing with my friend who got into Shell. She got in only because she went for her masters at Manchester. This is so sad but it's what it is. All these oil companies during the boom (2000-2012) go to top UK universities to recruit from there. In 2012, Exxon Mobil targeted USA graduates and invited me and some of my friends to write their aptitude tests in their North Houston office. Their plan was to conduct interviews a day after and pick successful candidates. Their requirements was that applicants must have a 2.1 or its equivalent in their first degree and must be graduating or just graduated from a USA university in 2012 and must have observed the mandatory 1 year NYSC. I didn't go for the test because I already got a job at that time. How I got into the industry I'm not sure if this would be helpful since I didn't get my job in Nigeria but will say it regardless - It may help someone. After I graduated with my BS degree. I couldn't get a job after NYSC. I decided to further my education in one of the top federal universities in the south western part of Nigeria. I didn't like the structure of the program and decided to go to the US to further my program. It turned out that was the best decision I have ever made my whole life. All of my friends who stayed and completed still couldn't get into the industry as I am typing. Anyways, I got admitted, traveled to the US, got my degree and got a job. I applied for so many jobs and attended so many interviews and got plenty rejections too but for some reason I was happy even with the rejections. I was happy that I was still considered given the many applicants that applied for jobs. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, you won't even make it to the testing stage talk less of interviewing. The industry standard for an entry level geologist position is a masters degree or higher in Geology. So I will advise whoever targeting the industry to get a masters degree and if possible outside of the country and in top UK schools or elsewhere. Just like others have said, this is a very bad time for geologists and the oil industry. Companies are not hiring like they used to. Many that were hired were fired because of the price of oil. Personally, I advise people to consider engineering (not petroleum) instead of geology. I am working on a PhD in Engineering myself while also working full time. This way, if petroleum doesn't pay again, I will have an engineering degree that can open doors in other sectors. It is so difficult to get into other non oil industries if you have built your life around oil. This is why those laid off are unable to find jobs out side of oil because they can't transfer the geology knowledge to other sectors. In contrast, engineers (excluding petroleum) can work in other sectors because of their engineering background. This is just a personal opinion, others may not agree to it. But at the end of the day, whatever that makes you happy and put food on the table is what that matters. 4 Likes |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by OjaP: 3:50am On May 29, 2017 |
Icon4s: What an interesting story. I see that you were able to get in because you know your stuffs. Imagine if you couldn't use the microscope or identify forams or fossils when brought in for the last interview. You could have missed a golden opportunity. I like your final year project, I also worked on the Dahomey basin myself studying the limestones for my undergraduate thesis. If you don't mind, I would like to connect with you outside of here, maybe Linkedin and rub minds together. Thanks for your comment. I am very sure the younger and aspiring geoscientists would find it so beneficial. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Icon4s(m): 6:25am On May 29, 2017 |
niyogeol: M.Sc Energy and Petroleum Economics. Nigerian University. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Icon4s(m): 6:58am On May 29, 2017 |
OjaP: My brother, it was really tough getting a job as a Geologist. Often times we were put in the same pool with Engineers and sat for same tests. I got that info early which was why I used my NYSC to study physics and further maths. I saw a couple of such engineering questions from the GMAT I bought in NYSC camp. I knew they were questions knowledge of physics and Engineering maths could solve. Talking about IOCs' preference for foreign degrees. Yes, that has always been the case from time immemorial especially considering our fallen educational standards. But a good number (most) of current industry workers, at least those I know, that got employed from the early 2000s to 2010 got in with a Nigerian B.Sc. We did not even have masters. The only company I knew that required M.Sc was ExxonMobil. I wrote She'll twice, I wrote Elf also. For She'll from the 10,000 of us that wrote nation wide only 100 of us were called for Shell recruitment day . That is what they call their interview. I didn't get to the interview stage of Elf. We learnt only 3 people were taken nation wide. In the NNPC recruitment of 2007 , 1000 graduates were employed. Over 500 engineering graduates/technicians/operators and just 12 Geoscientists(Geologists and Geophysicists) NNPC put geoscientists and Engineers in the same pool and conducted same test questions. They called it science and Engineering test of which over 80% were Mechanical and Electrical questions. Companies like Schlumberger, Halliburton, PDL also put Engineers, Geoscientists and Physicists in the same pool and conduct same test for them. You see, you also competing with Engineers. To work as a Geologist in the Industry you really need to be at the top of your game. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by cris83: 9:49am On May 29, 2017 |
trilobite: No I do not mind. I got my Msc in Ghana. As people rightly noted, to be a Geologist one has to be @ the top of ones game and for someone like m that graduated years ago plus msc that I obtained a couple of years back at well, I have lost that drive. I kissed asses as also mentioned in the oil industry but as stated, so few jobs due to the loss in value for oil and asuch I never made any headway neither did I get the pleasure of being called up for an interview or written tests. I have placed those degrees somewhere else and looking for something to do. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by niyogeol(m): 10:04am On May 29, 2017 |
cris83:This is the harsh reality Geoscientists in Nigeria face. Have you considered academics? |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by cris83: 10:27am On May 29, 2017 |
niyogeol: Indeed a harsh reality and I wonder how the young ones who are studying the same course @ the universities in this country feel that they will get a job in this same industry that has tons of graduates with different classes of degrees up to PhD level trying to break barriers to get in. I have @ some point considered academics but if you are referring to lecturing, it will require m going back for PhD in order to belong and move up the ladder. That will require more money which presently I'm lacking. If you are referring to being a class tutor, I haven't really given that some thought. I had dreams of being a top most geologist and making someone dear to m proud of what I have achieved in his place but this country killed that dream. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by niyogeol(m): 12:24pm On May 29, 2017 |
cris83:Do not be detered. Look beyond Nigeria. Most PhD abroad come with funding. Try New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada and possibly USA. Luck will smile on you soonest. Goodluck. 1 Like |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by jobbers: 1:12pm On May 29, 2017 |
o |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by YOLO1(m): 8:55pm On May 29, 2017 |
lolaxavier:Bro. Please wh school did you do ur M. Sc? Wish to do my M.sc too in same course |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by GeoOla25(m): 9:21pm On May 29, 2017 |
i have gained a lot from this thread, i recently got an admission offer to University of Liverpool to Study M.sc petroleum reservoir Geoscience , i am still working on funding out-looking for scholarships, i need incite on how to go about this, i want to know if this course is really lucrative in the oil industry or i should go for a course in Geophysics. cc: ojaP cc: Icon4s |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Rockboi: 10:02pm On May 29, 2017 |
Please if you know anyone who has a First Class degree or a very high 2.1, graduated no earlier than 2012 and is interested in working with Schlumberger. Apply here Https://Careers.slb.com Engineers only. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Icon4s(m): 6:06am On May 30, 2017 |
GeoOla25: Anything related to Petroleum Geosciences including Geophysics is OK. Geology, Geophysics and Petrophysics are integrated these days. I obtained my B.Sc in Geology but I have worked more as a Geophysicist. I have done Well-site Geologist jobs and I have also applied some Petrophysics in certain aspects of my job. Need I also say that I started my career as a Micropaleontologist/Biostratigrapher. Guess what. I have also done Crude Oil marketing. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by OjaP: 6:22am On May 30, 2017 |
Icon4s: You are right. I didn't know Nigerian oil and gas industries only want a Bachelors to get in. It is a minimum of a masters in the USA. The two of my friends who got into CVX and Shell have a masters degree. In any case, be your best at what you do to make a difference. I sent you an email. Check your NL account. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Icon4s(m): 9:33am On May 30, 2017 |
OjaP: I saw the notification. But unfortunately I do not have access to that email account anymore. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Bishops10(m): 2:09pm On May 30, 2017 |
Icon4s please sir, I want to choose a career in Chemical Engineering. How do you see the field?.. Will there be job opportunities upon graduation aside the oil sector even without Msc |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Mixty: 2:16pm On May 30, 2017 |
Bishops10: Yes, there will be. chemical engineering is versatile even outside the oil field. You can work in food and beverages, manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical, even in IT, etc. But go for mechanical engineering. It is the most versatile engineering. A mechanical engineering graduate can handle almost every job a chemical engineer can handle in most industries but there are so many roles a mechanical engineer can handle that a chemical engineer will never be considered for. Make sure you finish with first class or at least a 2.1. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Icon4s(m): 2:20pm On May 30, 2017 |
Bishops10: Chemical engineering is good. Aside the oil industry (exploration and Production) they work in Breweries, Paint industry, Petrochemicals, Refineries, and co. However you have to work very hard and graduate with a good grade. By good grade I mean a minimum of 2nd Class Upper. It makes job hunting easier even without an M.Sc. |
Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by opella(f): 3:42pm On May 30, 2017 |
A good way to start. 1 Like 1 Share
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Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by Icon4s(m): 4:34pm On May 30, 2017 |
opella: Young Geoscientists in the house this is a golden opportunity. The opportunities are few, when they come grab them with both hands and legs. cc: niyogeol
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Re: Geoscientists Working In The Oil Industry: How Did You Get In? Share Your Story. by niyogeol(m): 7:20pm On May 30, 2017 |
Icon4s:Thanks. I will try again. Hoping for success this time out. |
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