As the years move forward following the initial successful explorations for oil and gas in Guyana, the growth of the country’s oil and gas industry has been nothing but exponential. And, to keep up with this development, both the government and private sectors provide the much-needed support to ensure that all resources are available.

Among these resources is the complementary workforce. According to the latest job listings, here are the most sought-after job positions in the oil and gas sector:

• Technical and supervisory jobs – offshore, remotely operated vehicles, saturation, maintenance, control systems, instrumentation, health and safety manager, and environment health and safety
• Operators – equipment, rig, oilfield service, and terminal
• Entry level – Floorhands drillers, drivers, welders, roustabout, and mechanics
• Management – project and site managers, logistics, supply chain, sales, business and leadership development
• All Engineering Disciplines
• Field Experts – Geologist, Oil and Gas Accountant, and Surveyor

Indeed, the need for skilled and competent professionals in these fields has been immense and job opportunities abound. The challenge, however, is the readiness of the applicants in terms of skills and competencies.

To be oil and gas sector ready, you need to have the following:

Do not be intimidated. Given its potential, the oil and gas industry can be daunting. However, this should not intimidate you. Everybody has to start from somewhere and all of the experts that you see in their fields also started out green.

Map out the direction of the company. If you want to grow in your field, you need to grow with the organization. Understand its vision and assess if you share the same direction. In the same way, see the bigger picture in terms of the country’s direction in this sector. Do you also see yourself headed to the same goal?

Discover your real interest. To motivate yourself to work your way to the top, know where your interest lies and build your skills around it. If you think that despite your degree in Engineering you can be an effective site manager, then attend training and continuing education to build your competency.

Invest in your skills. Create a checklist of the skills needed for the job you are eyeing and start ticking the checklist off. Learn the technology needed for the job and be involved in projects that harness your business acumen, innovation, negotiation, communication, problem-solving, among others. Learn the ins and outs of the industry including the regulatory requirements, costs, supply chain, among others.

Enhance your technical knowledge. Enhance your technical knowledge by learning about prospective employers and improving your technical jargon. All this information will help you stand out during the interview.

Think globally. Even if your goal is to be hired by a local employer, the oil and gas sector is home to international players. It would help if you expand your horizon by enriching your knowledge of international issues, policies, and relations.

Become a problem solver. The actual work environment is a dynamic playing field. Although routine functions are expected to be performed daily, you will also encounter challenges along the way. Display how your skills and experience can be put to good use in resolving these challenges.

Develop a timeline. Since you have a goal in mind, you need to know when you intend to achieve it. In this way, you can map out your career path and schedule when to take the steps needed to achieve the goal.

Submit resumes to recruitment firms with big-ticket clients. Big companies hire the services of recruitment firms to help them in sourcing their personnel needs. Thus, the best way to increase your chances of getting hired by big industry players is to look for reputable firms that handle their recruitment process such as Excel Guyana.

Excel Guyana’s Recruiting Division’s more than 30 years of leadership experience has helped companies grow their business and offer support in various facets of their operation including recruitment. Not only does Excel get the best candidates for the job, but it can also help job seekers find sustainable employment in various sectors including in government relations and orientation, construction management, procurement and logistics, employee relocation, recruiting and human resources, expert accounting, among others.