How Can Oil, Gas Attract More Young Talent?
Investing in graduate programs is the best way to get more young people interested in the oil and gas sector, according to a new Rigzone poll.
Almost half of the 98 voters that took part in the survey believe this option would be more effective than increasing remote working opportunities in the industry (12 percent), raising the eco-friendliness of oil and gas (18 percent), or more widely adopting modern technology in the sector (21 percent).
Last year, Rigzone highlighted that graduate recruitment investment had slowed in response to the market downturn, with companies like MOL Group and Oceaneering International reducing their intake of young talent.
With an increasing oil price in 2017, however, there are signs that things are back on the mend in terms of graduate investment.
For example, earlier this year Amec Foster Wheeler posted on Twitter that it was recruiting graduates in a number of disciplines all over the UK.
The oilfield services firm encouraged the next generation of oil and gas workers to apply for the following positions in 2017:
mechanical engineering
electrical engineering
project control
quantity surveying
estimating and technical safety
health & environment graduate programs
In addition, the company also offered a range of roles for interns, apprentices and work experience seekers.
BP plc also took to the social media site in March to highlight several graduate opportunities in London, Spain, Portugal and Oman. In addition, Royal Dutch Shell plc is advertising graduate employment opportunities on its website in a range of locations for 2017, including China, Egypt, Brazil and the UK.
The downturn is understandably leading oil and gas firms to cut costs, but companies in the sector must remember that graduate investment is an insurance policy for the future. Cut too much in this area and there’s a real danger that the sector could be left with a significant drop in new talent.
Luckily it looks like the industry may be in the early stages of emerging from the market downturn, which is good news for everyone involved in the sector, but companies would be well advised to remember this sentiment for any future price drops.
What Does the Next Generation Like?
College students and recent graduates around the globe value a positive organizational culture more than fiscal perks like a competitive salary or bonus, according to figures from Rigzone’s inaugural Ideal Employer Survey (IES).
The IES, which included a total of 8,466 participants from more than 100 countries, showed that respondents who stated they were attending college/university, or recent graduates looking for a job, ranked a positive organizational culture higher than aspects such as company perks, health benefits and the financial performance/strength of a firm.
This demographic also ranked a positive work environment higher than working for an industry innovator, working in a desirable location or having the opportunity to travel with a company.
Source: Rigzone/ Andreas