Modern society continues to consume large amounts of fuel. As such, the energy industry remains an integral part of the infrastructure and maintenance of almost all global countries. When it comes to understanding the various facets of the energy industry, Wikipedia defines it as, "The totality of all of the industries involved in the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing, refining and distribution."
To help clarify this further, consider the following energy disciplines that fall under this wide umbrella:
For candidates looking to break into the energy industry, there are two main terms that define this unique jobs market: upstream and downstream. The following definitions will assist anyone in understanding the basics of the energy industry job tracks.
For the gas and oil industry, upstream energy jobs are primarily comprised of those companies searching for crude oil and/or natural gas fields, as well as those maintaining drilling and/or well operations.
When discussing downstream energy jobs, these refers to the sector that refines petroleum crude oil and purifies natural gas. In total, it encompasses oil processes, transportation, refining, storage services.
As candidates begin to familiarize themselves with each energy segment, they ought to pay close attention to energy trends reports to determine both short- and long-term expectations for their skill sets.
In short, there are many transferable skills needed in each segment. From engineering requirements to more digital-based proficiencies including: IT professionals with strong backgrounds in secure software development, cloud security, networking monitoring and intrusion detection.
Specifically, in oil and gas and manufacturing, companies are creating new roles for decision makers who have backgrounds in LEAN, SIX Sigma, Operations Excellence and Continuous Improvement. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is reshaping how oil and gas companies optimize operational performance.
The bottom line is job seekers who can demonstrate strong digital skills – including cybersecurity expertise will have a much easier time finding employment in the future.
About the Author Catherine Rary serves as the Vice President of Enterprise Solutions Sales and is responsible for new RPO account development at Yoh. Prior to this role Catherine has served as a leader in the staffing industry for over 25 years. Catherine has holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Alabama.