Despite the current slump in oil prices, the oil and gas sector continues to be a major employer in Saudi Arabia. According to the Monster Employment Index (MEI) for July 2016, the industry recorded a spectacular 46% year-on-year growth in the country. This positive trend is likely to continue in the medium term as well with the state-owned oil and petroleum company, Saudi Aramco, expected to create 500,000 oil and gas jobs over the next decade.
If you’re keen to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry, it’s important to know if you have what it takes to succeed on a rig or in a boardroom. While the sector covers a spectrum of careers requiring varied skills, education and experience, these skills will hold you in good stead:
Teamwork
Group dynamics play an important role in this sector, making teamwork an important yardstick by which employers evaluate candidates. Social skills, self-confidence and high EQ are some of the factors that add up to create outstanding teamwork skills. Given the Middle East’s multicultural workforce, it’s also common to work with people of different backgrounds and ethnicities. The ability to get along with a diverse set of people will be fundamental to helping you thrive in this exciting and well-paying industry.
Ability to learn
Whether you are a fresh graduate or an industry veteran, you never stop learning. The ability to learn will assume greater importance in the coming years as oil and gas companies emerge from the slump as leaner, stronger entities that are built to last. Experts predict a surge in innovation in the coming years to raise productivity and profit margins. In such a scenario, your capacity to constantly upgrade and reinvent yourself according to the demands of the industry will play a vital role in protecting you from redundancy.
Technical and computer skills
Oil and gas is a technology-intensive industry, making technical skills a fundamental prerequisite for every aspiring employee. Even those in marketing and human resources require a basic understanding of oil and gas technology for effective discharge of their duties. The current economic trajectory also demands strong computer skills from employees. People who are uncomfortable in a digital environment will find themselves struggling in the workplaces of the future.
Planning, leadership and organization skills
Planning and organization skills are integral to successful project management which forms the basis of the oil and gas industry. These skills include scheduling, time management, attention to detail, the ability to anticipate and prepare for future challenges, and project monitoring skills. As you gather more experience and rise up the corporate echelons, leadership skills will also come to play an increasingly vital role in your job performance.
If you don’t have a background in the oil and gas industry, don’t worry— recruiters are always on the lookout for candidates from outside the industry for suitable roles if they spot potential.
Apply for oil and gas jobs here.
