If you are interested in becoming an engineer in the oil and gas industry, you’ll need to make sure you boast the right skill set to be a success. Petroleum engineering remains a lucrative field, even considering the recent downturn in oil prices. The best engineers in this discipline typically command salaries in the six-figure range.

Are you still interested in becoming a petroleum engineer? What follows is a look at some of the skills you’ll need to bring to the table before beginning your job search.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering is a Must

Before embarking on a quest to find a position in petroleum engineering, you need to make sure your education level is up to snuff. A bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline is a must, and hiring managers tend to give preference to candidates with a degree in petroleum engineering or chemical engineering.

An engineering degree ensures that you’ve learned the math and science skills necessary to thrive as an engineer. Expect to study calculus and trigonometry as well as biology and physics. Petroleum engineering programs also focus on geology and other natural science coursework relevant for a professional life in oil and gas exploration and extraction.

Useful Skills for the Petroleum Engineer

In addition to the skills learned as part of an engineering degree program, petroleum engineers also benefit from other “softer” skills. It is important that you can thrive outside of an office environment, as many engineering in the oil and gas industry spend significant portions of their career in the field. The ability to work well with others is also vital considering that teamwork plays a large factor in the success of many petroleum engineering projects.

Analytical and creative skills also benefit the petroleum engineer, as problem solving is a vital aspect of professional success in the oil and gas industry.

If you are interested in exploring your options for becoming a petroleum engineer more closely, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering staffing agencies in Washington State, and a great source of Seattle engineering jobs, our recruiters can help ensure your career gets off to a great start. Schedule some time to chat with us today!

It remains vital for any engineer to consistently take steps towards self improvement. Engineering, while still a worthy field with many job opportunities, is still subject to economic downturns. During the Great Recession, the job market for engineers became very competitive, so it is important to make yourself stand out among other potential candidates when looking for a new job.

Here are a few self improvement strategies you should be looking at implementing to ensure your career stays on the right track.

Sometimes Business Trumps Technology

Learning the intimate details of your company’s business is a great way to distinguish yourself as a valuable contributor. If you discover that this piques your interest, consider continuing your education with an advanced business degree, like a MBA. Paired with an engineering degree and relevant work experience, a MBA puts your career on the fast track to success and job stability.

Join a Professional Society

Joining a professional engineering society like the IEEE or ASME helps to keep your technical knowledge current and growing. Taking an active role in a local society chapter is also perfect for networking, which may help greatly if you ever find yourself unemployed.

Learn the Soft Skills that Complement Engineering

Certain soft skills, like project management or team leadership, definitely enrich both your career and your résumé, so try to take on those roles at your current job if possible. Communication abilities are another key compliment to engineering leadership, so consider joining a public speaking group like Toastmasters to help hone your speaking skills. You may find yourself on the track to an executive office.

Self-criticism can also be Helpful

While it’s important not to go overboard, learning to constructively self critique your technical abilities, the learning of new skills, and your overall project performance helps you to focus on the self improvement process. Set goals and develop a workable plan to reach your career improvement aspirations.

If you want some advice on self improvement in the engineering field, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering staffing companies in the Seattle area, they have the recruiters on hand that can help coach your growth as an engineer. Make an appointment with them today!

If you are looking for engineering jobs in the Pacific Northwest, contact us today.

At The Talley Group, we specialize in the recruitment of engineers and related staff for clients ranging in size from small firms to Fortune 500 companies.

We currently have two opportunities for experienced engineering professionals in Washington state. Could you be the person we’re looking for?

Test Engineer

In this role, you will plan, design and implement procedures for the test and evaluation of new and existing products. This will include determining calibration specifications and functional and/or environmental test requirements including equipment, fixturing and facilities.

You will use your strong troubleshooting skills to identify the root cause of problems and design countermeasure issues and drive improvements in quality, productivity and cost.

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, along with 2+ years of hands-on circuit analysis and analog skills.

This job is located in Everett, WA, 25 miles north of Seattle on Port Gardner Bay. With a lower cost of living than Seattle proper, Everett is the county’s largest city and the area’s center for economic development, with a strong focus on technology, life sciences, electronics, aerospace and service-based industries.

Network Engineer

In this role, you will design and manage network devices and services, including routers, switches, remote access devices, Wireless Access Points, security appliances and VoIP.

Your daily activities will include configuring and maintaining a complex, multilayer switched and routed network; maintaining network routing protocols such as OSPF and BGP; and configuring, testing and maintaining LAN/WAN equipment.

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or equivalent.

This job is located in Moses Lake, WA, about 200 miles east of Seattle, a boomtown for manufacturing & technology that has retained its small town charm, low cost of living and recreational opportunities.

Whether you want to live in a major metropolitan area or enjoy the slower pace of Central Washington state, could either of these be the opportunity you’ve been looking for?

Contact us today to find out more!