With 2015 now upon us, the coming year looks to be an interesting period in the world of petroleum engineering. With oil prices at a nearly historic low, there will undoubtedly be some challenges in the industry, but engineers working in this discipline still get the opportunity to leverage innovations that make their jobs interesting.For example, industrial heating elements from Rama Corporation can be used to ensure fast and efficient production for petroleum engineering industry.

Let’s take a closer look at what changes the petroleum engineering industry can expect in 2015 and beyond.

Expect the Oil Industry to Rebound

While the oil industry doldrums has some potential students questioning a petroleum engineering program, experts expect things to turn around by the time those students earn their degrees. Dr. Jon Olson, a professor at the University of Texas’s Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, commented on how the industry reacts to low oil prices.

“Usually the service companies are the first to react because they’re the ones specifically doing the well work out at the fields. Those smaller companies are going to be retracting what they’re doing, at least staying away from high cost operations,” said Olson. Concerning potential petroleum engineering students he remarked: “four years from now, it will probably be totally different.” In short, expect things to improve.

Cavitation Technology Innovations improve Petroleum-based Product Production

Cavitation technology is a new technique used in the production of petroleum-based fuels that leverages high shear forces to provide superior mixing and thermal-heat generation. ExxonMobil Research and Engineering (EMRE) is developing the technology jointly with Arisdyne Systems.

“EMRE and Arisdyne are combining our strengths in petroleum processing technology to produce an industry-leading cavitation process to address today’s challenges across our Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals business lines,” said Vijay Swarup, Vice President Research and Development at EMRE. “We are optimistic that this technology will make an important contribution to improve today’s global petroleum processing.”

So even in an oil industry downturn, the innovative work of the petroleum engineer continues unabated. If you are interested in exploring this lucrative field more closely, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top Seattle engineering staffing agencies, we remain a great source for jobs and career insights. Schedule some time with us today!

There’s no doubt that petroleum engineering remains one of the most lucrative engineering disciplines. Even with the specter of climate change looming, the oil and gas industry continues to thrive, especially considering the expansion in drilling for the comparatively clean natural gas. Finding ways to make fossil fuels cleaner offers a chance for the innovative application of science — a role in which many engineers thrive.

If you are interested in transitioning your career to the world of petroleum, what additional skills do you need to master? Which of your engineering abilities are still relevant? Let’s take a closer look.

Geography Skills are a Must with Petroleum Engineering

One skill needed by petroleum engineers that isn’t commonly held by most other engineering disciplines other than Civil, is geography. Performing site surveys, drilling for oil and gas, as well as pipeline routing all require a strong grasp of geographic principles.

Problem Solving Skills in the Field are Vital

Oil and gas engineers need critical problem solving skills while in the field. Petroleum engineering, in many cases, isn’t a lab job; it requires days working on site handing extraction problems in a large variety of locations — the ocean, the desert, or almost anywhere oil and gas are found. Quick critical thinking serves oil and gas engineers well.

Be Prepared to Spend a long Time on the Road

Because of the requirement to be on site working on extraction projects, petroleum engineers spend many days or weeks in a row on the road. Keep this in mind if you value your family life. Some sacrifices may have to be made, but understand that compensation earned by petroleum engineers — some of the highest for engineers of all types — makes it worthwhile.

If you are interested in becoming a petroleum engineer, a good source of advice are the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering staffing agencies in Washington State, they are also a great source of Seattle petroleum engineering jobs. Make it a point to schedule a meeting with them today to see if making the move to the world of oil and gas makes sense for you.

Networking remains a vital part of career development no matter the industry. If you are an oil and gas engineer, you need to grow your professional network, leveraging both local opportunities and online sites like LinkedIn.

Untimely mistakes can also detract from your networking efforts. Here are five missteps you need to be sure to avoid when attending a professional networking opportunity.

1. Only Interacting with those you already know at an Event

Networking events are designed for professionals to meet new people in their field. Interacting only with people you already know at an event defeats the purpose of attending. Get over any shyness and introduce yourself!

2. Not Maintaining a Confident Demeanor

It is important to exude confidence when networking. Believe in yourself and your engineering abilities and it will show when meeting new people at any professional event.

3. Don’t Treat your Network as a One Way Street

Of course you want to grow your professional network, but so do the other attendees at this event. Make it a point to introduce anyone you meet to others with whom you maintain a professional relationship. One way networks aren’t valuable to any career.

4. Networking isn’t about collecting Business Cards

Focus more on talking with and learning about your new connection before asking for their business card. Some professionals merely collect a ton of business cards with little forethought on what to do with them. Establishing a true connection is more important than a piece of card stock.

5. Never Following Up is a Big Networking Mistake

Following up with each your new contacts after any event truly establishes a professional connection. If you don’t follow up, chances are you will be forgotten with only a lonely business card to trigger a memory. Don’t let that happen!

Remember these potential networking mistakes before heading off to your next professional event.

If you need any additional advice on professional networking in the oil and gas industry, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering staffing agencies in Washington State, they are a great source for Seattle engineering jobs. Be sure to schedule a meeting with them today!

If you are looking for the best engineering jobs in Seattle — including those in the petroleum industry — it helps to have your own personal marketing plan. Remember that impeccable skills and experience simply aren’t enough to ensure a successful job search. Promoting yourself is an essential part of getting that first interview; hopefully followed by a job offer.

Let’s take a closer look at what steps to take to best market yourself for petroleum engineering jobs in Seattle and the surrounding metropolitan area.

An Excellent Résumé is a Must

Make the effort to update your résumé, focusing on your tangible achievements. Hiring managers want to see how you will benefit their company as an employee, and they pay close attention to anything in your work history that details any positive impact you’ve made for previous employers.

Don’t forget about marketing yourself Online!

After putting together an excellent résumé, you need to create a digital version of it accessible to hiring managers in your local area. An account on LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, is a must. Treat your LinkedIn profile as essentially an online version of your résumé; be sure to keep it up to date with your latest experience and on-the-job accomplishments.

LinkedIn is a perfect spot to network with petroleum engineering professionals in the Seattle area. Be sure to join any LinkedIn group related to your field, as this is another way to interact with those in the industry. Even consider writing an article or two about petroleum engineering to publish on the site — this is a great way to position yourself as a thought leader in this engineering discipline, and will get you noticed.

Partner with a Leading Staffing Agency

Working with a great staffing agency that specializes in engineering jobs is a smart move. They can help you with authoring your résumé while ensuring your social networking presence enhances any potential job candidacy.

The Talley Group makes a great choice as a partner when looking for petroleum engineering jobs in Seattle. One of the leading engineering staffing agencies in Washington State, their knowledgeable recruiters can ensure your job search is a successful one. Make it a point to schedule some time with them today!

As current engineers from the Baby Boomer generation prepare to retire from the oil and gas industries, combined with new drilling and extraction initiatives, the demand for engineering expertise continues to grow. Attracting women to work in this lucrative industry is an important factor in solving this acute need for engineering talent. Future oil and gas projects remain at risk without a diverse pool of engineers to support this work.

Closing the Gender Gap in Oil and Gas Engineering

Training women engineers starts in the classroom, both in college and at the high school level. A focus on STEM-related disciplines goes a long way in inspiring women to explore an engineering career more closely. For those already in the workforce — in another engineering or technical field — cross-training helps to expose a potential new worker to the unique aspects of oil and gas engineering.

Mentorship, especially from another female engineer if possible, is also important in making newly-minted women engineers feel comfortable on the job — especially if it is actually in the field at an extraction site. A recent study revealed that a strong majority of female engineers in the oil and gas industry feel welcome and would recommend a career in this engineering discipline to other women.

95 percent of those surveyed felt that mentorship helped them in their career. With only 42 percent actively involved in mentoring, companies in this sector need to take an active role in fostering mentorship programs at their workplaces.

Recognizing Women Engineers

The survey also noted that 45 percent of female engineers in oil and gas feel that they don’t receive the same recognition as their male counterparts. This issue, combined with a lower average salary for women, must be dealt with to successfully attract and retain women engineers to the world of oil and gas.

If you are interested in exploring a career in the oil and gas industry, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As a women-owned company and one of the top engineering staffing firms in the Seattle area — and a great source for Seattle engineering jobs — they provide the insight and expertise to ensure your career needs are met. Make it a point to schedule some time with them today!