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.

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!

Petroleum engineering is a field that involves a lot of travel and excitement. Those of you hoping to combine a love for the scientific and problem-solving aspects of engineering with the ability to travel to interesting locales all over the world need to explore becoming an oil and gas engineer.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what is involved in the life of a petroleum engineer. One thing for sure: it is definitely not a boring desk job.

“It’s a gambler’s life”

When asked to describe his profession, one petroleum engineer remarked: “It’s a gambler’s life.” Spending most of your time on the road in a variety of unusual locations while applying time-honed engineering skills, also seems like a life of adventure. Most petroleum engineers become involved with all aspects of their work — from selecting a drilling location to helping extract the oil from the ground.

It’s a high-risk field that combines engineering, risk, and a bit of thrill-seeking. Petroleum engineers are able to use their heads and also get their hands dirty while out in the field.

Scouting Potential Drilling Sites

A petroleum engineer’s day might involve scouting a potential drilling site. After one is chosen, samples need to be taken for further analysis. This detailed look at the site determines the potential amount of oil or gas in the area, at what depth it is located, and the type of equipment necessary to extract the product.

If the site meets requirements, the engineer helps to supervise the construction of the rig, extraction operations, and finally the rig removal and site clean-up. Self-confidence and the ability to make important decisions quickly is a must, as dealing with drilling failures or barren sites is an important part of the job. An undergraduate degree in one of the earth sciences is a requirement, and many petroleum engineers also hold advanced degrees.

If you like to take risks and have a sharp mind for engineering, then a career as a petroleum engineer might be for you. Make a call to the engineering staffing experts at The Talley Group, one of the best sources for petroleum engineering jobs. Schedule some time with them today!

Petroleum engineering remains a lucrative area for new and experienced engineers. Salaries continue to be on the rise, with a base pay comfortably in the six-figure range. It also has the added benefit of time spent out of the office on field studies and other activities.

Let’s review where current salaries for engineers in the petroleum industry stand in 2013. The salary data is from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

Petroleum Engineer Salaries are High and Growing

According the SPE survey respondents, average salaries for petroleum engineers grew by 6.5 percent in 2013. The mean base pay of $153,620 was actually in between the reported means in the previous two years.

Bonus compensation rose to $64,000 last year, giving a total average take home pay of $203,557 for oil and gas engineers in 2013. These good salary tidings affected most engineers, as nearly 80 percent of the surveyed personnel reported higher pay in 2013 compared to the previous year.

North America is the Place to be for Petroleum Engineers

The United States and Canada sported the highest salaries for petroleum engineers compared to other worldwide locales. Take home pay (including salary and bonus compensation) topped out at nearly $250,000 in both countries, with Canada slightly exceeding the U.S.

The North Sea and North Atlantic region was next, followed by Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania. Total pay in both regions neared the $200,000 mark. The Middle East came close to $175,000 in take home pay, but many engineering jobs in that area come with the added benefit of no income tax.

Over 95 percent of the survey respondents were full-time employees on a regular payroll. Nearly 2.5 work as contract, freelance or part-time engineers and around 2 percent are either self-employed or business owners. The respondents work for an array of company types, including the service and manufacturing sector, as well as both commercial and national oil and gas companies.

If the lucrative pay of petroleum engineers is putting visions of dollar signs in your eyes, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. If you are looking for petroleum engineering contracts in Seattle, contact our experienced team today.