Even with the recent downturn in the oil and gas industry, petroleum engineers remain an in-demand occupation. Boom and bust cycles are a definitely a part of the industry, and the duties of an oil engineer are vital no matter the latest economic news. In many cases, petroleum engineers are performing the necessary site engineering work years before a drilling location produces oil or gas.

Petroleum engineers are only one engineering discipline currently in demand in the marketplace. So, no matter your specific area of expertise, this is a great time to be an engineer. Let’s look more closely at the current market.

Good Engineers Remain Difficult to Find

According to a recent employment industry analytics study, petroleum engineers ranked among the 10 most engineering occupations that are the most difficult to fill. In short, if you are an engineer working in the oil and gas industry, rest assured that you are in demand. On the other hand, recruiters looking for qualified petroleum engineers know that finding quality candidates can be a challenging process.

The most in-demand engineering occupations include human factors engineers and ergonomists, industrial engineers, industrial safety and health engineers, as well as fire prevention and protection engineers. Other disciplines ranking on the employment analytics study with petroleum engineers include traditional positions in the field, such as mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, mining engineers, and chemical engineers.

Once again, it is important to note that the engineering profession tends to be more immune to economic downturns than other occupations. So, if you are interested in entering this field or furthering your engineering career, understand that chances are good your skill set will stay in demand.

Demand for Oil and Gas Engineering Continues to Grow

When the U.S. Congress failed to approve the Keystone XL pipeline late last year, some felt that petroleum engineering employment would suffer as a result. However, the data simply does not support that conclusion.

The same analytics firm that released the study referenced earlier noted that there were 12.5 percent more open positions in the mining and oil and gas sectors in late 2014 compared to the previous year. The need for quality candidates at oil and gas companies were greatest in the entire energy extraction industry, with up to nearly 50 percent of open positions being from firms in that sector.

In short, now is a good time to be a petroleum engineer. Additionally, companies looking for quality candidates in this discipline need to partner with a staffing agency experienced in the field.

When searching for a top ranked staffing company in the world of engineering, look no further than The Talley Group. As one of the top engineering employment agencies in Washington State, we are also a great source for Seattle engineering jobs. So if you are a petroleum engineer looking for a challenging new position, or oil extraction firm hoping to find a perfect candidate, make it a point to schedule some time with us as soon as possible.

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!

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!