Although it may be considered one of the toughest jobs in the Oil & Gas Industry, roughnecks start off in a strong position to learn the rig and operations needed to advance within the oilfield ranks.

Starting out, roughnecks are on the lowest rank of the totem pole when it comes to rig workers. Fortunately, they make very good money and most only work half the year! The salary range for roughnecks average between $45,000 to $60,000 per year. When working offshore, most roughnecks work on rotating schedules consisting of 7 days on, and 7 days off, or often 14 days on and 7 days off. When working overseas, a roughneck’s normal rotation is 30 days on and 30 days off.

Roughnecks making up pipe.

Roughnecks – The First Step to an Oil and Gas Career

Roughnecks are at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to offshore work. Most people looking to get into the oil industry with no experience start off by “roughnecking,” but some work their way up as a roustabout (Roustabouts do most of the painting and cleaning so the roughnecks can do the actual drilling work.) Although this is normally a beginner’s position, it offers excellent pay and is an excellent learning opportunity. There is no better way to learn your way around a drilling rig than hands on experience. Roughnecks that put in the hard work and make every effort to learn the rig operations can move up quickly through the chain of command. Many of the top paid rig workers started off as roughnecks before becoming drillers and tool pushers.

So what do Roughnecks do?

Roughnecks spend most of their time on the rig floor connecting joints for the drill string when “making hole.” Also, when pulling pipe, roughnecks are responsible for breaking the connections. The driller is directly in charge of all the roughnecks, and it is his responsibility to keep them safe while coaching them to work quickly and efficiently. Roughnecks typically take care of most of the equipment maintenance on rig used in drilling operations. Although roughnecks spend the majority of their time drilling new wells, they may also be involved in completions as well. Once a well is drilled and oil is found, the producer (Oil company) will come back and complete the well by running additional casing strings (for structural support), packers, artificial lift equipment, SCSSV’s, tubing hangers, and the X-mas tree. Most of these operations are normally supervised and completed by service hands, but the roughnecks are constantly running tubing and helping the service hands as needed.

Band of Brothers; Band of Roughnecks

Roughnecks sure do put in a ton of hard work, but there are still plenty of fun and games. Your coworkers on the rig will soon be like your second family. You’ll both laugh and cry together. You’ll hear stories of each other’s children, tell stories of the latest fishing or hunting trip, and of course you’ll be rooming with one to four other guys. You will definitely get close to some and butt heads with others. This is the oilfield way. Don’t forget about pranks either because roughnecks will get the worse of it from the older guys on the rig. As roughnecks, you’ll want to stick together. So don’t get mad the next time you find a row of ear plugs melted to the top of your hard hat, courtesy of one of your fellow roughnecks.

Working on a drilling rig is tough. You work long hours and will definitely be tired at the end of the day, but you’ll still have time to kick back and have some good times. So what are the living conditions like for roughnecks?

What are the living conditions like for roughnecks?

Living conditions for roughnecks vary widely depending on several factors. When working on land rigs, they could be staying in converted buildings on the grounds of the well site, they could be staying at the nearest hotel, or they could travel from their home if they site is close enough.

Roughnecks working offshore also have some varying conditions. On most jack-ups, inland barges, or drilling platforms roughnecks will be sleeping in a small bedroom with 4 bunks. Communal showers are the norm and are normally located in the locker room where rig workers store their steel toe boots, hardhats, safety glasses, and other rig essentials. Most locations also have a TV room where workers can relax and watch movies on satellite or DVD. The rig will also have a galley that serves hot food at least 4 times a day if there is both a day and a night crew. On some rigs with small galleys, roughnecks and other rig hands have the privilege of eating before the service hands – which many service hands are not always happy about! Hopefully, there is a good cook on board! Roughnecks can expect to eat hamburgers, spaghetti, steaks, and more!

Lastly, the luckiest roughnecks work on the largest and most technologically advanced drilling rigs which are equipped with much nicer facilities. The Cajun Express for example, a large semi-submersible rig, will make you feel like you are staying at a nice hotel when you’ve been working on smaller rigs your whole life! On rigs such as this, roughnecks can enjoy a two bunk room with a personal bathroom and shower connecting two rooms. You may find TV rooms for watching movies, game rooms to play Xbox, and even computer / phone rooms to keep in touch with family. Roughnecks that didn’t get enough of a workout on the rig floor on his 12 hour shift can head to the weight room to build some muscle. On the nicest rigs, the galley is almost like a nice restaurant. Not only do they serve the normal offshore fair, but some rigs will include a second line for healthier food. Maybe you can enjoy some baked tilapia instead of a hot dog with chili. Lastly, you may catch some roughnecks playing a game of poker in the game room which also includes, a foosball table and a shuffle board.

So for all you potential roughnecks looking for a job, start searching for jobs forRoughnecks.

photo credit: yellow book

A History of Port Fourchon

Situated at the southern end of Lafourche Parish at the mouth of Bayou Lafourche, Port Fourchon is the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. While the Port of Houston and Port of Galveston are major import / export hubs, Port Fourchon is the biggest port serving the Oil and Gas industry. In fact, it services over 90% of all the deepwater oil and gas projects in the GOM and 40% of all shallow water projects with over 600 oilfield platforms within a 40 mile radius.

The port comprises over 1700 acres catering to a network of both local and global oilfield companies. According to a report by Loren C. Scott & Associates, a 3 week week loss of operations at the Port of Fourchon, could lead to a loss of 77,440 jobs in the case of a major disaster / hurricane, terrorist attack, or other incident. In Houma, Louisiana alone, over 8,000 jobs are directly tied to the port. More amazingly, over $1.5 billion dollars in business sales are generated from port operations.

Searching for a Job in Port Fourchon

If you are looking for a job in the Oil & Gas Industry or even in the direct oilfield support services market (Catering, Transportation, Sales, Welding, Oilfield Supplies, etc.), Port Fourchon is a good place to start. Fourchon hosts a great number of potential employers to start your new career.

Some of the more notable companies operating out of Port Fourchon are:

Port Fourchon Oilfield Companies
• All Seas
• Anadarko Petroleum
• Apache Corporation
• BHP Billiton
• BP
• Baker Hughes
• Bollinger Fourchon, LLC.
• Cal Dive international
• Chevron North America
• Conoco Phillips Co.
• Delmar Systems
• ENI Petroleum
• ERA Helicopters, LLC.
• Francis Drilling Fluids
• Gator Equipment Rentals
• Halliburton Energy Services
• Magnum Mud Equipment Company
• Marathon Oil Company
• Murphy Exploration & Production Co.
• Newfield Exploration Company
• Newpark Drilling Fluids, Inc.
• Oceaneering International
• Redfish Rentals
• Rowan
• Shell E&P
• Tetra Technologies

No matter what you are looking for, Port Fourchon has a job for you. To start looking for a job in Port Fourchon, check out our job search engine.

photo credit: Da Beez

A New Shoe in Town

We’re not talking about steel toes here. Crocs have quickly become one of the most popular shoes in the Oil & Gas Industry. They can be seen in the galley, in the TV room, in the shower, or anywhere else on the rig or platform.

When it comes to downtime, you can’t beat these lightweight shoes. Just don’t wear them out to the rig floor.

Here are a couple reasons why Crocs have become so popular as the offshore leisure shoe:

• Lightweight
• Water Resistant
• Easy to slip on and off
• You can get them in your team colors, or even camo!

So, what is your favorite non-work shoe when you are offshore?

The project was halted four days into drilling when the moratorium was imposed due to the Macondo blow-out. Having already drilled over 13,500 feet, Noble only has about 5000 feet to go on this “by-pass” well.

This is the first new deep water permit issued since the Moratorium was lifted back in October.

Learn More

photo credit: Panoramas

If you’ve had your fill of working twelve-hour shifts for minimum wage, you might want to consider a job in the oil industry. Not to say that you won’t have to work those twelve hours—you will—and not to say that work won’t be hard, dirty, and possibly dangerous—because it will be. On the upside, you will be well compensated for your efforts; salaries for entry-level positions on offshore rigs range from $47,000 to $80,000 per year.

Check out the examples below or visit our Oilfield Job Descriptions page.

Rig Safety & Training Coordinator: $80,000

Due to the physically demanding nature of rig positions, the potential for personal injury is much higher in oil industry than in many other fields. It is the responsibility of the RSTC to provide safety education and training to rig workers, towards the purpose of minimizing the occurrence of injuries aboard the rig. RSTCs also perform rig inspections and medical examinations of the workers themselves. While no prior experience in the oil industry is required, prior safety training and a medical background is helpful in obtaining this offshore position.

Mud Engineer: $72,500

The Mud Engineer is responsible for controlling drilling fluids, towards the purpose of maximizing oil well production. Additional responsibilities include:

• Cost-to-production assessments.
• Data analysis.
• Supervision of well modifications.
• Division and implementation of well stimulation methods.

The Mud Engineer typically has a BS degree in Chemistry, Petroleum Engineering or a related field, in addition to a keen understanding of the drilling process.

Medic: $69,000

The rig Medic is responsible for aiding the RSTC in medical examinations, the maintenance of sick bay, medical supplies, and medical records. Medics are also approved to dispense medications, under the supervision of the RSTC. Many medics are former nurses or Emergency Transporters (EMTs).

Electrician: $65,000

As the title implies, rig Electricians install, repair and maintain all electrical equipment aboard the rig. In addition to the standard 12-hour shift, emergency overtime is often required. Persons in this position typically have experience as land-based electricians, though not necessarily in the oil industry.

Radio Operator: $62,000

The Radio Operator controls all telecommunications, and maintains all telecommunications equipment aboard the rig. Unlike the majority of offshore positions, the position of Radio Operator is not a physically demanding, though the long hours can be mentally taxing. Key responsibilities of the Radio Operator include:

• Weather report broadcasting.
• Equipment inspection and testing.
• Equipment repair, often using hand tools and power tools.
• Maintaining radio communication regulations, and reporting violations.
• Maintaining station logs of transmissions and receptions.

Radio Operators must be technically minded and detail orientated. Technical training is typically conducted by the hiring company.

Welder: $62,000

The permanent Rig Welder is responsible for daily repairs and maintenance, in addition equipment installation aboard the rig. For larger jobs, a team of welders may be hired on a contract basis to assist the permanent Rig Welder. While no experience in the oil industry is required for this position, vocational training and welding experience is a necessity.

Materials Storeman: $59,000

The Materials Storeman is responsible for maintaining stock supplies aboard the rig. Duties include shipping and receiving, stocking, and database maintenance. Heavy sleepers need not apply for this position; cargo is received at all hours of the day and night.

Cook: $59,000

As every worker on the rig needs to eat, in order to remain productive, rig Cook is one of the most essential positions on the rig. Be prepared, however, to do most of the cleaning and kitchen maintenance yourself, or with the help of a Steward or two.

Painter: $57,500

I’ll bet you never considered making fifty-grand a year painting walls, but that’s just what you’ll do on an offshore rig. Due to the continual installation, maintenance and replacement of rig equipment, the job of a Painter is never ending. Persons with a fear of heights need not apply; rig Painters are often required to work from great heights, with the assistance of a scaffolding harness or work basket.

Motorman: $57,500

The Motorman is responsible for maintaining the working integrity of the rig’s engines, to include the engines that power rig drilling equipment. Additional duties include:

• Training Roustabouts and Roughnecks.
• Maintaining and lubricating drilling machinery.
• Maintaining the working integrity of drill tongs.
• All duties pertaining to the rig’s boilers.
• Periodical testing of drilling equipment.
• Ordering tools and replacement parts.

If you have a degree in Mechanics, or mechanical vocational training, you can start in this position with no previous offshore experience. If you do not have mechanical training, but you are interested in learning, you can begin as a Roustabout or Roughneck, and later be promoted to this position.

Scaffolder: $57,500

While there is no permanent Scaffolder on the rig, you can find steady scaffolding work in the oil industry, provided you don’t mind extensive travel. Scaffolding teams are hired on a contract basis to complete work on various rigs. Once the work on one rig is done, your contract is likely to extend to include jobs on other rigs. This position is akin to painting, insofar as it requires you to work from great heights, with the assistance of a scaffolding harness or basket.

Roustabout: $54,500

The Roustabout performs multiple manual labor tasks, to include cleaning, heavy lifting, supplying equipment to the deck and drill floor, and guiding the crane to move heavy cargo loads. Due to the physically demanding, non-technical nature of this position, it is one of the easiest positions to obtain, and one of the hardest to execute. In order to apply for a Roustabout position, you must have a high school degree or GED equivalent. You must also be in peak physical condition, and be able to lift 50 lbs or more on a daily basis.

Maintenance Roustabout: $47,000

Essentially an assistant to the Roustabout, the main duties of the Maintenance Roustabout include cleaning, stocking, and possibly painting, on the deck and drill floor. While not quite as physically demanding as the Roustabout position, Maintenance Roustabouts must nonetheless maintain peak physical health, and be able to lift 50 lbs or more.

photo credit: Sahaja Meditation

Making a Good Impression at a Job Interview

A job interview is a lot like the first day of school. While it was important to know the name of the school, the school’s location, what time you were supposed to be there, and the supplies you needed for the first day, chances are, the first thing you did to prepare for the first day school was to go shopping for new school clothes.

This was smart of you. Though it may sound trite and over simplistic, the presentation of your personal appearance was connected to your success at school, and the same is true of your success at a job interview. Don’t believe me? In a recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com, 51 percent of hiring supervisors cited inappropriate dress as the number one interview mistake. What’s interesting is that your way of dress is merely one factor of what this mistake really entails: poor presentation of your personal image.

Additional factors contributing to your personal image include:

• Arrival time.
• The ability to back up your resume with solid examples.
• The ability to effectively display your communication skills.
• Perception of physical health.
• Perception of mental acuity.
• Proficiency in technical skills.
• Overall perception of professionalism and the ability to handle stress.
• The ability to connect yourself to the job you’re applying for.

Out of respect for the 51 percent, however, let’s start with the physical dress and work our way down from there.

Dress Appropriately

Dressing appropriately means different things for different job interviews, but essentially it means dressing in a way that conveys professionalism and your ability to do the job. For instance, when applying for a clerical position in a small firm, business casual is your best bet. For men, this means slacks and possibly a tie; for women, a solid-colored pantsuit or skirt and blouse will suffice. If the clerical position is for a larger company, step it up with a formal jacket over the tie or skirt.

Conversely, when applying for a manual labor position, dress should be more functional in nature. Consider a nice button shirt and khaki pants, paired with comfortable shoes you can do some walking in. The shoes are particularly important if you’re applying for an outdoors position, factory position, or a position on a production platform. In these instances, there is a good chance the interview will entail a tour of the work area, and you want to be able to keep up with the interviewer.

Personal hygiene is another important factor. Shower, shave, comb your hair, brush teeth and don’t smoke before an interview. In fact, it is best to avoid any scent—either from cigarette smoke or perfume—that might offend or irritate a potential employer. Sticking to soap and a reliable deodorant is your safest bet.

Be on Time

Regardless of what you’re wearing, few things look worse to a potential employer than being late. Avoid this common mistake by doing the following:

• Find the location of the interview beforehand and record how long it took you to get there.
• People living in cities or greater metropolitan areas should allow 30 to 45 minutes extra for unexpected traffic delays.
• If the interview is in the morning, makes sure to set numerous alarms and iron your clothes the night before.

Know Your Resume

Know your resume inside and out. Be prepared to discuss former positions in detail, to include primary responsibilities and specific contributions to former employers. Chances are, the interviewer will ask for examples of these throughout the interview, as the primary objective of an interview is to match the face with the words on paper. Conducting a practice interview with a friend is an excellent way to preparation for this. While you may have a general idea of how you’ll respond to general questions, being prepared with a few concrete answers to concrete questions is a better bet.

Repeat After Me: “I will not tell a lie.”

Though a beefed up resume may get you in the door, it will do little else for you once the interviewer realizes you have lied, or even exaggerated. This is especially true regarding technical skills. Rather than exaggerate, do your best to accurately and effectively display your technical skills via solid examples of past applications of those skills.

This is also a test of your communication skills, and particularly your ability to communicate under stress. After all, interviews are stressful situations, as any interviewer knows as well the person she’s interviewing. For this reason, clearly communicating your professional skills and contributions to past employers is one of the keys to a successful interview.

Keep it Professional

References to your personal life tell the interviewer one thing: your personal life is more important to you than your professional life, which is often perceived as a weakness in the professional world. For this reason, you should avoid references to your personal life at all costs. Instead, keep your examples strictly pertaining to the professional environment, regardless of how you might also use professional skills—such as negotiation skills—in your personal life.

Do your Research

Consult the Internet, public library, and professional publications regarding the company and specific position you are applying for. Get a firm handle on the services and products the company offers, and think of a few solid ways in which you could enhance productivity and/or service.

Connect Yourself with the Position You’re Applying For

Forty-eight percent of hiring supervisors say that appearing disinterested is the number one way to blow a job interview. In other words, connecting yourself to the company and the position you’re applying for is imperative to the success of job interview. Not only does it show that you’ve done your research, but also that you’re excited about the prospect of working for the company and that you can contribute in multiple ways. This, more than anything, is what an employer wants to see.

photo credit: {Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}

It isn’t always what you know, but who you know, and this is particularly true in the highly competitive professional world. Chances are, there are several people with your set of skills applying for similar jobs at any one time. Having an in, therefore, is an excellent way to set yourself apart from the mass of applicants.

Fortunately, it has never been easier to expand your contact list. What follows are a few simple strategies for taking your network to the next level.

Ask for Referrals

Sales people do this all the time. When they speak to one person regarding a product, they ask for the names of five more people who might be interested in the same product. Similarly, anyone speaking to anyone else regarding professional matters can ask for the names of other knowledgeable people in the field. Think of it as selling yourself. Not in the lady-of-the-night sort of way, but in the way that your professional skills—to include your education, communication skills, technical skills, etc.—are essentially is commodity to be sold, and the more people who see the commodity, the higher the chances of finding a buyer. In the others words, it isn’t so much the people you know, but the people who know you.

Treat Everyone as a Potential Contact

The hairdresser, bartender, gas attendant, and the guy who pours your morning latte are all potential connections to professional contacts. This is especially true of people in the service industry, as everyone—even Donald Trump—has to eat and drink between meetings. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to make friends with your neighborhood bartender or newspaper vendor, as there is simply no substitute for being open to talking to people.

Write a Letter

It may not be a substitute for talking to people, but it is an excellent follow-up or initial contact strategy. For instance, if you read an article in a trade magazine that you found helpful or merely interesting, send a letter of thanks to the author, introducing yourself and your work in the field. Speaking of trade magazines, there is nothing to stop you from contributing yourself. In fact, there is no better way to show your expertise in a field than to put it down in writing. Publishing in a professional magazine is an excellent way to garner exposure for your personal skill set, which goes back the notion of it being more about who knows you, than the people you know.

Read a Letter

Or an article, or a book, or virtually anything written by a respected professional in your field. Not only will you find much of the information invaluable, you will also become acquainted with key figures in your chosen profession to whom you shouldn’t hesitate to introduce yourself. Introductions can be made via letter, email, telephone call or even a scheduled business meeting. After all, these people are working the network too. If you have something to offer—such as superior skills, services, or networking contacts—they will be just as eager to meet you, as you are to meet them.

Show Up

Don’t just show up for work, but also for drinks after work, company dinners, professional trade shows, conventions, fundraisers, commerce and association meetings. The more involved you are in as many facets of your profession as are available to you, the more contacts you will amass along the way.

This will also build your reputation as a person who goes the extra mile. Think of it as the ‘fine person’ or humanitarian factor. As a general rule, people like to do business with people they respect, and few things gain more respect than giving back to a professional community. Doing what is expected is one thing; exceeding expectations is quite another.

Link It

Professional networking sites such as Linked-in and Facebook, give you the opportunity to connect with millions of people globally. Basic membership for these sites is free, though the details of ‘basic membership’ vary. Linked-in—considered the number one professional networking site—offers the most for basic membership. With over 70 million members in 200 countries, to include several Fortune 500 members, Linked-in Basic allows you to create a professional profile and perform searches for current and former colleagues, supervisors, and business connections. You can also join professional groups and participate in online forums. Premium membership essentially links your account to Google and Yahoo search engines, thereby increasing your accessibility. Additional tools include:

1. Professional information management.
2. Data collaboration tools.
3. Employment leads.
4. Resume building tools.
5. The ability to link your account to Twitter.

Just remember to follow-up online connections with a personal letter, telephone call, or scheduled meeting, as this will set you apart from 70 million other members looking to get ahead.

Don’t Fake It

The personal follow-up shows you are genuinely interested in cultivating a working relationship, as opposed to merely killing a few hours online. It also shows you aren’t one to hide behind your resume or list of technical skills, which will get you nowhere in terms of networking. In other words, you need to get out there, show your face, really talk and—more importantly—listen to people; and not just about professional matters, but personal victories such as marriages, births, college graduations and completed marathons. Professional networking is social networking at its heart, insofar as people always appreciate being congratulated, consoled, or simply wished well, regardless of business. Your best bet is to begin with the professional aspect and treat the personal aspect as supplement. What this says to people is, “Yes, we are all professionals, and yes, we do have a job to do; but we are also people with families and hobbies, and this is good too.”

Showing a person you see them as a person, and not merely as step up the ladder is essential to professional networking. After all, you don’t like to be stepped on anymore than the next guy. Better to climb the ladder with people, therefore, than to treat them as the ladder itself.

photo credit: alancleaver_2000

Congratulations on passing the preliminary screening process! Now the real work of the interview begins.

Think of the interview as your first day. It is, after all, the first time you meet your potential employer face to face, and the only shot at first impression you will get with him. With this in mind, there a few painfully common mistakes you will want to avoid in the interview process; fortunately, the majority of them are easy to avoid as they are to commit.

Dressing Inappropriately

According to a recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com, 51 percent of hiring managers listed inappropriate dress as the number one interview mistake. What may be surprising to some, however, is that dressing inappropriately doesn’t simply mean “dressing down” for an interview, but several other things, such as the following:

• Dressing too formally (wearing a suit to a manual labor interview).
• Wearing sneakers with the suit.
• Dressing too suggestively (such as a low-cut blouse or mini-skirt).
• Wearing too much jewelry, or even the wrong kind of jewelry(oversized; cheap).
• Wearing too much cologne / perfume.

As a general rule, you should dress in a way that presents you as suitable for the position you’re applying for. For instance, when a applying for a construction job, forego the suit for a button-up shirt and pair of dress slacks. Still professional looking, but also suggesting you could roll your sleeves up and start today if you were asked to. Similarly, female applicants should dress in flattering, yet functional clothing for most positions. Perfume should be avoided, and jewelry—if any—should be kept to a simple pair of studs, in addition to your wristwatch.

Arriving Late

Speaking of watches, don’t forget to consult one from time to time. Arriving late for an interview is damaging for multiple reasons. To begin, if you’re late for the interview, you can hardly be relied on to arrive on time on a daily basis. Secondly, it cheats you of time for a last minute run to the restroom or check of your interview notes. The only thing worse than arriving late, is arriving unprepared, which is often the outcome of arriving late. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest mistakes to avoid. Scout the location of the job interview beforehand and record how long it took you to get there. If it took you 15 minutes on a clear day with no traffic, allow 30 to 45 minutes travel time on the day of the interview. Go to bed early the night before, and set multiple alarms to ensure waking up on time. Wash, iron, and lay out your clothes the night before, in order to last minute delays due to lost shoes or iron-malfunctions. If you live in a large, metropolitan area, check the traffic report as soon as you wake up and plan accordingly.

Appearing Negative or Disinterested

Second to dressing inappropriately, speaking negatively of a former employer is one of the biggest interview mistakes. Regardless of how you feel about your last boss, the way you refer to her is taken as an indication of how you refer to bosses in general, and no boss likes to be referred to in the negative. Similarly, appearing disinterested in the company or position you’re applying for is a huge turnoff. People are hired, after all, based on the contributions they can make to the hiring company; an apathetic employee can hardly be expected to contribute much.

Appearing Arrogant

Clearly presenting your strengths and past accomplishments is one thing; bragging and acting as though the position is beneath you, is quite another. A good rule of thumb is to wait for the interviewer to ask about your strengths and weaknesses, and then to reply concisely with a few solid examples of each. Though many potential employees are reluctant to discuss their weaknesses, being able to do so can be seen as a strength, in addition to a solid display of humility.

Not Asking the Right Questions

This goes back to the disinterested factor. If you are unable convince an employer of your interest in the position, there is simply no way you will be considered for employment. Examples of questions to ask include:

• What are some of your expectations for a person in this position?
• What is the primary responsibility of a person in this position?
• Are there ways a person in this position could possibly exceed your expectations?
• Are there additional responsibilities I could possibly assume after learning the basics?

Essentially, the questions you ask should reflect your excitement about the ways you can contribute to the company. They should not, on the other hand, revolve solely around salary or position hours.

Failure to Conduct Proper Research

Questions should also reflect your knowledge of the company, which is why it is important to research the services and products provided by the company, beforehand. In the majority of cases, a simple “google” of the company’s name will take car of this one. For more obscure companies, consult your local library, professional magazines and any current or former employees available to you.

Inability to Give the Right Answers

While the details of interviews vary, be prepared to answer a few standard questions, such as the following:

• Why do you want to work here?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• How has your education and/or past experiences prepared you for work with this company?

And of course, the ever dreaded:

• • So, tell me about yourself.

Having answers prepared for these questions and others like them will give you solid foundation to work from in the interview process. It will increase your confidence, which the potential employer is bound to pick up on.

Failure to Ask for the Job

Though this may seem like a no-brainer, it is one of the most common and easily avoidable interview mistakes. You don’t have to get down on your knees and beg; you don’t even have to say “please.” What you do have to do is end the interview by expressing your excitement about the position, and your hope of hearing from the employer soon.

In the highly competitive field of offshore oil drilling, starting salaries for the majority of positions are relatively high, with many salaries beginning at $60,000 or more. The downside of a high starting salary is that it can be difficult to negotiate future pay raises. This is particularly true of the oil industry, where high salaries for entry-level positions draw more applicants than many companies can support. For this reason, it is imperative to plan the request for a pay raise carefully, as a hasty request will almost always result in failure.

Market Research

Begin by researching the average pay scale for your position, going off a regional, as opposed to a national average, as salaries vary from region to region. For example, a Petroleum Engineer in Alaska makes $74,000 a year on average, while a Petroleum Engineer in Texas makes only $61,000. Determining how your salary compares to the regional average for your position is the first step in evaluating the likeliness of a pay raise.

Company Research

The next step is becoming familiar with the company’s history of pay for your position. This can be tricky, as the information may be harder to come by, and may require you to approach colleagues and/or supervisors for verification. Your best bet is to gather as much information on your own as possible; then, if you feel the need to consult an outside source, begin with a trusted coworker, not directly affected by your request of a pay raise.

Professional network associations are an excellent resource. While the information may be less accurate coming from an employee with another company, it will still give you a general idea of how people in your region are being compensated for similar work, without involving colleagues or supervisors.

It is also important to become familiar with the company’s pay practices. Are there certain times of evaluation throughout the year when bonuses and pay raises are awarded? Is there a formula or prescribed procedure for requesting a pay raise? If so, stick to that. Adhering to a company’s procedures increases your chance of success for two reasons: first off, your employer is prepared to hear your case; and secondly, it shows respect for the company’s agenda. If, on the other hand, you are unaware of an established procedure, consult the company’s handbook for a general idea when a raise in pay is typically granted.

Deciphering What You’re Worth

Remember: a pay raise is based on your contributions to the company. More specifically, a pay raise is based on how your contributions to the company exceed expectations for your current position, such as in the form of added responsibilities or more employees under your supervision. A pay raise is never based on your need of more money.

For this reason, it is important to assert the ways in which you contribute more than what is expected, and to support these assertions with detailed documentation. Make a list of objectives you have helped to accomplish for the company. Prepare productivity and cost-savings analyses, as directly related to your job performance. Accrue personal testimonials from customers, coworkers, and immediate supervises citing instances of superlative performance. Make a list responsibilities added to your job position. Highlight responsibilities assumed of your own volition, and be prepared to describe in detail how these have contributed to company goals.

Setting the Date

Once you have completed your market research, company research, and an evaluation of your professional worth, proceed by setting an appointment with your supervisor. When setting the appointment, be clear about your wish to discuss a raise in pay, as this will avoid your supervisor feeling threatened or unprepared. Just as you have conducted research on your end, any supervisor willing to consider a raise in pay will want to conduct similar research with the Human Resources Department. Similarly, supervisors resistant to discussing a raise will be even more resistant if they feel blindsided.

In the Room

During the meeting, be direct and forthcoming about the specific amount of raise in pay you would like to see. Do not ask for less than you want, simply because you doubt you will get it. Rather, be bold in asking for an amount you think is fair, and be prepared to negotiate from there. Once again, the request of a pay raise is based on your ability to contribute more to the company than what you are currently be compensated for. If you are well prepared with documentation to support this assertion, your immediate supervisor is likely see within the first few minutes that a pay raise is justified.

Leverage Tactic

If you are planning to use another job offer as leverage, save yourself some time and simply take the other job. Again, no one likes to feel threatened, which is exactly what the “leverage tactic” does: it threatens people. Not to say that you should jump the gun and take another job when you would rather not, or that you shouldn’t consider taking another job if your request of pay raise is denied. Begin by being honest with yourself about what you want—be it a raise in pay, positional promotion, or company change—and act accordingly. Assuming you would rather maintain your current position with your current employer than change employers, go ahead with the request of a pay raise and take it from there. If your request is denied, you now have the option to take another other job, or to lay the groundwork for a future pay raise request, without stepping on any toes.

Bottom Line

Requesting a pay raise shows initiative, self-confidence, and most importantly your value to the company. Even if a raise cannot be granted immediately, it will doubtless set you apart from the masses, and may lead to a pay raise in the future. For this reason, if you are truly being undercompensated for the work you perform, it is never a bad idea to ask for a pay raise. The key is to be respectful, well prepared, and well presented. If you do it right, you might get exactly what you want.

Job searches are difficult. They are time consuming. They are generally a pain in the you know what.

What would you say if I could increase the chance of you landing the job interview that you want by making a few simple changes to your resume? This is the same trick that recruiters use to give their candidates the advantage. Most importantly, it works!

Getting Noticed

Employers receive hundreds of resumes for each job they post. So, how do you make sure that your resume gets noticed when there are so many people competing for the same job? First, you need to think about how employers sort through such a large number of applications. Some employers are going to do a quick scan through each resume to see how closely the applicants match the open position. Increasingly more employers are scanning resumes and converting them into searchable electronic records. This way they can quickly search for certain “keywords” that they think the right candidate will possess.

They key to getting your resume noticed is to use the same “keywords” that are used in the job posting.

First, you need to identify the position you are applying for in your heading or in your objective statement, depending on the format of your resume. Use the same job title that the job posting uses. For example, say you are applying to a Completions Engineer position, and the posting also includes that they want someone with a strong customer focus. You could put in your heading, “Experienced Completions Engineer with a strong customer focus.

The job posting tells you exactly the type of employee that the employer is looking for to fulfill their open position. For example, if company XYZ needs someone with strong communication skills, you should add “strong communication skills” to your resume and cite an example of how you have used this skill in your job in the past.

Get Ahead

It may take a little while longer to customize your resume for each job application, but it will be 10X more effective than blasting out the same resume to 50 separate jobs at a time. For such a simple trick, many people do not take the time to put in the extra work, or maybe, they just don’t know any better. Use it to your advantage, and you just might land your dream job!