Industry Bits

When you’re looking to revamp your resume or to write a new one entirely, starting over can be intimidating – how many pages should you have? Which font do I use? Should I put it on pink, scented paper? Ok, that last one you probably know the answer to (please don’t send an oil and gas company a pink scented resume, even if it would probably generate some laughs) but one of the most important things you should consider early on is what format you want to use. There are three types of resumes, and each one has its individual benefits and downsides. Once you decide which format works best for you, you can just fill it up with the information you do know, and get back to the important decision between Times New Roman and Calibri.

To get an interview in a top oil and gas company, you need to have a killer resume and dazzling cover letter. Cover letters are hard to get right. Most people make the error of mirroring their resume, making it robotic and not as personable as a cover letter medium lends. The perfect cover letter should be an extension of your resume, not a mirror or copy. The cover letter is where you can let a little of your personality and passion shine through and is also a perfect tool to explain inconsistencies or gaps in your resume. The easiest way to think about it is…that it’s a letter! I know, not rocket science, but creating the perfect cover letter could be the difference between getting an interview at your dream oil and gas company or continuing your job search. We put together a helpful format for you to reference when writing your next cover letter below.

Everyone knows that the oil and gas industry is taking a hit right now. With gas prices so low it can be easy to lose heart in the industry. It's not time to hang up your hat yet! In fact, according to industry insider David Vaucher, those that weather this storm will be in an even better position than if prices stayed the same.

Although ageism is illegal, you can still see its presence in every day hiring practices. Usually you can see ageism on the two extreme sides of the job market spectrum, recent graduates and those that have been working in the industry for quite a while. Either way, ageism can be a very frustrating mental challenge during your job search. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you overcome particular stereotypes.

Asking for money is always a tricky bridge to navigate. When is the right time to ask for more? Being in the recruiting game for over 35 years, we’ve seen some unfortunate situations in which a candidate will ask for more money at the wrong time and lose out on their dream job. On the other hand, settling for less than you’re worth really takes a toll on your self-esteem and productivity. Here are a few times in the hiring process when you should and should not ask for more $$$.

Your LinkedIn profile is your online resume. Recruiters and HR professionals are searching the largest professional network for qualified candidates to hire. You want to put as much time and energy into your LinkedIn profile as your resume so you can get found by the right people. Paying attention to the words and phrases you use to describe your experience is important. When faced with writers block, it’s easy to fall into cliché terminology to describe your experience. Buzzwords are a black hole. They are empty and don’t really mean much of anything; kind of like the nothingness of space! Recently, LinkedIn released a list of the 10 most overused words on profiles.