Most valued Soft Skills in Oil and Gas Industry

It is generally perceived that the oil and gas industry is all about a high degree of technical skills or hard skills. Considering the challenges the industry poses, soft skills have an important place here. The Global Oil and Gas Training and Development Survey by SPE and BP, revealed that soft skills are regarded as more important than technical skills for career progression in the oil and gas industry.

Understanding the essence of Soft Skills

“Soft skills get little respect but they will make or break your career”

Such is the power in soft skills. These skills are more about everything that makes you who you are, rather than what you know. The character traits that go on to define your personality and decide how well you interact with others, are part of the soft skills. Learning hard skills and achieving perfection is not that difficult but acquiring soft skills and adapting to changes is quite a challenge. These character traits and interpersonal skills go a long way in deciding an individual’s relationship with other people or colleagues. At the workplace, soft skills complement the hard skills.

(Read more: 7 Most Desirable Soft Skills in the Workplace)

Highly Valued Soft Skills in the Oil and Gas Industry

It’s a challenging time to be entering the oil and gas workforce for the first time. But if you have decided to build a career in this industry, you can take your professional journey to new heights with the help of these soft skills – the ones that are highly valued in the industry.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Studies have revealed that oil and gas millennials believe in the power of collaboration and love to work in teams. There are challenging tasks at hand where different groups need to work together for best results. Oil and gas companies are encouraging collaboration and teamwork within their organization to deal with the inherent turmoil in the industry. People who can be fantastic team players are highly appreciated and regarded as organizational assets.  

Leadership

Effective leadership is one of the critical soft skills needed in the oil and gas industry. When companies identify leadership qualities in their employees, they are ready to invest in their training and development. The industry welcomes people who can lead others by example. The oil and gas organizations of modern times are focusing upon developing leaders of tomorrow.

Communication Skills

Most of the job and its successful execution depends upon how effectively it has been communicated to the team members or authorities involved. Based on the project, you will be required to request information, provide instructions, discuss challenges, work in teams, interact with colleagues, management, and clients. For effective cooperation and teamwork, strong communication skills are important. Also as the oil and gas workforce is highly global in nature, you must consider the relevance of communicating well in an extremely diverse environment.

Time Management

The ability to multitask in a high pressure environment and prioritise tasks accordingly is a highly valued skill in the oil and gas industry. Usually, oil and gas professionals in the industry work on multiple projects at a time. The ability to meet deadlines is crucial. In the beginning of your career, by managing your time well, you will not only gain confidence but also establish trust among your colleagues and management.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

As the industry moves towards digitalization and a high technology environment, the demand for creative and innovative solutions is on the rise. The oil and gas companies are seeking skills in individuals that support the digital oil and gas industry. Just identifying problems is not enough, coming up with effective solutions which require critical thinking ability is very important.

Global Thinking

It goes without saying that the oil and gas sector is highly global in nature. An industry that spans across the globe and affects everything that surrounds us directly or indirectly, would certainly welcome people who can work in a diverse environment. That’s how the industry aims for diversity and inclusion.