Insights on making a successful career change in the Oil and Gas Industry

Change is difficult and terrifying at times. The reason so many people fail to make that big career change is because they fear what the new career might bring. Added to this is the fear of failure which makes it worse.

But change is not impossible and there are people who successfully make it to the other side. Sometimes it is simple. Small and brave steps towards the goal. Every single day. Even when it was difficult and inconvenient.

They weighed all the variables involved and decided to go ahead with it. They asked themselves a few important questions. Now it’s your turn.

The few questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on a career change:

Do you know your Why?

Most of the people end up disliking their work or outgrow their job. The point arrives where they begin to look for a job change. But they do not have much awareness beyond that. This holds true for the oil and gas industry as well – where the verticals are too diverse and thus the job roles are also numerous.

Before considering a career change in the industry, it is important to gain clarity regarding “your why”. Here’s a case in point.

“I started my journey in the Oil and Gas industry as a Field Engineer in Halliburton. After gaining a thorough and first-hand understanding of  Oil and Gas operations in all aspects, I decided to move to a more challenging role. I aimed at leveraging my experience to work with a start-up that is creating an innovative product for the Oil and Gas Industry. In sync with my goal of creating value and ease in the Oil and Gas world, Energy Dais was a natural next step for me,” says Aradhya Trivedi, Former Field Engineer at Halliburton and now, Head of Partnerships at Energy Dais.

If you are not sure about why you are seeking a career change, you could end up in a different place, one that you will ultimately hate. Today, Aradhya is very happy with her work. All the uncalculated risks she took before her career transition worked out well for her. All this because she knew and believed in her “why”.

What does the new career look like?

Once you have figured out why you are seeking a career change, you must explore what does this new job or career look like.

Yes, a lot of people believe that if you follow your passion, everything else will fall into place. But most of the times, your passion and profession can be on two different tangents. It is important to find long-term career fulfillment by leveraging your career capital built over the years. Drawing upon your areas of expertise and developing upon them in innovative and creative ways can open up new doors in your career path.

(Read more: What can a Career Coach do for you?)

What is it going to take?

If you can weigh your skills before applying for the new job role, you can understand better how attractive candidate are you for the job. Do you have all the skills required? Are any certifications, classes, or licenses needed?

Sometimes, just taking an online course or enhancing you proficiency in skills can build so much confidence. There are a lot of online platforms that offer online courses in various streams.

At other times, more extensive education is needed. In this case, you need to consider your options and ask yourself if you are willing to make some investment in this career transition.

There are also additional resources you will need and tradeoffs to further this career transition. For instance, offshore jobs are very challenging and demanding. You will have to stay away from family for a long time and work in harsh conditions. Considering all the factors, ask yourself if you are willing to do all that the new job role takes.

What is your end goal and timeline?

It is important to have clarity regarding your main objective with the new career plan. Once you are certain about that, you can decide upon an ideal timeline.

Break your main goal into major milestones such as required skills, right networking, things you need to take care of in your present job, personal things that need your attention before this career transition.

You can start with a “To Do” list for the career change and assign yourself daily or weekly goals. As you go on to complete these tasks, you will notice how small steps taken in the right direction are helping you move towards the big change.

Are you tracking your efforts?

Track your efforts to analyse how you are doing and what you should be doing next. Simple reminders can help you follow up on things when needed. You will be investing your valuable time and energy to make this big change. Why not invest some time to track your progress as well? It will keep your momentum and confidence high.

A simple Excel spreadsheet can work wonders for tracking your efforts. If you’re not an Excel person, there are many other tools available. Use the one that makes the most sense to you and keep moving forward.

Are you connecting with the right people?

Most importantly, connect with the successful and passionate people within the new area of profession. If you are wondering if they would be willing to give you some input, you need not stress about it. They will be happy to offer you some insights, especially when you appreciate what they are doing professionally or show interest in their work.

However, do remember that nobody appreciates unwelcome questions. Try to make it interesting and approach people with a compliment or some observation about their work profile. Once you have built a rapport with them, you can ask for a favor. Express your gratitude and implement their input, if it fits well in your scheme of things.

Towards a successful career change

A career change can be daunting, especially in an industry as vast and complex as oil and gas. With credible resources and relevant information, the journey can be more productive. Energy Dais, one of the fastest growing oil and gas platforms, offers dedicated career guidance to oil and gas millennials and professionals.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy Dais.)