So what does it take to be employed in the energy field? It all depends on what field you enter. But there are some general requirements. First of all, a high school education is the bare minimum. From the roustabouts and roughnecks drilling for oil to the supervisor of an offshore rig, a high school education is paramount as there are always calculations to be made to ensure personnel safety. For most positions in energy, a college degree is recommended. This can be a two-year degree as a machinist, or a four-year degree in engineering. There is no shortage of work in the energy field. There is a need for men and women to get down and dirty keeping everything running, just as there is a need for bright minds to help discover the future of energy for the US. No matter which part of energy central jobs you examine, there is a need for muscle and a need for brains.
There is also a need for good communication skills for all levels in the energy industry. Roughnecks and derrick men working on a drilling operation need communication, as the drill operator is feeling the earth conditions, the derrick men and others are all coordinating their efforts, and when conditions change, communication between everyone helps to ensure that everyone stays safe. For designers and engineers, communication is also needed, be it through email, phone, faxes, meetings. No matter which field you consider, you need to be proficient in working with others.
Those are the sort of backgrounds that are useful for anyone seeking jobs in energy. More specialized skills are needed when a higher level position is sought after in your job search. There is such a variety of positions available, it is worth while to go into more detail regarding jobs in the energy field. Oil-based jobs revolve around getting oil from the earth and moving it to processing plants, and then to the consumer. From crude oil the end products are propane, butane, gasoline, diesel and many other products used every day. There are a plethora of energy jobs along the way at each stage - drilling, transportation, processing, distribution, and more. Additional careers utilizing non-renewable resources include coal and nuclear power plants.
Then there are plenty of renewable and clean energy jobs that are available. These alternative energy jobs center about renewable resources, and collect energy without detrimental effect to the surrounding environment. Given the global climate and international issues, these careers are ever more essential and show significant growth. Power plants in this job area include water and wind generation, where the flow of nature is harnessed for energy; solar generation, where the massive ball of fusion known as the sun is tapped for service; and so on. This area also focuses on ethanol derived from corn and biodiesel that is similarly derived from renewable resources. In all of these, there is a need for the hard labor, and just as much for creative innovators, engineers, and scientists.
No matter what your background is, there will likely be a job in the energy field which can make best use of your talents. If you are coming from school or from a career outside field, you will need a stunning resume to get your foot into door. Such a resume follows some certain rules on how to sell yourself. What it involves is to take the skills and experience that you have and reframe it to be applicable to an energy career. Most skills can be described using a more general language and in these terms, matching your skills with the skills required by the target career becomes much easier, and potential employers can better evaluate how much you will contribute to their company.
It is best to keep an open mind when searching for a career in energy, since there are so many opportunities, where many energy careers have the possibility for growth and climbing the ladder of advancement. Evaluate your skills and find out how they can be used in one of the different fields. It is also a good idea to identify yourself with a particular field or area in the energy kind of careers. Focus on your job search will ensure the best chance for finding a job which will mesh with your skills and experience.
