Top 5 Most Unique Things About the Oil & Gas Industry | A Newbie's Perspective

As a newbie to the Oil and Gas industry, I've observed some things that stood out to me right away. My career background has been in various fields such as legal, accounting and construction. From what I've seen in the past six months in O&G is that this industry is far more intense in terms of pace of work, daily challenges, and radical change.

Many of the O&G employees I've come to know have worked in it their entire lives. They're insulated from the outside view of their industry. I thought it might be interesting to share what I've seen as unique about the industry since my take is so fresh.

I've compiled a list of my top five observations over the past six months of working as a Marketing Assistant at a drill bit/motor manufacturing company. Keep in mind that I am still learning, and as my career within O&G deepens, so too will my insights.

1) Your network is your lifeline.

The O&G industry expands and contracts, it breathes, inhaling and exhaling like an asthmatic dragon. Companies grow and shrink as the market adjusts to the cycles. To combat the upheaval and not get lost in the shuffle it's imperative that O&G employees find their niche and connect to a team.

My first week on the job I asked a co-worker about his career goals. He responded that he "goes wherever his team goes." Clearly, he had found a network that worked for him. After meeting multiple O&G employees, it became obvious that most were hired because they had made the right connections.

A strong network can lead you to future employment in a competitor company. My fellow O&G employees always maintained a sense of respect towards the competition. Most worked for rival companies at one time or another and they did not oust people from their network merely because they found employment elsewhere. With upheaval looming, you just never know who might be signing your paycheck in the future, so it's best to not burn any bridges.

2) Believe in your own legend.

I've never been in an industry where I've heard so many life stories. People here are proud of their achievements and are quick to share them when meeting someone new. From what I've observed, the typical O&G introduction includes a hand shake and exchange of names followed by a conversation related to their work history, who they know, and where they've made their mark.

Coming from other industries, where most titles are earned in a classroom instead of the field, I found this approach to personal success refreshing. It bolstered me to strengthen my own voice and realize the importance of my own achievements regardless of formal training.

Furthermore, the O&G industry requires tough-as-nails grit. The ferocity of work pace allows no time for shyness. A direct approach to networking wastes no one's time and ensures you've made a long-lasting impression. One thing is for certain--I haven't forgotten a single person who shared their story with me.

3) Listen up.

Having the mindset that someone might know something you don't can save you a lot of time, expense, and stress. That might seem like a worn out platitude, but it is especially true in O&G where the workflow is as constant as the earth's rotation. In my six months as an O&G employee, I've witnessed firsthand (not outing anyone here) where issues took twice as long to reach resolution because communication either wasn't taken seriously or was completely ignored.

Good communication requires speaking and responsiveness. Great communication requires doing that along with diligent listening and awareness. Walking into work with the attitude that you already know everything serves no one and fosters a culture of stagnation. This demeanor is especially harmful in an industry that relies upon knowledge advancement in order to keep up with market changes and rapid technological growth. A teachable, coachable O&G employee is a valuable asset and will rapidly enhance their skill set as well as their network.

4) Sharing is Caring.

The topic of knowledge-share cannot be thoroughly told in a few simple sentences, but we can chalk it up to this: meaningful knowledge transfer, both internally among employees and externally between companies, contributes to a robust industry.

O&G is in a unique position due to the rapid technological advancement in nearly every field it encompasses. We're presented with the question of information relevancy and what is actually worth sharing. Still, we cannot assume that what we know is common knowledge. By regularly exchanging information on what works for us in terms of processes and technology we open the gate for further advancement and leave a legacy for future generations.

Generally speaking, participation requires we swallow our pride in terms of admitting we may not have the information another company does, and/or communicating what we do have in a way that ensures we're understood. Internally, companies must have a way employees can regularly connect across departments so that incoming information is not compartmentalized. On a more individual level, the increasing amount of retirees from the field are taking with them years of experience and history that new ones in the industry would do well to have from the start. Communicating information is key, and finding ways to share it is what makes for a stronger, better oilfield.

5) The future is in the data.

A stroll past the booths at an O&G conference shows that tech and software companies have become major players in the industry. Tech companies that monitor and sort data are exploding with growth. Take for instance Corva, Wellsite, and Drilling Info--just to name a few.

The oilfield is fertile ground for a software that understands antiquated business practices and translates them into the high efficiency standards necessary for the demands of the future. Wellsite is one such software that meets and exceeds these demands using unprecedented data management coupled with automation for every step in the oilfield.

Working one-on-one with Wellsite has given me the opportunity to see back-office automation and conversation AI from a whole different perspective. For example, I can talk to a smart speaker and ask it questions about an active project in the field rather than manually fumbling through computer files, emails and online sites for the data. This advanced software program handles the monotonous, rudimentary tasks that come with the high-volume of information generated in our industry. It frees up employees to to focus on more valuable projects and upgrades the company overall. I'm personally thrilled to see companies like Wellsite stepping up to make communication and processes faster and more efficient. A whole new oilfield shines bright on the horizon, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

There you have it--my top five most unique things that stood out to me about O&G. So far, I've had nothing but amazing experiences and met a lot of genuine, talented people. As a person who is always up for a challenge, I find that working O&G is the perfect fit for me, and I hope to nurture my career as the years go by.