Qualified Job Seekers Find Options as Energy Industry Embraces Diversity

“One of our 50-year-old woman human resources partners in the healthcare arena decided to make a change after an 18-year career during the most recent economic downturn,” Norris said. “She received a great offer and is in a financially rewarding position. She is on a fast track with an entrepreneurial company.”

Rose recalled a Rice University-educated woman who started her career with a major energy company and began moving up, but then hit a wall because of a lack of leadership skills.

“I tell women to take risks, become more visible, master their position and then move to another one to acquire and master new skills, and to have a career plan and a strategy. It is difficult for women in the workplace, but I tell them to focus on challenges no one else wants, rather than focusing on what they won’t let you do. Be open to new opportunities, speak up and be confident,” she said.

“Women don’t say they are leaving because of not earning as much as a man,” Hill said. “They leave because of the corporate culture, or because they perceive a lack of loyalty on the part of the company.”

Companies that are quick to lay people off when the economy shows signs of slowing down signal a lack of loyalty to employees. Recently, at a small firm with 30 employees, six of them separately contacted Hill looking for a new position.

“It’s not just about salary. Employees today want to make an impact. Or, some of them may want to work remotely. They have a life outside of work,” Hill said, “and companies wishing to retain good people are making changes that benefit both women and men.”

The fact that men also stand to benefit from the same changes that companies are making to attract qualified women workers is a positive consequence of the working woman dynamic. Savvy companies realize that it is shortsighted to spend money recruiting and training good candidates, only to lose them within a few years. However, the traditional corporate ladder approach to a career in not working for an increasingly large part of the worker population, and this is as true for men as for women.


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WHAT DO YOU THINK?


Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

Reg MacDonald  |  January 06, 2014
I have got to agree with what is being written in this editorial as we are seeing the baby boomers retire. We are actually seeing shortages before the economy comes fully online. I am wondering what the industry is going to look like when the world economy gets back on track and a shift upward in the natural gas prices. The demands on our resources will be tremendous and equipping the rigs with personnel will be very challenging at the least. This year has been a winter freeze with one of the coldest in years along with record snow falls and in combination causing havoc and utilizing a lot of energy. The oil and gas industry is also facing competition with other industries also in the same situation and looking to retain the same workforce. The industry at times is hard to sell with its cyclical trends and companies not being realistic to training needs at the entry level where our future talent, begin their journey. I thoroughly believe that women will be a leading factor in the future of this industry and the industry is moving in a direction with new generation rigs that provide computer operated system and robotics which allow women the opportunity to engage this industry. Although hard work is still required the job tasks are moving more to maintaining this new age equipment. Recently I had two female students from Texas who came to Canada to obtain training for this industry. Both Mother and Daughter dominated the 20 day Pre Employment Program for Land and Offshore Drilling Rigs with the classroom instruction and hands on rig experience. Once they completed the program and headed back South to Texas it was on the job within a week with both working in the drilling industry and doing very well. Prior to coming to Maritime Drilling Schools Limited they lived and worked on a farm and shifted their skill to the drilling industry. The positive side of this story there are lots of opportunity in this industry for both men and women who want to begin a career whether from high school or changing jobs. Starting in this industry is very rewarding and as a person advances the pay can be very generous. Once a person obtains experience the doors open to greater opportunities domestic as well globally. The old saying in the patch is “a good days pay for a hard day of work” a person willing to acquire the skill and apply their good work ethic will survive this industry. I always tell my students to condition yourself mentally and physically for this industry and having the knowledge to know what’s expected of you reduces the fear of the unknown. Once you work your way up to a driller’s position you become an asset to the industry locally and abroad and your international opportunities become more available. When you invest in your future you’re investing in yourself and working hard and staying the course will pay off!!! When I started in this industry 38 years ago my Toolpusher started out in the galley as a kitchen helper and with hard work and study became the Chairman of one of the largest offshore drilling contractors in the world. Seeing this for myself gave me the ambition as well and I also started out in the kitchen washing dishes, making beds and doing the laundry. I remember other people coming out to the rig with their luggage and turning around catching the next boat to town. Unfortunately for them they didn’t give the industry a chance and maybe they were in a better position than I was at the time. I spent my life working through the ranks learning the industry to the point of managing rigs, building and commissioning some of the largest and most advanced rigs in the world. Over the 38 years in the industry I made well above average incomes and had the opportunity to see the world at the employer’s expense. The message I am trying to pass on is that if I had the opportunity to do it all again I wouldn’t think twice. I am a firm believer that if you want it bad enough you will get it and take every opportunity that’s given to you as long as you are ready for the challenge. Always be a positive thinker and treat everybody the way you would want to be treated yourself!!!


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