ConocoPhillips Reaches Out To Put Veterans to Work

Hess To Form MLP For North Dakota Oil, Gas Transport Assets
ConocoPhillips works with recruiters for military veterans to find workers wanting a career in the oil and gas sector.

The transition from military life to the civilian world can be daunting for many new veterans, and finding a civilian career makes the challenge even greater. However, ConocoPhillips has recognized the strengths that veterans can bring to an organization, and has put in place a program designed to help guide them to high-paying oil and gas jobs within the company.

Assessing the Need for Jobs, Energy Workers

The vets can use the help, since a disproportionate number of them have missed out on the economy recovery from the Great Recession of a few years ago. While the jobless rate for all veterans was down to 6.6 percent in March 2014, the unemployment rate for veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces since 2001 was 9 percent in 2013, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The figures for non-commissioned officers is even higher, recruiters say.

The gap in employment among veterans is particularly noticeable among those 24 years old or younger, the BLS said. Among male Gulf War-era veterans in that age group, the unemployment rate is about 24.3 percent, compared with a non-veteran male unemployment rate of 15.8 percent.

While many veterans need jobs, energy companies need new workers. It is no secret that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines are needed within the industry for engineering and technical jobs. However, energy companies also need rig and field workers, particularly in places like the Bakken Shale in North Dakota, where the existing pool of qualified workers in the area is insufficient to meet the need.

Personnel transitioning from the Armed Forces into the civilian world are eligible to be reviewed for a number of different positions at ConocoPhillips. Some of the skilled technical avenues open to non-commissioned officers are:

  • Multi-skilled operators
  • I/E technicians
  • Maintenance technicians
  • Aviation roles

Former junior military officers also have a number of avenues, including:

  • Procurement specialists
  • Revenue analysts
  • Engineering positions
  • Pilots

Hiring Vets “Makes Sense”

There are a number of reasons why former military service personnel are ideal for filling the employment needs at ConocoPhillips. For one thing, many of the skillsets needed in the energy sector are present in those who served in the Armed Forces, ConocoPhillips’ Bill Stephens, senior advisor for External Communications, told Rigzone. The specific training and educational background used to develop the talents of military make then valuable assets in the world of oil and gas. Also, because of their varying experiences, veterans are able to “add to the demographic diversity” of ConocoPhillips’ workforce, as well as the company’s “diversity of thought,” Stephens noted.

However, it’s not just the skills, talents, education and training of veterans that makes them so valuable to the company. The values and behaviors that are instilled in those who serve in the Armed Forces are also of benefit, since they are consistent with the values and the spirit of ConocoPhillips, Stephens said.

In an effort to support veterans and their families, ConocoPhillips is partnering with Orion International, a military talent management firm, Stephens said. Orion helps identify top-performing military applicants who are in transition, and offers them resume training, coaching, guidance and encouragement during the ConocoPhillips hiring process.

Orion reaches out to military personnel before they are discharged – from 90 days to as much as a year before their discharge from active duty. Often, service members who are going to be separating from military service do not realize the value of their skills, training and leadership qualities, but Orion recruiters do. By the time service members working with Orion have discharged and are ready to attend hiring conferences, they have been coached in interviewing techniques, received help in preparing resumes, and had their training, skills and interests pre-screened. 

The two-year retention rate for a veteran who was hired by ConocoPhillips for a career in the oil and gas industry is typically about 93 percent, an Orion source told Rigzone.

ConocoPhillips created a website designed to help veterans find information on open positions at the company. The website allows veterans to look for jobs by branch of service, military title, country, state and city.

Once veterans become employees of ConocoPhillips, they can join the company’s Patriot Employee Network and make an impact in several ways, including:

  • Becoming a Buddy to a new hire still transitioning from the military into civilian life and a civilian career
  • Volunteering for flag planting
  • Assisting with care packages and letters for active service members
  • Participating in Red Shirt Fridays, where employees wear red shirts to show support for the troops
  • Attending networking, fundraising and other company-sponsored military-related events


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.

Arbin  |  August 18, 2014
Great to see our Military Personnel getting opportunities in the Oil & Gas industry. Maritime Drilling Schools Limited has been training armed forces from overseas since the transition from Iraq and Afghanistan. The school has hiring letters from drilling contractors seeking their students for their training skills with the mix of military discipline and work ethic. Military personnel interested in gaining this training before entering the industry should review Maritime Drilling Schools Limited website for more information. www.mdslimited.ca The training offered at this school offers hands-on rig training and classroom instruction by instructors with 20-30 years experience in the drilling industry.
Mike Jordan / Australian  |  August 17, 2014
Hi guys, l was a veteran in 1982 after doing 12 years, l know what it is like but because l was a veteran l found my energy and skill-sets more than enough and adapted to my new roll. It is very important to be positive and put all you have got into your job - l find that ex servicemen are a lot more positive and can work harder than the general workforce - you follow this rule and you shall do well, it is never easy but our breed are winners! l was always told no pain no gain! Do it, Mike
Zoltan  |  August 15, 2014
Congratulations and Welcome to ConocoPhillips Management, Employing army veterans is a very smart move and gains will be ensured on both side. Employment gives veterans a great help to adopt themselves back to the society and will ease Company manpower shortages. All petrochemical giants must follow this trend.


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