For petroleum engineering jobs, seismology and all highly skilled fields, employers will expect to see university degrees and in some cases, graduate degrees, especially for the top companies and top paying positions. Project Managers should have certifications such as PMP or Prince 2 and a Six Sigma Black Belt wouldn’t hurt.

For non-degree jobs in the oil industry and high paying oilfield jobs, there are some requirements that employers will expect to see for nearly all positions:

* Driver’s License
* WHMIS
* First Aid
* H2S Alive

Obtaining any or all of the above will greatly increase your chances of being hired, especially if you have no oilfield experience.

Some employers will provide training to new employees, however, if you have gone through the trouble of obtaining any professional training or certificaiton on your own, this will make your candidature far more attractive. Nothing sells like experience, so be sure to list any and all relevant experience you have in the oil or related industries.

First aid certification can be obtained from several places, such as the Red Cross organization, or through other private organiztions. You may be able to obtain such certification as a volunteer or via a volunteer organization such as your local EMT or EMS and/or volunteer fire department.

An ATV Safety course may also be required if you’re working in a field that makes extensive use of off-road vehicles, such as surveying or seismic exploration.

Many of the training courses and certifications that are required for work in this industry are not exclusive to the oil industry. There are many vocational training companies that can provide you with quality training and certification. Don’t know which certifications to get first? Check the job ads and do a keyword search for the certification you are considering. If it appears frequently in job advertisements, there is a good chance that this certification will be useful in the current job market.

Oil Industry Job Descriptions
Drilling Rig Jobs
Land and offshore rig jobs. “Roughneck” jobs.

Pipeline Jobs
Jobs related to the construction and maintenance of oil and gas pipelines.

Seismic Jobs
Field jobs relating to seismic exploration and the acquisition of seismic data.

Mapping and Survey Jobs
Jobs relating to the placement of oilfield facilities and pipelines. Also includes land acquisition and permitting jobs.

Transport Jobs
All oilfield transportation related jobs – including transportation of oil and gas, oilfield equipment and materials, and personnel.

Safety Officer
For persons certified in occupational safety and work related safety issues.

Offshore Work
Offshore work on offshore oil rigs are some of the highest paying jobs in the oil industry. The highest paying of these are “subsea” jobs. Nearly all employers have a very difficult time finding quality subsea workers. The work can be dangerous though and is very tiring, so it is not a career for everyone.

Sales jobs
There are a large number of sales positions for people who are experienced with oilfield services, supplies and equipment.