Drilling engineer : Entry requirements

Although this area of work is open to all engineering graduates, the following subjects may increase your chances:

• mechanical engineering;
• petroleum engineering;
• marine engineering;
• minerals engineering;
• aeronautical engineering;
• chemical engineering;
• civil/structural engineering.

A degree in geology or natural sciences may also be advantageous. A good first degree (minimum 2:1) is required for entry to major oil companies' graduate training programmes, and undergraduate masters (MEng) degrees are usually preferred. Entry with an HND alone is not possible.

A relevant pre-entry postgraduate qualification can be useful but is not a guarantee of a job due to the high level of competition. Any student considering postgraduate study should investigate carefully the need for and relevance of the proposed course to their intended career. An MSc in petroleum or offshore engineering, for example, may improve your chances.

Pre-entry experience is not essential, but any experience working on rigs or in an onshore yard is likely to be useful and demonstrate your interest and motivation.

Candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of people;
• a good technical understanding of the scientific principles of disciplines such as geology, physics, maths and chemistry;
• a high level of numeracy and IT skills;
• the analytical ability to think through potentially complex problems and develop solutions;
• initiative and drive;
• teamwork skills and the ability to cooperate with others;
• sensitivity to different cultures and ways of working;
• the ability to work under pressure.

Given the international nature of the work, a basic knowledge of foreign languages may be an asset.

Some major oil companies and contractors offer placements during the summer vacation of your penultimate year where you can work on a project of operational significance. Successful completion of the project may give you an advantage in the recruitment process for a permanent post.

Major oil companies advertise vacancies almost a year in advance, but it is also worth making speculative applications to specialist companies directly. Competition is keen, and recruitment is affected by oil price fluctuations. You may find initial entry to the industry easier as a mudlogger before moving up the ranks to drilling engineer.

The exploration and extraction business is worldwide. Many of the jobs are based overseas, so major employers recruit internationally. Many applicants come from the United States and Europe, where university education lasts longer and a higher degree is the normal qualification for entry to a professional career.

Normal entry is as a new graduate or in the early stages of your career.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.