davidylan:

lol same here. I even went to chevron in year 4, armed with my scholarship letter to ask (demand is more like it) an internship. For where?
Thankfully i am a few days away from getting an offer to join the number 1 company on the fortune 500 list. Who says God no dey answer prayer? Abegi! Oyel is where the money is at.

Lol. Poor me. I also wrote a letter to Chevron few weeks before I graduated, attached copy of my award letter and latest transcript showing likely class of degree. It must have ended up in Chevron's waste bin.

But it's always good to dream sha, eventually found myself in the industry.

[..

@deenee @2good.@T22 Thank you for your advice, seems its better I stay in the technical field, I just felt petro economics is really interesting. I'll do a bit of research and let y'all know whatever I come up with soon...
Thanks

At 2good, i'm a 400l chemical engineering student currently on 2nd class upper i'm also enjoyin chevron scholarship at the moment. Pls i would like 2 have u as a mentor cos i'm also eyeing the oil industry so as 2 have d necessary info at the right time my email: phinga2k7@gmail.com

Just wondering. . . How can someone in the finance sector be able to switch over to O and G sector? My friend, who studied Mathematics and Economics, graduated top of his class with a First class (4.77), just rounding off his master programm in Operations research with a distinction (by God's grace) and currently studying for his ACCA (first stage in june) wants to make the move but just doesn't know where to start from, as most of these companies recruit more of Engineers.

Plus, he doesn't have any foreign degree. All his education was in Nigeria but I tell u, he's really really smart and brilliant. He has 2 and half years banking experience most of which was in Loan servicing but now works with one of these CBN subsidiaries as an Asset Manager (started workin there 7months ago).

I wouldn't say he's doing badly where he is but the remuneration cannot be compared to that in O and Gs.

Taninola, Jarus and others (finance guys in Oand Gs), how did u guys go about this? Do u think this friend of mine has a shot with his qualification and experience? What do u think he should do? Will really be glad to hear from u guys.

2good:

It is clearly written in your Scholarship offer letter that they are not obliged to employ you after graduation. I was on Shell, Total and Chevron Scholarship and they all put that clause in the offer letter so I did not bother to fantasise about getting a job based on scholarship . I just know I will end up in the industry because there was no other option for me..

It's good to be '2good'.

bettymafy: Just wondering. . . How can someone in the finance sector be able to switch over to O and G sector? My friend, who studied Mathematics and Economics, graduated top of his class with a First class (4.77), just rounding off his master programm in Operations research with a distinction (by God's grace) and currently studying for his ACCA (first stage in june) wants to make the move but just doesn't know where to start from, as most of these companies recruit more of Engineers.

Plus, he doesn't have any foreign degree. All his education was in Nigeria but I tell u, he's really really smart and brilliant. He has 2 and half years banking experience most of which was in Loan servicing but now works with one of these CBN subsidiaries as an Asset Manager (started workin there 7months ago).

I wouldn't say he's doing badly where he is but the remuneration cannot be compared to that in O and Gs.

Taninola, Jarus and others (finance guys in Oand Gs), how did u guys go about this? Do u think this friend of mine has a shot with his qualification and experience? What do u think he should do? Will really be glad to hear from u guys.

First and foremost, let's not create an impression that O&G is the only sector you can earn big dough. You can do so in any sector, with diligence and hard/smart work. I have a bro in Investment Banking that, after 12 years of work, is worth far more than most of his friends that started in O&G at about same time. In fact, there is a higher tendency to lively extravagantly as a young O&G guy and squander your income and not save or invest.

That said, clearly the Engineers/Geologists etc have more spaces than those of us with Finance background. A 200-staff strong oil company may not have up to 20 Finance staff. In my new coy, staff strenght is 100+, we are not up to 15 in Finance. Plus it's a sector with low turnover of staff, people hardly leave, that's why you see a man that has spent 30 years in Shell, Mobil etc, so space is not freed up.

But the good thing is most of these IOCs have a graduate program, and to a large extent merit-driven. Again, space is the issue. There may not be more than 3-5 Finance/Economics/Commercial spaces. So that's competitive, when you have hundreds of equally qualified folks competing for the space. You just have to equip yourself with test and interview taking skills, plus luck. For a Finance hopeful, I advise you start with all these Audit firms, PwC, KPMG, and Deloitte in particular, or a Nigerian oil company like Oando, Conoil, Zenon, etc, which though are less rewarding, can boost your CV and industry knowledge; which you can later leverage on to enter the big IOCs.

As for having foreign degrees, it's not compulsory. The two friends I have in Shell got no more than Bsc Econs from Ife(with First Class though), no ICAN, no other cert, except one on CFA2, and few months experience in IB. If the process is merit-driven, you will have equal chance to prove yourself against the foreign grads.

Jarus:
First and foremost, let's not create an impression that O&G is the only sector you can earn big dough. You can do so in any sector, with diligence and hard/smart work. I have a bro in Investment Banking that, after 12 years of work, is worth far more than most of his friends that started in O&G at about same time. In fact, there is a higher tendency to lively extravagantly as a young O&G guy and squander your income and not save or invest.

That said, clearly the Engineers/Geologists etc have more spaces than those of us with Finance background. A 200-staff strong oil company may not have up to 20 Finance staff. In my new coy, staff strenght is 100+, we are not up to 15 in Finance. Plus it's a sector with low turnover of staff, people hardly leave, that's why you see a man that has spent 30 years in Shell, Mobil etc, so space is not freed up.

But the good thing is most of these IOCs have a graduate program, and to a large extent merit-driven. Again, space is the issue. There may not be more than 3-5 Finance/Economics/Commercial spaces. So that's competitive, when you have hundreds of equally qualified folks competing for the space. You just have to equip yourself with test and interview taking skills, plus luck. For a Finance hopeful, I advise you start with all these Audit firms, PwC, KPMG, and Deloitte in particular, or a Nigerian oil company like Oando, Conoil, Zenon, etc, which though are less rewarding, can boost your CV and industry knowledge; which you can later leverage on to enter the big IOCs.

As for having foreign degrees, it's not compulsory. The two friends I have in Shell got no more than Bsc Econs from Ife(with First Class though), no ICAN, no other cert, except one on CFA2, and few months experience in IB. If the process is merit-driven, you will have equal chance to prove yourself against the foreign grads.

Having a foreign experience is an advantage when you want to break into the industry as an experienced hand. I intend spending like 8-10 years in Europe, Middle East and the Americas after which I will go back to Nigeria where the money really lies and do contract. The main people earning the money are the experts many of whom earn as much as $2000 per day and are rotating 28 days on and 28 days off. That is where I am working towards and I don't think any company in Nigeria can pay close to that. But you have to be in the technical field to get that kind of remuneration most times.

Jarus:
First and foremost, let's not create an impression that O&G is the only sector you can earn big dough. You can do so in any sector, with diligence and hard/smart work. I have a bro in Investment Banking that, after 12 years of work, is worth far more than most of his friends that started in O&G at about same time. In fact, there is a higher tendency to lively extravagantly as a young O&G guy and squander your income and not save or invest.

That said, clearly the Engineers/Geologists etc have more spaces than those of us with Finance background. A 200-staff strong oil company may not have up to 20 Finance staff. In my new coy, staff strenght is 100+, we are not up to 15 in Finance. Plus it's a sector with low turnover of staff, people hardly leave, that's why you see a man that has spent 30 years in Shell, Mobil etc, so space is not freed up.

But the good thing is most of these IOCs have a graduate program, and to a large extent merit-driven. Again, space is the issue. There may not be more than 3-5 Finance/Economics/Commercial spaces. So that's competitive, when you have hundreds of equally qualified folks competing for the space. You just have to equip yourself with test and interview taking skills, plus luck. For a Finance hopeful, I advise you start with all these Audit firms, PwC, KPMG, and Deloitte in particular, or a Nigerian oil company like Oando, Conoil, Zenon, etc, which though are less rewarding, can boost your CV and industry knowledge; which you can later leverage on to enter the big IOCs.

As for having foreign degrees, it's not compulsory. The two friends I have in Shell got no more than Bsc Econs from Ife(with First Class though), no ICAN, no other cert, except one on CFA2, and few months experience in IB. If the process is merit-driven, you will have equal chance to prove yourself against the foreign grads.

Unfortunately or fortunately, the highlighted has been the case for many years now. Most people I know who work for all these top multinational companies in naija don't have foreign degrees.

2good:

Having a foreign experience is an advantage when you want to break into the industry as an experienced hand. I intend spending like 8-10 years in Europe, Middle East and the Americas after which I will go back to Nigeria where the money really lies and do contract. The main people earning the money are the experts many of whom earn as much as $2000 per day and are rotating 28 days on and 28 days off. That is where I am working towards and I don't think any company in Nigeria can pay close to that. But you have to be in the technical field to get that kind of remuneration most times.

This is impressively huge. Good cash that is.

bettymafy: Just wondering. . . How can someone in the finance sector be able to switch over to O and G sector? My friend, who studied Mathematics and Economics, graduated top of his class with a First class (4.77), just rounding off his master programm in Operations research with a distinction (by God's grace) and currently studying for his ACCA (first stage in june) wants to make the move but just doesn't know where to start from, as most of these companies recruit more of Engineers.

Plus, he doesn't have any foreign degree. All his education was in Nigeria but I tell u, he's really really smart and brilliant. He has 2 and half years banking experience most of which was in Loan servicing but now works with one of these CBN subsidiaries as an Asset Manager (started workin there 7months ago).

I wouldn't say he's doing badly where he is but the remuneration cannot be compared to that in O and Gs.

Taninola, Jarus and others (finance guys in Oand Gs), how did u guys go about this? Do u think this friend of mine has a shot with his qualification and experience? What do u think he should do? Will really be glad to hear from u guys.

Your friend's profile is more than adequate for a career in oil and gas. He should keep applying. He should also be ready to bend a little from Finance. For instance, he should be willing to apply for a management job, accounting job, logistics job, sales job etc within the oil and gas sector.

In fact, as we speak now, Total Nigeria is accepting applications for the position of upstream logistics officer. http://careers.total.com/front/en_US/web/guest/fiche-offre/-/offrePortlet/detail/10028356/Permanent%20position He can fling his application there. Who knows, he may just be the one.

T22

olu16: @deenee @2good.@T22 Thank you for your advice, seems its better I stay in the technical field, I just felt petro economics is really interesting. I'll do a bit of research and let y'all know whatever I come up with soon...
Thanks

Hahahaha, if only interesting courses could get one into any of these top oil and gas firms, people with degrees in music and dancing would populate every oil company.

Jarus, Tanimola. . .thank u guys. Your points have been noted.

Edited.

2good:

Having a foreign experience is an advantage when you want to break into the industry as an experienced hand. I intend spending like 8-10 years in Europe, Middle East and the Americas after which I will go back to Nigeria where the money really lies and do contract. The main people earning the money are the experts many of whom earn as much as $2000 per day and are rotating 28 days on and 28 days off. That is where I am working towards and I don't think any company in Nigeria can pay close to that. But you have to be in the technical field to get that kind of remuneration most times.

I am sure you mean expats as in expatriate here, anyway $2000 is the absolute maximum day rate anyone can earn now and drillers / reservoir engineers with vast experience in simulation are the only ones who fall in this category to my knowledge. The only other way to earn mega buck is in Project Management and the bucks in that category is out of this world. That's where I'm headed

Short true story:

My hubby's previous boss managed a project which was successful and delievered to schedule, believe it or not, he earned 5% of the contract value as his bonus whilst my hubby only got a few thousand £ ( single digit o)!

naijababe:

I am sure you mean expats as in expatriate here, anyway $2000 is the absolute maximum day rate anyone can earn now and drillers / reservoir engineers with vast experience in simulation are the only ones who fall in this category to my knowledge. The only other way to earn mega buck is in Project Management and the bucks in that category is out of this world. That's where I'm headed

Short true story:

My hubby's previous boss managed a project which was successful and delievered to schedule, believe it or not, he earned 5% of the contract value as his bonus whilst my hubby only got a few thousand £ ( single digit o)!

I had a Drilling Superintendent earning up to $3000 per day, so people earn more than $2000. Also, I meant expat.

naijababe:

I am sure you mean expats as in expatriate here, anyway[b] $2000 is the absolute maximum day rate anyone can earn now [/b]and drillers / reservoir engineers with vast experience in simulation are the only ones who fall in this category to my knowledge. The only other way to earn mega buck is in Project Management and the bucks in that category is out of this world. That's where I'm headed

No talk am oh. . . .it all depends on where/when/how desperately your services are needed. I know some folk in Iraq (where you need flak Jackets and 'surivivor' training) - only heaven can comprehend how much cash is being thrown at folk to go there! Those mad people that specialise in well control for blowouts (often on fire) also earn crazy pay.

Besides, una too get long-throat - $2k a day loun loun? Una wan buy una villages or what?

2good:

It is clearly written in your Scholarship offer letter that they are not obliged to employ you after graduation. I was on Shell, Total and Chevron Scholarship and they all put that clause in the offer letter so I did not bother to fantasise about getting a job based on scholarship . I just know I will end up in the industry because there was no other option for me..

Bros only you corner THREE scholarships? Considering your humble background I'm sure every penny came in handy.

PS - you might/might not know me, I also graduated from the same department a year before you.

debosky:


Bros only you corner THREE scholarships? Considering your humble background I'm sure every penny came in handy.

PS - you might/might not know me, I also graduated from the same department a year before you.

Bros every penny count oooo because e no easy that time to survive, so yes they were a big relieve for me.
Also nice to know you graduated from Unilag Chemical Engineering as that department have really produced alot of Engineering professionals in the world.

debosky:

No talk am oh. . . .it all depends on where/when/how desperately your services are needed. I know some folk in Iraq (where you need flak Jackets and 'surivivor' training) - only heaven can comprehend how much cash is being thrown at folk to go there! Those mad people that specialise in well control for blowouts (often on fire) also earn crazy pay.

Besides, una too get long-throat - $2k a day loun loun? Una wan buy una villages or what?



Bros only you corner THREE scholarships? Considering your humble background I'm sure every penny came in handy.

PS - you might/might not know me, I also graduated from the same department a year before you.

Look who's talking? No be you just try to corner sontin a few posts ago! Iraq ke? God forbid bad tins, right now the only place i want to go is Lasgidi and maybe, just maybe Houston/KL.

@olu16: have u been able to contact those IFP people about ur addmission ? I aslo want to apply too, any info for me ? I wrote to T22, but am yet to hear from him.

davidylan: really nice thread. Seriously considering making the move to ExxonMobil here in the US myself. I just wonder if it is possible after a couple of yrs to transfer back to Nigeria.

Difficult but not impossible, the ease/difficulty lie in how co-operative your prospective employing manager in Naija is! EM is madly competitive worldwide due to their appraisal method, it would be in your interest to do all you can to be either in upper/middle third at all times.

Best wishes.

@olu16, while trying T22 suggestion is not a bad idea, I'd suggest you consider the likes of Dundee and Aberdeen Uni if you are really interested in a MSc in Pet. Econs. Getting into IFP, Imperial/HWU is like a job interview on its own, it's almost if not impossible without a 2:1

naijababe:

Difficult but not impossible, the ease/difficulty lie in how co-operative your prospective employing manager in Naija is! EM is madly competitive worldwide due to their appraisal method, it would be in your interest to do all you can to be either in upper/middle third at all times.

Best wishes.

@olu16, while trying T22 suggestion is not a bad idea, I'd suggest you consider the likes of Dundee and Aberdeen Uni if you are really interested in a MSc in Pet. Econs. Getting into IFP, Imperial/HWU is like a job interview on its own, it's almost if not impossible without a 2:1

Hahahaha, the olu16 babe has decided to go technical. No more Pet.Economics.

Toughluv: @olu16: have u been able to contact those IFP people about ur addmission ? I aslo want to apply too, any info for me ? I wrote to T22, but am yet to hear from him.

@Toughluv

I have long responded to you by email. I sent you the email immediately I read your message, and that was yesterday.

You may want to check your box again.

T22

Abeg guys, make una help I have got an interview with total Nigeria plc like in two days time (am major in finance), I know it's a bit late but please bombard me with suggestions, ideas, possible questions and scenarios (especially for those who have done total intvw b4) ova help ASAP.

@T22: I beg ur pardon, i just checked my email this morning and i saw a handfull of information you sent to me. I did sent you a reply as my acknowledgment! Thanks a billion.God bless you...even more than you widest imagination. Cheers.
Toughluv

BIGER BOY: Abeg guys, make una help I have got an interview with total Nigeria plc like in two days time (am major in finance), I know it's a bit late but please bombard me with suggestions, ideas, possible questions and scenarios (especially for those who have done total intvw b4) ova help ASAP.

Very trivial input:

A former colleague was interviewed in 2009 for a position in the same finance. Amongst many others, she was asked the following basic questions:

--Explain return on asset, ROA
--Explain return on equity, ROE
--Explain return on investment, ROI
--Explain the concept of project finance in relation to the oil and gas industry
--Walk us through your CV
--Present value of a project, future value
--Idea of discounting
--Exponential discounting, should the discount factor vary with time? Why? Explain
--Best financial ratios for oil and gas analysis
--Corporate finance
--Behavioural and competency questions. I am sure you know these ones very well. They have been exhaustively discussed on naijahotjobs forum where you are an active forum member. Don't forget to let them know how your UK education has made you globally fluent. You must be able to articulate why they should pick you over other applicants that have your same exposure. Compose a good and convincing story.

All the best.

T22

Toughluv: @T22: I beg ur pardon, i just checked my email this morning and i saw a handfull of information you sent to me. I did sent you a reply as my acknowledgment! Thanks a billion.God bless you...even more than you widest imagination. Cheers.
Toughluv

Amen mate. Thanks and all the best with your oil and gas aspiration.

T22.

@T22 u r an angel in human form... Thanx

HI,
My name is ahsan and i am from Pakistan. I need help from your side kindly advice me to choose between two universities. I got unconditional offer from University of dundee for MSc oil and gas economics, and from University of Aberdeen for MSc petroleum,energy economics and finance. I am really confused between these two universities. Fees of uni of dundee is much more than uni of aberdeen (almost 5000 pounds more than aberdeen) but course content of uni of dundee is amazing and both universities has its own cons and pros. So, if someone has any idea about these two universities kindly guide me, as I want to enter into oil and gas industry and more likely to work as an economics because I did MBA in finance from Pakistan. Waiting for some good advice.
Kind regards,
AHsan

BIGER BOY: @T22 u r an angel in human form... Thanx

No problems, all best for you.

ahsan783: HI,
My name is ahsan and i am from Pakistan. I need help from your side kindly advice me to choose between two universities. I got unconditional offer from University of dundee for MSc oil and gas economics, and from University of Aberdeen for MSc petroleum,energy economics and finance. I am really confused between these two universities. Fees of uni of dundee is much more than uni of aberdeen (almost 5000 pounds more than aberdeen) but course content of uni of dundee is amazing and both universities has its own cons and pros. So, if someone has any idea about these two universities kindly guide me, as I want to enter into oil and gas industry and more likely to work as an economics because I did MBA in finance from Pakistan. Waiting for some good advice.
Kind regards,
AHsan

Hi Ashan,

Have you tried researching which of the two institutions organizes more recruitment/job fairs? As you want to work afterwards, this is an information you must be armed with. If an institution costs more but offers higher employment prospects in line with my career goals, then I will surely go for it, provided that, of course, I can afford it.

T22.

tanimola22:

Hi Ashan,

Have you tried researching which of the two institutions organizes more recruitment/job fairs? As you want to work afterwards, this is an information you must be armed with. If an institution costs more but offers higher employment prospects in line with my career goals, then I will surely go for it, provided that, of course, I can afford it.

T22.

First of all thanks a lot for the reply T22, because i was a bit unsure weather I am allowed to post on this forum or not , so thanks again. Actually as far as uni of aberdeen is concerned, they are best in producing engineers in oil and gas sector, its an ancient uni founded in 1495, but the course content is less attractive, means in one year masters programme they offer 8 courses and out of which one is accounting and other is corporate finance, and I learnt both these courses very well in my MBA. Secondly uni of aberdeen offer this course under its business school while uni of dundee has a separate school which is CEPMLP ( centre for energy,petroleum and mineral law and policy) ,CEPMLP course has depth in oil and gas programme and course content looks competitive and impressive. As far as job opportunities are concerned i researched a lot but got mixture of view, some said dundee has more job opportunities an some said aberdeen is capital of oil so it has more. the thing which attract me towards uni of dundee is CEPMLP and its association with different oil companies, plus dundee is small city as compared to uni of aberdeen and cheap with respect of living cost.
These are few thing which I know, if you have any idea kindly suggest me.