EXPERIENCE VS. CERTIFICATION: WHICH WILL REALLY HELP YOU GET A BETTER JOB IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY?

This is probably the most perennial and oft-repeated question young people ask, and it doesn't seem to matter if economic times are good (as they were two years ago) or bad (as they appear to be right now). The real answer to this question is "both:" employers want individuals with relevant, hands-on experience who can relate to on-the-job requirements, but they also want individuals who've been trained on current versions of systems, software, practices and procedures, who know the employer’s official take on such things.

In some circumstances, a professional certification can make all the difference between landing a job and not being considered for it at all. In others, it's not really useful and most hiring managers will look for experience or skill over a set of letters after your name. If you can't tell, it's not cut and dried, and the answer is a little complicated. Let's cut through the fog and help you understand when certs are really valuable and when they're just nice to have.

First, Not All Certifications are Created Equally
Some professional oil and gas certifications require that you study hard and pass a test, others require that you have years of experience in a specific field before you can even apply to be considered. Before you decide that maybe getting a certification is your ticket to a career jump or a promotion, you need to determine whether or not the types of certifications that will get you ahead in your field are the ones that require skills, experience, or just a few classes.

Search for Certifications Useful in Your Field
The first thing you should do is start looking at the people in the positions you'd like to aim for. See what certifications they have, and what it takes to earn them. See if there's a kind of certification "ladder" that can get you from where you are now to where you want to be. Whether it's a technology certification or a professional title, or Oil and Gas Certifications, there’s usually some series of stepping stones to help you get there. Here are some places to start your search:
1. Check the job listings you are interested in
2. Browse LinkedIn industry groups
3. Browse LinkedIn company groups
4. Look for professional groups and societies for your field


The Most Valuable Certifications are the Advanced Ones
It is those higher-level, industry and position-specific certifications that are the most valuable, and while the lower level ones shouldn't be dismissed, they don't make you stand out as much as they may have a few years ago. Will an IOSH or a NEBOSH Certification help you get the edge over someone else? Maybe, but someone else with experience or knowledge they can demonstrate in an interview can easily edge out someone with little more than a cert to their name. On the higher end though, some companies won't even consider a safety professional that doesn't have a NEBOSH Certification, so if you don't have it (or the experience required to get it), you're out of luck.

Start with the Certs that Matter for Your Career, and Train Up From There
We've talked about the relative value of various certifications up to this point, but just because a cert is low-level or has little competitive value doesn't mean you shouldn't get it if it's applicable to your career.

So someone getting their start in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), for example, should consider those base-level HSE certifications like IOSH Working/Managing Safely and then move on to advanced courses like NEBOSH IGC, NEBOSH IOGC and NEBOSH Diploma. If you're interested in Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), Non-Destructive Testing (NDT II) is the best certification to start with before you can proceed to Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), American Petroleum Institute (API) Certifications. If you’re also interested in carrying out Quality Audits, Health & Safety Audits, etc., your best bet is PECB Accredited ISO 9001 (Quality Management System auditor course), OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety auditor course), etc.

The easy certs that anyone can study for and take may not be the key to a better job on their own, but they're definitely the building blocks of a better career, if you're willing to stick to them. Remember, once you start training up, you can always move in different directions, so don't assume that you're stuck in one field or along one training path. Your stepping stones are there to give you flexibility and room to move around, not lock you into a specific career path.

The Bottom Line: Yes, Internationally Recognized Oil and Gas Certifications can help you get a JOB.
As with many things, which certifications you start with depends highly on the career you're interested in and the path you want to take. All of them cost money, so we would encourage you to talk to your manager. Your company may be willing to pay for training classes and certification tests if it's in their interest to make you a more skilled and valuable employee—many companies do.

Below are list of Oil and Gas training and certification programs you can choose from
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
1. IOSH Working Safely
2. IOSH Managing Safely
3. NEBOSH IGC
4. NEBOSH IOGC
5. NEBOSH Diploma
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
1. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT II)
2. API 510 – Pressure Vessel Inspection
3. API 570 – Piping Inspection
4. API 571 – Advanced Corrosion and Materials
5. API 580 – Advanced Risk Based Inspection
6. API 653 – Above Ground Storage Tank Inspection
7. ISO 9001:2015 (QMS Lead Auditor)
8. OHSAS 1800:2008 (OHS Lead Auditor)
9. American Welding Society – Certified Welding Inspector Course (CWI)
Skilled Programs
1. Pipeline Welding Training
2. Pipe Fitting Training
3. Scaffold Erector Training

To register for any of the above courses, click www.gennesaretresources.com/training/registration

Our Company
Gennesaret Resources Nigeria Limited (GRNL) is the leading Oil and Gas training and certification provider in Nigeria and West Africa at large. We are accredited by NEBOSH with accreditation number 953 and licensed by IOSH. We are in partnership with Quality Control Company (QCCO), Egypt the only accredited examination center of ASNT in Africa to deliver ASNT NDT III and AWS Certifications.

We have membership with local and international organizations like: Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria (PLAN), Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW), Dun and Bradstreet Global Database and the American Society of Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT).

We have trained over 1,500 youths across Nigeria and we can do the same for the following categories:
1. Federal Government
2. State Government
3. Local Government and
4. Corporate bodies.

Thank you for reading this.

Abem H.
Digital Marketing
Gennesaret Resources Nigeria Limited
E: support@gennesaretresources.com

In Nigeria, certification is used.

Experience is better coz I have seen a mechanical engineering graduate who can not loose I pass my neighbor generator

247Dior:
Experience is better coz I have seen a mechanical engineering graduate who can not loose I pass my neighbor generator

Like it was said in the post, in some circumstances, a professional certification can make all the difference between landing a job and not being considered for it at all.

Is there any way that one can get experience while studying or trying to get more certification?

mickells:
Is there any way that one can get experience while studying or trying to get more certification?

Studying for any of the certifications above, exposes you to real life experiences from industry personnel present, video tutorials and practical assessments

Certification will pave way for you to showcase your experience.
So if you ask me, get experience if you wanna be your boss, get experience and certification if you wanna work for someone.

iamsLiMbEe:


Studying for any of the certifications above, exposes you to real life experiences from industry personnel present, video tutorials and practical assessments

Ok

iamsLiMbEe:
EXPERIENCE VS. CERTIFICATION: WHICH WILL REALLY HELP YOU GET A BETTER JOB IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY?

This is probably the most perennial and oft-repeated question young people ask, and it doesn't seem to matter if economic times are good (as they were two years ago) or bad (as they appear to be right now). The real answer to this question is "both:" employers want individuals with relevant, hands-on experience who can relate to on-the-job requirements, but they also want individuals who've been trained on current versions of systems, software, practices and procedures, who know the employer’s official take on such things.

In some circumstances, a professional certification can make all the difference between landing a job and not being considered for it at all. In others, it's not really useful and most hiring managers will look for experience or skill over a set of letters after your name. If you can't tell, it's not cut and dried, and the answer is a little complicated. Let's cut through the fog and help you understand when certs are really valuable and when they're just nice to have.

First, Not All Certifications are Created Equally
Some professional oil and gas certifications require that you study hard and pass a test, others require that you have years of experience in a specific field before you can even apply to be considered. Before you decide that maybe getting a certification is your ticket to a career jump or a promotion, you need to determine whether or not the types of certifications that will get you ahead in your field are the ones that require skills, experience, or just a few classes.

Search for Certifications Useful in Your Field
The first thing you should do is start looking at the people in the positions you'd like to aim for. See what certifications they have, and what it takes to earn them. See if there's a kind of certification "ladder" that can get you from where you are now to where you want to be. Whether it's a technology certification or a professional title, or Oil and Gas Certifications, there’s usually some series of stepping stones to help you get there. Here are some places to start your search:
1. Check the job listings you are interested in
2. Browse LinkedIn industry groups
3. Browse LinkedIn company groups
4. Look for professional groups and societies for your field


The Most Valuable Certifications are the Advanced Ones
It is those higher-level, industry and position-specific certifications that are the most valuable, and while the lower level ones shouldn't be dismissed, they don't make you stand out as much as they may have a few years ago. Will an IOSH or a NEBOSH Certification help you get the edge over someone else? Maybe, but someone else with experience or knowledge they can demonstrate in an interview can easily edge out someone with little more than a cert to their name. On the higher end though, some companies won't even consider a safety professional that doesn't have a NEBOSH Certification, so if you don't have it (or the experience required to get it), you're out of luck.

Start with the Certs that Matter for Your Career, and Train Up From There
We've talked about the relative value of various certifications up to this point, but just because a cert is low-level or has little competitive value doesn't mean you shouldn't get it if it's applicable to your career.

So someone getting their start in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), for example, should consider those base-level HSE certifications like IOSH Working/Managing Safely and then move on to advanced courses like NEBOSH IGC, NEBOSH IOGC and NEBOSH Diploma. If you're interested in Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), Non-Destructive Testing (NDT II) is the best certification to start with before you can proceed to Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), American Petroleum Institute (API) Certifications. If you’re also interested in carrying out Quality Audits, Health & Safety Audits, etc., your best bet is PECB Accredited ISO 9001 (Quality Management System auditor course), OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety auditor course), etc.

The easy certs that anyone can study for and take may not be the key to a better job on their own, but they're definitely the building blocks of a better career, if you're willing to stick to them. Remember, once you start training up, you can always move in different directions, so don't assume that you're stuck in one field or along one training path. Your stepping stones are there to give you flexibility and room to move around, not lock you into a specific career path.

The Bottom Line: Yes, Internationally Recognized Oil and Gas Certifications can help you get a JOB.
As with many things, which certifications you start with depends highly on the career you're interested in and the path you want to take. All of them cost money, so we would encourage you to talk to your manager. Your company may be willing to pay for training classes and certification tests if it's in their interest to make you a more skilled and valuable employee—many companies do.

Below are list of Oil and Gas training and certification programs you can choose from
Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
1. IOSH Working Safely
2. IOSH Managing Safely
3. NEBOSH IGC
4. NEBOSH IOGC
5. NEBOSH Diploma
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
1. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT II)
2. API 510 – Pressure Vessel Inspection
3. API 570 – Piping Inspection
4. API 571 – Advanced Corrosion and Materials
5. API 580 – Advanced Risk Based Inspection
6. API 653 – Above Ground Storage Tank Inspection
7. ISO 9001:2015 (QMS Lead Auditor)
8. OHSAS 1800:2008 (OHS Lead Auditor)
9. American Welding Society – Certified Welding Inspector Course (CWI)
Skilled Programs
1. Pipeline Welding Training
2. Pipe Fitting Training
3. Scaffold Erector Training

To register for any of the above courses, click www.gennesaretresources.com/training/registration

Our Company
Gennesaret Resources Nigeria Limited (GRNL) is the leading Oil and Gas training and certification provider in Nigeria and West Africa at large. We are accredited by NEBOSH with accreditation number 953 and licensed by IOSH. We are in partnership with Quality Control Company (QCCO), Egypt the only accredited examination center of ASNT in Africa to deliver ASNT NDT III and AWS Certifications.

We have membership with local and international organizations like: Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria (PLAN), Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW), Dun and Bradstreet Global Database and the American Society of Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT).

We have trained over 1,500 youths across Nigeria and we can do the same for the following categories:
1. Federal Government
2. State Government
3. Local Government and
4. Corporate bodies.

Thank you for reading this.

Abem H.
Digital Marketing
Gennesaret Resources Nigeria Limited
E: support@gennesaretresources.com

Great.

Experience all the way

I am tired and confused on what else to do. Some school of thought said: experience matter, I got more than 10yrs experience in Customer Service (gained while still studying couple with post NYSC experience). No positive effect on my CV.
In fact, I am even fade up in the Customer Service field. I have tweaked my CV to enable me switch to other field, no way.

Most times, I look at the ceiling and said: what else can I do? Remove my pre-NYSC experience and start all over or learn a specialized skill and forget my already horned experience?

Such a pathetic situation!!!