Joining the Energy Industry? Get a Head Start With These Insights

The Energy Industry offers endless opportunities for those who wish to embrace a challenging and exciting new career. And while COVID-19 saw a decline in jobs, according to the Department of Energy (DOE), energy job growth is making a comeback.

• Companies connected with energy efficiency operations (ESCOs) anticipated a 10.1% job increase
• Companies tied to electric power generation predicted an 8.1% rise
• The fuels sector expected a 5.5% increase in jobs
• The transportation, distribution, and storage sector signaled an anticipated 4.2% job growth

If you’re looking at a future in the energy industry, consider the following tips to make sure you are putting your best foot forward, no matter if you are a career energy contractor or just getting started in the field.

1. Get Ready to “Talk Energy” During an Interview

Prepare for interviews by doing some background reading on the energy industry. What are the latest opportunities, challenges, and trends? How is the company responding to what’s happening in the world around it, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic?

Then, think about your accomplishments and present them. Be ready to explain how what you’ve achieved in the past demonstrates how you can help the company tackle today’s challenges. Need more help? Visit the FootBridge career development site.

2. Watch the Energy Industry Trends

The energy industry’s hiring changes dramatically as new energy sources are discovered, or production sites are moved. To ensure you’re targeting your job search in the right areas, stay on top of the news. Creating a Google News alert or similar reminder can help you ensure you’re the first to know when big energy industry stories drop. Also, know who the big energy companies are – chances are they may be one of our clients with openings that fit your experience.

3. Plan Your Career Growth Today

Even if you’re merely browsing, now is a great time to start planning your career growth. Start by setting specific, measurable goals, such as “I will apply to 2 Energy Industry jobs in the by Friday.”

As you research jobs in the industry, start sketching out other goals, like “I will move to a senior engineer position within three years of starting my career.” While these goals can be adapted over time, they provide a map to guide your search today – and they give you a plan to discuss with confidence when interviewers ask you where you see yourself in five years.

4. Know What You Want to Say

Before walking into an interview, plan your answers ahead of time. Prepare for each interview individually. Choose two or three significant achievements in past jobs and use them as examples of the skills and abilities you bring to the table. Don’t forget to plan your questions for the interviewer.

5. Space out Your Interviews

While it’s great for candidates to line up multiple interviews with different companies, be sure to space them out so that you don’t have to rush out of one meeting to make it to the next. Whether it’s a virtual interview or in person, reserve 10 to 15 minutes to regroup. You never know when the next big opportunity may come around.

6. Stay the Course

With so many energy job opportunities out there, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. Set realistic goals about how much time you can dedicate to a job search, especially if you already have one. Maybe it’s two interviews per week and a certain amount of hours spent searching job listings. This way, you have time to speak with a recruiter when the right job comes along.

5. Keep score

A great way to evaluate energy jobs post-interview is to keep score on index cards or even sticky notes. Then, highlight the pros and cons of each to help you decide where you see yourself. Don’t wait too long, though, or you’re likely to confuse information. If you have questions, be sure to follow up with the recruiter and note the communication.

Contact FootBridge Today

At FootBridge, our recruiters specialize in connecting new candidates and established professionals to jobs in the energy industry. Contact us today to learn more:

Toll-Free: (877) 807-8400 Email: info@FootBridgeCompany.com