It’s that time of year when many people are reflecting on where they are professionally and where they would like to be. Should you find yourself in a role that no longer satisfies you, it’s time to start thinking about your next career move.
Whilst the broader employment market may be relatively subdued or uneven, there are always opportunities within the oil and gas sector to find rewarding roles with excellent companies to work for. Here is what to consider before searching for oil and gas jobs in Australia and turning the page on your career to find the role you want.
Assessing Your Current Position
If you have been feeling decidedly unhappy about coming to work, it is worthwhile taking time to reflect on the reasons why. Consider not only the challenges but also the rewards and growth potential of your current position.
A period of challenge can sometimes be temporary and worth enduring if there are other positives of the role that balance it out. On the other hand, deciding to change jobs is more clear-cut when you’re certain that the rewards and opportunities for progression aren’t meeting your expectations.
There are some red flags that can suggest that starting a job search is the best way forward. These include:
- A lack of advancement or learning opportunities. For oil and gas professionals, many of whom are working in engineering or geosciences specialities, continuous learning is what makes work interesting. If you are in a role or organisation where your capabilities aren’t tested, you will risk becoming disengaged.
- Misalignment with company values. You may be working in a highly competitive, cutthroat environment while you value collaboration and teamwork. Or, the organisation lacks focus on employee well-being or work-life balance, clashing with your personal priorities. Another example of misalignment is when your employer is resistant to change and sticks to outdated practices while you value forward-thinking approaches.
- Experiencing burnout. Feeling unmotivated to start each working day, rising dissatisfaction with your duties, a lack of energy, and negative changes in your sleep, mood and eating habits can be early signals of work-related burnout.
Identify Your Priorities
Take the time to define what truly matters to you, both in your career and in your personal life. Ask yourself: where do you envision yourself in the next six to twelve months? What about five years from now?
When considering your priorities, don’t limit yourself to just your professional ambitions. Sure, goals like stepping into a leadership role, deepening or expanding into a specialisation, or job flexibility might be your priorities. But your personal aspirations are just as critical. Perhaps you have changing family responsibilities or want to take some time to travel. These are significant factors that should play a part in your decision-making process.
We all have more than one goal and priority in life, so the aim is to weigh up which of yours are the most important in the present timeframe and what type of role and organisation will best harmonise with your goals.
Ultimately, identifying your priorities is about defining what success means to you – not just in your career but in the broader context of your life. By being clear on what you want and need, you’ll be in a much stronger position to evaluate opportunities and make informed decisions.
Researching the Oil & Gas Jobs Market
When you’ve decided to change jobs, your next step is to research the market – job sites, LinkedIn, speaking to trusted peers in the industry, and specialist recruiters. Putting the feelers out and searching for new roles will quickly give you a sense of what companies are offering and what they’re looking for in a new hire.
Our most recent research on the oil and gas jobs market, which is free to access here, indicates hiring intentions are relatively healthy among companies in the sector. Of those who changed jobs within the industry, 43% had found a new job, 12% had changed from a contractor job to a permanent role, and 7% had found a new role within the same company. With hiring demand strong, you can afford to evaluate potential roles on a range of factors.
Consider elements like non-salary benefits, for example. Our survey found that the most common non-salary benefits employers in the industry offer are short-term incentives (68%), salary sacrificing (43%), long-term incentives (27%), and learning and development allowances (19%).
Another important consideration is whether you’re looking for a permanent or contract role. In oil and gas, permanent hiring is more common than contract opportunities. In fact, 52% of companies expanded their permanent workforce in 2024, compared to 41% in 2023. While contract roles certainly exist, they may be less readily available than permanent positions.
Get Support from Oil and Gas Recruitment Specialists
Naturally, we have to mention that working with an oil and gas recruitment specialist is one of the smartest steps you can take. An oil and gas recruiter will speak your language – they understand the day-to-day experience of working in your industry.
With our wide-reaching network and expertise in Australia’s oil and gas jobs market, you can trust us to guide you through your job-hunting process with honest and accurate advice.
After speaking to us about your background and what you’re looking for, we’ll connect you with the most appropriate roles. Get in touch with us today to talk about your next career move in oil and gas.