The first step toward getting a job in Houston’s oil and gas industry is creating a great resume. If you’re looking to secure an opportunity in the field, what should be on yours? Here are some tips to follow:

Keep Your Resume to 2 Pages or Less

As leading Houston oil and gas recruiters, we know that candidates are oftentimes concerned about the length of their resumes. But remember, the document is meant to give hiring managers a taste of your experience, knowledge and skill set. It’s not meant to list every position you’ve held since graduating from high school. In addition, if your resume is more than two pages, hiring managers will lose interest. A long-winded resume is off-putting and causes them to disengage. They want to be able to quickly scan the information you provide and make a decision about whether you may be a good fit for their opening.

Use Formatting to Your Advantage

Your resume should highlight your background, not explain every aspect of it from start to finish. So rather than writing dense paragraphs, use lists and bullet points. Your goal is to make your resume as easy to read as possible for a hiring manager. Also, make sure you focus on the most relevant and recent experience and accomplishments at the start of your resume to entice the hiring manager to keep reading. Keep in mind, they’re busy and will only spend a limited amount of time looking over your resume. You therefore want to communicate the most important information first.

Tailor Your Resume to Each Position

Before you hit the “send” button, make sure you’re customizing your resume for each position. This includes re-positioning or editing your experience, skill set, education and other aspects of your background so that the most relevant information is provided to each hiring manager. This will ensure your skills are as closely aligned to the Houston oil and gas job you are applying for and make you more attractive to potential employers.

Focus on What Hiring Managers Want to Know

When reviewing your resume, hiring managers want facts, not fluff. Skip the hyperbole, like “energy expert” or “energy professional” and instead offer relevant details, such as the names of rigs you’ve worked on, the types of equipment and technology you’ve used, and the pertinent skills you have that will add value to a potential employer.

In Houston, getting a job in the oil and energy industry is no easy feat. To put yourself in the strongest position possible, follow the tips above for crafting an effective resume. If you’d like job search help from experts, call Murray Resources. As leading Houston oil and gas recruiters, we can assist you with the entire job search process – from crafting a strong resume to preparing for interviews to finding job opportunities that are a great fit for your skills and background.

Ready to get started? Contact us today.