Petroleum engineers are in demand. As a result, when you’re looking to hire, you must know the skills and qualifications that are critical for your role. This will help you take a more targeted approach to recruitment and narrow your search as the resumes flow in. Here’s a look at how to do that:

Identify what area of the field you need expertise in.

Petroleum engineering is a big field with a diverse range of needs in terms of skills. As a result, your needs might vary from other employers.

For instance, are you searching for an employee who’s in the lab and primarily focused on designing new systems for extracting oil? Do you need an experienced manager to perform on-site monitoring and oversee what’s already in place? Or do you require an individual with special expertise, such as in good completion or reservoir extraction?

Develop a clear picture of the perfect hire.

While there’s no such thing as the perfect employee, you want to get as close as possible. It’s why, before you start the hiring process, it’s important to outline some critical details to look out for. These include work history, number of years of experience, and certifications.

Create a list of essential and nice-to-have skills.

There are those skills and abilities you absolutely need to perform the job properly and safely. There are also those that aren’t essential, but simply nice-to-have. Make a list of both, whether it’s scheduling, project management, or problem-solving, so you’re clear about the areas where you’re willing to negotiate and those that are dealbreakers. This will make it easier to sift through candidate resumes, interview individuals and ultimately find the right fit engineer for your needs.

Ask meaningful questions.

During the interview process, the questions you ask are critical to hiring success. So spend time and effort in crafting the right ones. Bring other key players on board in the process to get diverse perspectives and ensure you’re not missing any areas. Also make sure you ask a mix of questions about hard and soft skills, as well as relevant behavioral questions, such as “tell me about a time when you had to focus on finding new drilling sites.”

The competition for petroleum engineers is competitive, especially in Texas. However, by taking the steps above and creating a stream-lined, candidate-centered process, you can find the exceptional people you need.

If you’d like professional help with the job, turn to Murray Resources.

We’re an award-winning staffing firm with over 30 years of experience. We also offer a specialty engineering division that can help you source and recruit top technical talent. Contact us today to get started.