Today’s guest blog from Dominic Morris, Director – Global Energy Business at Twenty Recruitment
There were few industries that weren’t hit by the economic crisis, with the energy sector being no exception. Even the big players weren’t immune, and projects have ended abruptly due to investment problems. However, the past year or so has seen improvements in the market. Business confidence has risen and the dominating companies in the sector are expanding and implementing new projects.
And it isn’t only the large businesses that are doing well. More startups are appearing on the scene, commonly breaking the geographies that main players haven’t looked at before.
So what does this mean for you as a candidate? With an increased number of companies in the market, there’s a war for talent. Startups recognise that, to be successful, they need to have the right team in place. As such, they’re competing with both peers and established companies for individuals with the right skills, qualifications and knowledge, who are able to adapt in a changing landscape. This means that there are rich pickings for top professionals.
Perhaps the main benefit of working for a startup is the flexibility. There isn’t as much of a focus on salary bands and job categories as in larger organisations, so they can afford to build the job around you, increasing salaries and bonus packages in some cases.
But it isn’t only about the money. When you’re looking for your next position, you are likely to want access to new opportunities. Startups are being more adventurous than some of the bigger players and, to find their niche, they’re moving into new areas that perhaps haven’t been explored before. The result is that you’ll have the chance to work in different geographies, enhancing skills and experiences, which will make you much more employable.
On top of this, development opportunities are important to consider when looking for a new role so that you can keep up-to-date and enhance career progression. This is arguably easier in a larger organisation as they have access to greater resources and internal teams. However, many of the best startups are outsourcing training to compete. And, the benefit that startups do have is that they’re smaller, making it easier for you to get the support and advice you need. In addition, a new employee is typically given greater responsibility early on so you can learn on the job from the beginning.
With more startups now on the scene, oil and gas has become increasingly competitive and top talent is in high demand. If you have the right skills, companies are prepared to fight for you by offering great benefits, so it’s a win-win situation. The only challenge you may have is leaving your current role as many employers have increased the length of notice periods. And of course, when faced with a choice of companies to work for, deciding which one you’d prefer may be difficult!
Dominic Morris, Director – Global Energy Business at Twenty Recruitment
