Hot Tip -- by Jason Wessel

Gum-Shoe Information Central has revealed some interesting tips for those of you who are looking to get ahead in the oil and gas exploration industry. If you want to start at the bottom, that is to say, if you want get down and dirty in the Seismic trenches, there are some things that you ought to know. For the most part, the exploration industry is rather slow at this time ("when oil prices are low, work in Calgary gets slow"). The easiest way to get your foot in the door, is to be more qualified than the next guy in line. Try and get some related experience and training at an introductory level. You might want to consider investing in some safety certificates so that a company does not need to train you before you can start work. Suggested certificates include "All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety"; WHMIS courses; "H2F Safety"; "Bear Awareness" and "Fire Fighting/Safety". Basic labour skills are also an asset. If you have any related outdoor labour experience, a company might give you consideration over someone who is not used to working in a variety of weather conditions. It is also known that larger companies can sometimes be difficult to get on with during slow times because they have a larger roster of employees waiting around for work. It might be wise, therefore, to contact the smaller companies who are looking to expand their exploration departments.

Gum-Shoe Information Central also has some facts about the upper scale jobs in the oil and gas exploration industry. If you are into geology or geophysics and looking for work, there are a few things you should know. The biggest asset you can have while looking for work in this area is training and experience, or experience and training. Quite simply, the one with the most experience is going to get the job. Any form of exploration background is also an asset. Rob Barber, a wise and weathered geologist in Calgary says, "Experience in the form of exploration is a key component to getting your foot in the door. You have to be an expert in the geological field, but you also have to be familiar with exploration techniques." It also helps to have a general knowledge of the oil-rig atmosphere. Know the terminology and know who the key players are that make the entire process of an oil-rig work. The more you know about the industry as a whole, the better your chances become in getting work. If you don't feed your brain, you won't stand a chance.