Thread regarding Hess Corp. layoffs

@OP Your observation 1: There's a bias that they have better commercial skills, are more up to date on best practices, and are harder working (vs those at majors).

The above may be true, but not many hiring managers will bring in people they deem smarter and better than themselves. Hiring managers may end up looking like fools, so they protect their turf.

Word of advice for those searching for a job: don't try to be the world's savior. Show the interviewer that you are more than capable of handling the job and that you're willing to be a team player and learn from the new company. Oil and Gas is an old industry, not a tech startup.

My department is transitional through June. Is it wrong to hope for WWIII/spike in oil prices between now and then? 🤣

Being adaptable is good,
but due to industry and government layoffs being realistic
is also key. Look also at the world events of the past few months didn’t really touch the flat lower oil price. Rig counts in the US are down. Hiring is very limited as a result.

@ey agree with the saturated market, but the key to separate oneself above most imo is to simply be adaptable. The reality is the majors pay the most and have the least degree of employee expectations, and so here we are with the results of that. So be realistic, be willing to be uncomfortable, and be open to any position that keeps you in the game.

Yea, good to be positive, but check back in a month or two.
The market is completely saturated, there will be many folks, great talent or
not, who will not be getting positions. Layoffs at many companies have contributed to this. Just wait until COP layoffs coming soon.

OP here. Now at a portfolio company that is actively growing and hiring. You would be shocked at how difficult it is to find and hire good engineers (res, field/ops, drilling) right now. We've had 1/2 of our candidates turn us down, despite us offering top of market... Simply because they had something better lined out.

I wouldn't build up too much anxiety about the people and roles that are getting shipped to india. These were largely redundant or low value spots that exist at a Major but don't really exist at an independent.

If you want an example for how this may shake out, look to the marathon technical staff. Damn near every individual who wanted a new job snagged one... And I would argue that Hess talent is better than Marathon talent.

I agree it is good to have a positive attitude, but the reality is that a ton of technical jobs are being outsourced to India (Exxon, Chevron...) and the job market is oversaturated with jobless tech folks looking at a level probably never seen since the 80's bo-m and bust cycle. Any petroleum tech job that comes up on LinkedIn quickly ticks over the 100 people applied level. It is a really BAD time for us in this industry, and the future doesn't look any better. In my opinion it is unfortunately time to move on.