Recruiters, oil and gas industry talent hunting

Employers analyzed opening academic programs and improve strategies to attract employees; however, the supply of professionals with the required expertise is low. 77% of companies in the oil sector plans to increase amount of vacancies this year.

On the eve of the promised oil energy boom with the opening of the oil energy industry, recruiters (the 'hunters') talent have targeted opening academic programs and improve strategies training of offshore oil specialists in the oil sector, difficult task the limited supply and the level of expertise required.

Currently in Mexico are about 5,000 students enrolled in petroleum engineering in 28 institutions of higher education that provide oil career, according to the National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education.

But that human resources will be insufficient to relieve some 20,000 professionals who will retire in Pemex, in addition to the human resources needed to achieve the production of four million barrels of oil over the next 10 years, according to the International Energy Agency.

The Mexican government has estimated the creation of 135,000 direct oil jobs and 365,000 indirect jobs associated with this sector by 2018.

Such professionals have become "object of desire" of oil and gas recruiters. Firms have engaged in this service and to capture business units specialized in the energy sector staff said Hector Marquez, commercial director for Mexico and Central America Manpower.

Shore Executive Search firm, for example, began in 2013 the Shore Energy project with offices in Houston, Texas. "We want to attract investments and projects working with entrepreneurs interested in petrochemical and electricity at a level of partner. Another aspect will repatriate Mexicans to the industry, "said Mark Ruiz, Executive Manager of Executive Search Shore.

Michael Page, Hays and Manpower, through its division Experis- also apply specialize executives in their ranks to recruit here, and not in vain. On the one hand there is a phenomenon of 'urgency', recognized Marquez.

Oil companies and universities are adding to the boom by the demand. Braskem-Idesa, for example, prompted the area of training in house (at home) because it should form a staff of at least 1,000 welders to build Ethylene XXI petrochemicals plant, to be located in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz to produce polyethylene.

The steel producer Ternium, worked to create the program Conalep basic electro-technical industry, and the radar is the creation of the race in drilling shale gas, to begin teaching in Nuevo Leon. Meanwhile, the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) opened his career in offshore petrochemical engineering.

"Young people are unaware of the opportunities in this industry, proof of this is that we received more than 500 applications when the race was opened, but it is impossible to meet this offer. However, begin to prepare, because it is a reality that the water reached our necks, "said Mario Salinas Carmona, Secretary for Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon.

77% of employers in the sector plans to increase amount of oil jobs this year, and even increase wages to attract job seekers, according to the Global Guide Salary in Oil and Energy (O & G) 2015 Hays, which includes survey of 45,000 professionals.

The specialized talent is required for administrative positions, positions as buyers operating personnel on ships and oil platforms, Hector Marquez said.

"We must hurry to find staff for oil exploration, development and management offshore projects, and infrastructure development," he said.

There may be many engineers, but without the necessary experience, knowledge, or asking higher pay and better compensation plans, said Mark Ruiz.

But it is not simply migrate from one industry to another, he said. "There are the same protocols, certifications and even contact in the case of managerial positions," he added.

At the management level, among the most demanded profiles for the energy sector is the Project Manager and the Project Controler said Adriana Fraga, finance consultant for Hays Oil & Gas. To fill these positions, those from the mining sector and construction are a good alternative, because of the similarity between industries.

However they are not totally customizable. Although there are experienced talent in automotive, for example, it is that in the oil energy sector costs change, labor is different. "Not everything is supported by the industries jump, and that's a big learning curve for oil companies and therefore invest," says consultant Hays