The Energy Sector

Pursuing a career in energy began to be possible in America in the late 19th century when John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil. By 1880, almost all the oil used in the United States was refined by this company. Thirty years later, Standard Oil was divided into different smaller companies, many of which still remain active today and have even become the most prominent players in the field: Mobil, Shell or Chevron to mention a few. In the 1930s, parallel to an increase in the development of roads and the growing popularity of automobiles, the demand for oil also increased.

Mobil, Shell and many other companies in the sector invested overseas to enlarge their oil reserves. Anyone interested in developing a career in energy in the United States needs to be aware of the fact that it is quite a controversial economic activity. Global oil prices are extremely volatile and their ups and downs have a huge and direct impact on the prices of almost every item and service that consumers acquire.

In addition, the energy sector is permeable to environmental concerns, and oil spills from oil vessels or fires in oil distilling and processing units usually catch the attention of the media and wider population. The energy sector is also greatly influenced by political decisions.

With this being said, upstream and midstream activities comprise the most attractive areas to develop a career in energy. This is where the major players are, where the most challenging activities are performed and where the most critical decisions are made.

Oil exploitation, distilling and distribution are also areas in which anybody interested in developing a career in energy will be able to enjoy high salaries and attractive working opportunities. In these areas, workers are exposed to a challenging working environment and are expected to develop a global point of view as well as a natural willingness to travel abroad and spend plenty of time in a foreign country.

Generally, people who pursue a career in energy enter either the oil or the electricity industry, and will rarely cross over from one sector to the other, as each is quite specific.

However, those engaged in the gas industry enjoy the privilege of developing a career in energy in the only sector that has proven to work as a bridge between the oil and the electricity niches. Natural gas is extracted from the ground much like any other oil-derived fuel, and is often used to provide electricity to industrial and residential areas.