Student Workshop:
resume writing & career planning
New for this year's Eastern Regional Meeting, a session has been added to help students and young professionals navigate the challenges of the modern job market. Attendees will learn about best practices for writing a resume, tips on how to perform their best during the interview process, and general advice on career planning. The group will also explore the state of the current oil & gas workforce and vocational landscape and explore the role of petroleum engineers in the future.
​The course will be taught on Wednesday, October 29th (830AM-1100AM) and is included in student & general conference registration. Everyone is welcome to attend all or part of the session.
Zachary Evans
Technical Sales Director, DarkVision
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Zachary Evans has over 20 years of experience in the upstream and midstream energy sectors, currently serving as the Technical Sales Director – Well Integrity for DarkVision, where he serves as the company’s technical lead for well integrity applications and global SME for underground storage.
His two decades of experience includes a role as Vice President, Reservoir Storage & CCUS for WSP, an international engineering consulting firm, and over a decade as a Senior Storage Engineer with the Columbia Gas / TC Energy family of companies. He also spent several years as a Measurement While Drilling engineer for Schlumberger, with international placements in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Australia.
He is a lifelong member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, serving as a student chapter officer, section chair, and as a volunteer on a variety of regional and international committees. In 2022, he concluded his term as a member of the SPE International Board as the Regional Director for North America where he focused was on member programs, specifically for students and young professionals.
Zachary holds a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from West Virginia University and lives in Charleston, West Virginia metro area.
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COURSE Summary
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Hour 1: Resume Writing
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Attendees will be walked through the fundamentals of resume writing, both in general and with a focus on careers in the oil & gas industry.​​​
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Understanding the Purpose of a Resume​
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General Formatting & Structure
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Resume Content: What's Necessary & What to Avoid
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Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
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Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems & Digital Hiring
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This session will also include a brief primer on best practices for the the interview process.
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Interview Preparation & The Importance of Practice
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General Interview Do's and Don'ts
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Avoiding Red Flags
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9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Break
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Hour 2: The Future Role of Petroleum Engineers
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This session will open with a frank discussion of the current and future global energy needs and how petroleum engineers will fit into that dynamic landscape.
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Understanding the Current Energy Mix
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The Future of Energy: Separating Fact from Fiction
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Petroleum Engineering: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
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The session will close with some general advice on career planning, navigating the job search process, and how to use the skills learned in finding a job to continuous improve with experience.
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The Job Search: An Honest Discussion
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Building Effective Networks
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Q&A Session