Like no other, the oil and gas industry relies upon a careful balance of experience and new blood. Attracting the relevant talent to your company is no mean feat, especially given the international nature of this industry.
Right now, activity in the Middle East is thriving – and as many businesses focus on centralising divisions, the simplicity and effectiveness of the external recruitment service can be lost, to the detriment of effective international recruitment. Now is the time for businesses to get back to basics and learn how to best utilise the resources external recruiters have to offer in this context.
It takes a lot of work to keep appraised of international recruitment trends. Specialist knowledge is particularly beneficial when benchmarking industry averages for salaries and day rates.
Successful international recruitment companies have access to this information on a daily basis, instantly offering a more thorough insight into the anticipated rates across the industry as a whole. This ensures your own rates are sufficiently competitive to attract the optimum candidates.
As the North Sea continues to face challenging times and the UK contractor rate dips, Middle East positions will, of course, become more attractive to many. This is the time to ask your recruitment company what they can do to ensure the talent you want moves in your direction, at the correct price.
With this in mind, it is critical to appoint a recruitment agency that is used to mobilising ex-pats from across the globe; they know exactly what’s involved in the process and how to encourage and advise their candidates about the procedure.
Wherever your geographic recruitment targets lie, establish whether your recruitment provider offers crucial additional services such as contractor management: local compliance, insurance, logistics, payroll, pensions, travel, general contractor welfare etc.
In this industry, contractors account for a substantial proportion of the workforce. By entrusting this element of recruitment to a recruitment contractor, you are allowing someone else to take on the time-consuming role of managing all payroll, administration and insurance issues.
If your company is targeting specific overseas recruitment market, the ad-hoc use of global recruitment specialists who have a proven track record in that area is by far the most cost effective process. Consultancies which know the area and the talent based there can manage the process swiftly, as and when required, preventing any unnecessary expenditure.
Being part of an industry that is constantly changing means we all have to adapt with it. As with all aspects of the industry, choose a recruitment company that’s expert, ensuring they understand what you require to move through any difficult stages in international recruitment.
By outsourcing your recruitment to an external consultancy, you will have instant access to advice, support and specialist knowledge that is vital for staying one step ahead.
Emerging Global trends
Recruitment specialists at Frontier say uncertainty around the price of oil means that the oil and gas industry must once again evolve.
– As companies adapt to the consequences of the fluctuating oil price, they also search for methods to streamline and economise processes.
– In a time where recruitment levels will be inconsistent, growth headcount may be reduced and potential redundancies are discussed, it is important to remember the beneficial role that recruitment companies can play.
– Because many businesses now focus solely on centralising divisions, the simplicity and effectiveness of the external recruitment service has been lost.
– Now is the time for businesses to get back to basics and learn how to best utilise the resources external recruiters have to offer.
– Recruitment consultants who take the time to understand your company and build solid relationships with you, your team and their candidates will be the most beneficial long term.
About
Mark Clarke is chairman of global recruitment company Frontier International. With over 30 years’ experience in oil and gas operations, Mark has lived and worked in the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the UK.
