Emphasized skills include the ability to work with workstations, knowledge of basic geology and geophysics, and an interest in the applied search for oil and gas. Exploration Companies continue to explore in frontier settings and they continue to hire for these positions. In many cases, employees will start with exploitation problems and then be shifted to exploration problems. These exploration-scale problems tend to emphasize the larger scale. Students who have done field work, who have some computer skills, and who are interested in putting together 'the big picture' are desired.
Structural geologists are in big demand.
There are a few remaining research jobs to be filled within the petroleum industry. In particular, the Exxon Production Research Lab continues to hire a significant number of Penn State geoscientists. These individuals spend some of their time on pure research and the remainder of the time on particular projects that they are asked to address by their exploration affiliates. Structural geologists and geologists cross-trained in engineering are in great demand. Service Companies Schlumberger and Halliburton are companies that do 'service' work for the oil industry.