I’m a Mechanical Engineering student (BEngTech) in South Africa, aiming to break into the oil & gas industry after graduation.
I’m currently building relevant knowledge and certifications alongside my degree — I’m doing IWCF Level 1, the Introduction to Drilling by LearnToDrill course, and basic HSE training.
I’m trying to be as strategic as possible early on and would really appreciate advice from people already in the industry.
• What entry-level roles should I be targeting right after graduating?
• Which career paths in oil & gas offer strong long-term growth and good exposure? (e.g., drilling, subsea, field engineering, offshore, etc.)
• What certifications are actually worth getting early?
• Is it better to start in South Africa first, or try to go international as soon as possible?
• What companies or graduate programs should I be aiming for?
• Any mistakes you made early on that I should avoid?
I’m open to relocating, working offshore, and putting in the hours—I just want to make sure I’m focusing on the right moves now.
Any guidance, real experiences, or honest advice would really help.