Career Management: Frequently Asked Questions

Jobseekers often contact our recruitment consultants for tips and advice about the best way to approach their job search. Many of the questions asked come up again and again, so we wanted to provide responses to some of the most popular questions on our website. We’ll be adding more FAQs, so don’t forget to revisit this page from time to time for the latest tips. If you’d like to put forward your own question, please email info@nes.co.uk, with the subject line Online FAQs.

Graduates: finding work...    

I am a chemical engineering graduate and gained relevant work experience while I was studying. I’ve been looking for a suitable job since I graduated but I’m struggling to secure interviews for any of the vacancies that have decent salaries advertised. Is there anything you can recommend to change this?

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I’m a mechanical engineer and have gained most of my experience in oil & gas. I’ve submitted my CV for a number of roles with major operators and EPC companies to take me to the next stage in my career but have only been invited to one interview and unfortunately someone else was offered the job. What would you suggest I do to get more interviews? 

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I am a commissioning manager with a degree and over 25 years experience within the power generation industry. I have just been made redundant and am concerned about finding work again because, now that I’m well into my 50s, I’ll be competing with much younger people for the few vacancies that do come up. What are my chances of getting back into work?

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I have worked on a contract basis as a civil engineer for over ten years and have experience on a wide range of projects. My current contract will finish in a couple of weeks, with no option for an extension. I know the market is tough at the moment, so I’m worried about how I’ll secure my next role with so few contract vacancies coming up. Do you have any suggestions about what I should do differently this time?  

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I have worked as a process engineer in a medium-sized company since graduating two years ago and am now seeking new opportunities within a larger organisation. I appreciate that I should be grateful to have any job with redundancies and recruitment freezes dominating the headlines, but I’d still like to try to follow my intended career path despite the economic conditions. Do you have any advice about uncovering hidden opportunities or is this outlook completely naïve at the moment?

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I have over 15 years oil & gas experience and am coming to the end of a three-year contract, where I’ve worked as a Senior Cost Engineer. Does the global economic downturn mean I should lower my earning expectations for my next assignment?  

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I have been working as a structural design engineer at the same company for five years. I was recently offered a more senior permanent role with another company, which I accepted and plan to start next month. My current employer has offered me more money to stay with them and doing so would mean a shorter commute than with my new company, but I’m still not sure if it would be better to move on now that I’ve made that decision. Any guidance about whether I should accept their counter offer would me much appreciated.  

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I’ve been a project manager, working on turbines within the power industry, for 12 years. Is a move into oil & gas going to be unattainable after having spent so long in this sector? I’d like to make the transition but haven’t taken steps to do so until now. With my current contract ending soon, is now a good time to take the plunge?  

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