The following Research was devised and conducted by Working Smart for The Geological Society Careers Day at the Geological Society Bicentenary Conference, 10-12 September 2007.

Oil Companies and Service Companies were invited to participate and they kindly registered their views on graduate recruitment trends, practices and skills required. They also provided practical advice on securing a position in this Industry.

The results of the research are detailed below:

Question 1: Do you hire graduates?

Question 2: Why do you hire graduates?
(3=very important, 2=fairly important, 1=low importance, 0=no importance)?

Question 3: How do you hire graduates?

Question 4: What is the minimum academic qualification required by your company?

Question 5: Please select what attributes you feel are important for graduates?
(3=very important, 2=fairly important, 1=low importance, 0=no importance)?

Question 6: What skills are you looking for in a graduate?
(3=very important, 2=fairly important, 1=low importance, 0=no importance)?

Question 7: Do you supply training for graduates?

Question 8: What training do you provide for graduates?

Question 9: Do you hire students as Interns? e.g. for one year, then they return to University

Question 10: Why do you not hire graduates?