I would like to get some responses from laid off chevroids, and regular people, who have been able to find employment in the oil industry that is somewhat comparable to their previous job. Salary is not important here, just that you were able to find something similar. This may be helpful to others who are still unemployed, or it may actually be discouraging. Let's find out. As for me, I am laid off at 62 and will just consider myself 'retired'.
62 replies (most recent on top)
Most laid-off energy workers remain out of work, UH study says
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Study-Most-laid-off-energy-workers-remain-out-of-10846189.php
@-3hhm, as I said I have my wife and family to support and was laid off before I was really ready. With 2 kids in college and a house less than half paid for since I was transferred to Houston by Chevron in 2003. And I did not want to actually say but I am a millionaire 6 times over thanks to Chevron and am believe that is less than some and more than others. I do believe I can get by even though I have all of the expenses of someone having to continue to work. Of course in a few years the kids will eventually graduate college and be on their own, my wife and I will eventually get to be 65 and graduate to a less expensive Medicare health plan and then to 67 when my federal retirement plan (social security) will kick in some to help with expenses. And right now I just have to manage my excess income so I do not generate too large of a tax liability.
Assuming you only have yourself and your spouse to support and have your home paid off, most would consider having about $600,000 in savings enough to retire and collect a sufficient income on through investment in stocks and bonds.
3umv , "a millionaire"? Good for you , but wow. After 58 years. You, brought it up and are apparently very proud of it, but most people would consider that the absolute bare-A$$ed bottom of the barrel minimum to retire, with no debt and house paid up. You may want to do some research and put yourself on a serious budget big-time before you get ahead of yourself. There are endless online threads, blogs and websites on the subject.
Conoco Phillips has a senior petrophysicist opening posted on January 11.
The online version of the oil and gas directory is pathetic. The paper version was very detailed. Here are some others. Texas Railroad Commission directory of oil and gas companies, Benvolo Oil and Gas Directory, The Pegasus Oil and Gas Directory, Armstrong Oil Companies, Burmass Permian Basin Oil & Gas Directory. FYI- just saw a posting for a reservoir engineering manager for Contango Oil&Gas Company.
There is a publication called the oil and gas directory. It lists all of the companies associated with oil/gas exploration. Find the 2017 publication and go to the section for oil and gas companies. You can find the office locations of every company and a list of the various management people and their job title. Try sending a resume directly to that person, even by mail, and bypass the HR department. There are likely a fair number of unlisted job openings and this method might get you some positive recognition. It will demonstrate initiative on your part. A letter is good because it will get to the right person and will be read. Keep the cover letter and resume short and to the point.
I've been laid off for over a year and haven't found anything. I think the older you are and the more years of experience you have the harder it will be to find a job. As previous poster mentioned, 40 somethings probably have it the worst, since they probably don't have enough saved up to retire comfortably and may be considered too old, too experienced, or too expensive to be hired by a new employer. People in their 20s and 30s with say less than five years of experience will have an easier time finding a job. Finding a job in oil and gas now is like finding a needle in a haystack. One should expand their search to other industries if possible.
I am 58 and was laid off last June in Houston. I decided to just consider my self early retired even though I have a wife plus 2 kids in college and a mortgage to support. Fortunately I had 36 years with Chevron and fully participated in the retirement savings plan. So my "job" now is managing my retirement assets to make an income and managing expenses for my family.
It is very good not have to spend 2 hours each day commuting to and from downtown Houston and having to spend 9 hours a day having to make work to fill the work day.
I do not have too much to complain about since Chevron helped make me a millionaire. It is the mid-career 40-sometings who were laid-off who have it tough right now. Good luck everyone
Almost 1100 views and barely any meaningful responses. There has to be hundreds of laid off professional level Chevron employees in Houston. Either you have found work or you have not. If you have, it is either in the oil industry or it is not. It might be just a stop gap job in a new industry or a totally new career. I was just hoping for more relevant replies. The silly nonsense ones are to be expected.
The reports from a recent medical survey in the area that I read about concluded that approx. 4 out of 5 of the Thai prostitutes carry STD's -primarily AIDS. Not a joke, and I have nothing against a single guy legally seeing prostitutes. Just the facts. My health is worth much more to me than that.
Qhi ... wow, you just cannot stop the nastiness ... which idiot told you your language is funny
@-its , 61 years old and kids and wife to support + mortgage? I wish the best for you but cannot help but mentioning that you made that bed that you have to sleep in. What were you thinking? You are only a year away from early SS and nursing your kids through college is a luxury, not a necessity. Many of us had to work our way through college and are that much better off because of it. School of hard knocks is the best. The coddled millennial generation will have a lot of learning to do about life and the real world, that many previous generations were forced to learn early. How can society repeat mistakes that were made and lesson's learned generations ago?
It's: I hear Halliburton is hiring for Permian Basin. Worth a try. Beat of luck.
I am 61 years old petroleum engineer with Chevron for the last 15 years. I was at PSG24 and was laid off in Nov 2015. My 26.5 weeks of TWC benefits finished last year. I applied to every single relevant petroleum job that matched my skills. I had 5 responses but none asked for interview. I had a house mortgage, a daughter in college to support, monthly health insurance to worry about. I regret not played along with the office politic. My former colleagues were no top performer except they are younger. I am still in deep depression and my wife was praying some miracles will happened. Yes, now I began to play $10 lottery every week and that is my next hope.
I don't know anyone who has found work in the last 18 months except as Uber drivers. Tough market!
I was laid off about 9 months ago. I tried looking for work for 5 months with no luck or good prospects. I started up a small business (import/export) to and from Central and South America. It's doing very well with 10 containers shipped out to date.
I know of several mid career colleagues who are Earth Scientists are still looking. Most Engineer colleagues have found something.
I wonder what we call Angola, Gorgon, GOM, AMBU, Bigfoot and all the other examples of gross ineptitude that define Chevron if the people who have been let go are the losers?
Don't worry, qji, the bitterness of losing your job will wear off once you've met your happy meal quota.
I went to an interview, and in the middle the interviewed told me that I seemed to be still butthurt about getting cut with the deadwood so I was too miserable of a loser to hire. So I am still unemployed.
Haven't looked. Also consider myself "retired" and it is sweet!