Reply to: Anyone worked for BP - Sunbury / London

[Fred Bloggs]

Would you mind sharing the name of this CC?

Chevron. I'm not there now, I regret to say.

[Scoi]

I'm currently with an American O&G Co, much less stuffy, where skill and experience counts. Best gig I've ever had with top day rate.

Would you mind sharing the name of this CC?

[Scoi]

Their graduate recruitment is strictly from favoured uni's despite what the league tables were showing, they didn't even come to mine despite being top during my time there. When I applied I was told by the HR person that they would only look at 'second tier' graduates if they failed to find anyone from their preferred list.

I'm currently working for a company supplying skids to BP for a few platforms and FPSO and worked with a number of process and control engineers from their side. The training scheme is pretty intense and responsibility is given very early in the career. They are pretty top notch engineers within a few years. The only problem is they are taught the 'BP way' and anything that doesn't meet their standards they either have no idea what you're talking about or panic. I've heard that it can be tough to move to another company once you're in.

I was asked about a permie role with them and the terms and pay are pretty good but you must be flexible with location to get anywhere. Fabrication is never undertaken in Europe and the north sea is quickly drying up so expect some months/years away.

I agree that it can feel stuffy but its a true meritocracy (as are Schlumberger who also have a tough selection process) at the low/middle levels which most of the design houses seem to be poor at.

[Wayfarer]

Working at BP

Hi,
I'm a qualified accountant, currently unemployed. I recently
interviewed at BP for a project they have on that finishes
towards the end of 2014. I have never contracted before but due to my current work situation, I'm wondering whther taking this contract (if I get it) would be a good move.
Reading this blog and what people have to say about being an Oxbridge/red brick candidate, I'm wondering if I would fit in?? I did not get very good grades at uni (2:2) etc.
I interviewed in front of a panel of 4 people (all contractors) and they seemed nice.
Does anyone know BP's attitude towards eventually making contractors permanent?

Any advice would be appreciated. I will find out today I get the role. It's based in their sunbury offices.

Thanks

[Fred Bloggs]

what does staff role mean??

I prefer to use the word "staff" rather than "permanent" since these days there are no "permanent" jobs, but it's the same thing.

[wantacontract]

Funnily enough a few weeks ago one of their headhunters (they have Hudson embedded in BP) offered me an interview via LinkedIn. I found out by chance that they were looking for staff people. Upto that point the guy had been very evasive about the role when asked, but the interview was a firm date. I found it a bit surprising but a mate had the same experience last week, he had the interview and afterwards they told him it was for a staff role. He declined and went elsewhere to an EPC company.

what does staff role mean??

[Fred Bloggs]

For O&G engineering roles, I'd say you're pretty much wasting your time with BP or Shell if you don't measure up to the Oxbridge/Imperial requirements. I'm currently with an American O&G Co, much less stuffy, where skill and experience counts. Best gig I've ever had with top day rate.

Funnily enough a few weeks ago one of their headhunters (they have Hudson embedded in BP) offered me an interview via LinkedIn. I found out by chance that they were looking for staff people. Upto that point the guy had been very evasive about the role when asked, but the interview was a firm date. I found it a bit surprising but a mate had the same experience last week, he had the interview and afterwards they told him it was for a staff role. He declined and went elsewhere to an EPC company.

[Fred Bloggs]

Hi

I am starting a BP in Oct. and was wondering if anyone could advise of good cheap digs close to the offices ?

Just done 18 months in Surrey, stayed at the ETAP in Beaconsfield (£37 a night) and drove in each morning. OK as long as you hit the M25 by about 6.15am and ~4.00pm which I was.

[bobspud]

I worked round the corner from the HQ, and got to know a good chap who worked there, He'd been in about 15 years from what I remember. Spent several beer fuelled nights out with his crew. His method of recruitment was strictly down the pub and word of mouth. I got introduced through another mate who was my boss at the time.

I'm sure the roles get out to the market but I am very sure that they don't get filled by unknown quantities very often. Shame because I would love to add an Oil Company to my CV and there's noway that I'd approach the guy out of the blue.

[SimonMac]

Congrats, I was in the running for a job at BP, one of those where on paper I was perfect but reading this thread seems that I didn't stand a chance from the outset

[bobm]

Accomadation near BP Sunbury

Hi

I am starting a BP in Oct. and was wondering if anyone could advise of good cheap digs close to the offices ?

[Aman]

So, is it not worth applying if you have no O&G industry experience or if you haven't been to a red brick university?

Any advice on their recruitment (contract or permananent) process would be appreciated.

If you were at one of the ancients, that might be better than red brick. They have a lot of people from red brick unis too, old polys and institutes of technology, people with no formal tertiary qualifications..

If your uni or college has strong associations with the oil, gas and petrochem industry eg Aberdeen, Delft TU, RGU, Houston, Dallas, maybe Imperial) and you can put across knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry in your promotional material (CV CL), then that is probably going to give you better chances of a contract. Aberdeen and RGU for example have a significant element of their engineering course content aimed at preparing engineers for the local and international oil industry.

Apply. The worst that can happen is they say no. It seems like you are looking for reasons not to apply ... rather defeatist, no?

They have for years contracted out a lot of their comms and computer work anyway to the big 5 (or however many there are now), EDS, Schlumberger, SAIC and local companies.

I only worked for BP because I couldn't find anything else in Aberdeen and needed the money to move. Oil and gas doesn't inherently interest me it's just another environment to deliver comms systems into to as far as I am concerned. The work was quite varied but I preferred a more dynamic environment and Aberdeen operates at a snail's pace. It's in the middle of nowhere too.

[Fred Bloggs]

So, is it not worth applying if you have no O&G industry experience or if you haven't been to a red brick university?

Any advice on their recruitment (contract or permananent) process would be appreciated.

For O&G engineering roles, I'd say you're pretty much wasting your time with BP or Shell if you don't measure up to the Oxbridge/Imperial requirements. I'm currently with an American O&G Co, much less stuffy, where skill and experience counts. Best gig I've ever had with top day rate.

[zemoxyl]

So, is it not worth applying if you have no O&G industry experience or if you haven't been to a red brick university?

Any advice on their recruitment (contract or permananent) process would be appreciated.

I don't know what departments the other respondents are referring to, but when I had a visit in there a couple of years ago, it was almost complete WIPRO staff.

So I don't figure where the relevance of your education lies.

[Hicks]

So, is it not worth applying if you have no O&G industry experience or if you haven't been to a red brick university?

Any advice on their recruitment (contract or permananent) process would be appreciated.