Oil and Gas CV writing

Structure it around projects. For each one, give the asset, the phase, your role, the operator or EPC contractor and the country. Gulf employers in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia often shortlist quickly against project requirements, so clarity matters more than length. Put your discipline and HSE credentials near the top, and follow the local CV conventions of the country you are targeting.

Include your safety responsibilities, the recognised safety training you hold with dates, and your experience with permit to work, risk assessment and incident investigation. If you led safety improvements, describe what changed. HSE is judged as part of competence in this industry, so present it as evidence of how you work rather than as a short list of certificates at the end.

Yes. Upstream, midstream and downstream roles use different assets, processes and standards, and employers hire against one of them. Label each role or project with its segment, and lead with the one that matches the job. If you have both, present that as range, but make sure a recruiter can see at a glance which segment each piece of experience comes from.

Emphasise the transferable parts of your experience: project delivery, HSE culture, commissioning, reliability, offshore operations and complex stakeholder management. Offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture projects often value these skills. Reduce hydrocarbon-specific jargon, highlight any energy transition exposure, and frame your projects by scale, phase and safety outcome so a new sector recognises their value.