A résumé does not need elaborate graphics to be effective. For many oil and gas positions, clarity, accuracy and relevant experience matter far more than decoration.

1. Hiding your contact information

Your current phone number and email address should be easy to find. Check voicemail and use an inbox you actually monitor.

2. Using vague job descriptions

“Performed general duties” tells a recruiter very little. Describe the work, equipment, responsibilities and environment accurately.

3. Leaving unexplained or confusing dates

Use consistent month-and-year dates. If your work has been project-based, seasonal or contract work, label it clearly rather than making the timeline difficult to understand.

4. Burying licenses and certifications

If a position requires a CDL, welding credential, safety training or another qualification you actually hold, make it easy to see. Do not list expired credentials as current.

5. Sending the same résumé for every job

Your underlying history should remain truthful, but you can emphasize different relevant skills for different positions. A pipeline job and a refinery maintenance job may value different parts of the same background.

6. Ignoring travel and relocation availability

Some lucrative energy opportunities are outside a candidate’s home market. If you are genuinely open to travel, rotations or relocation, say so.

7. Failing to proofread

Incorrect phone numbers, misspelled company names and obvious errors create avoidable problems. Read the final résumé on both a computer and a phone before using it.

Oil Patch Careers Tip: Your saved résumé is not permanent. Return to My Résumé whenever you gain new experience, training or certifications and keep it current.