re: Advice for PETE student graduating in May from oil and gas engineers.

West Texas is going strong. Either look for production engineering roles as an engineer or start applying as a WSM. I talked to an engineer over the weekend who has worked the past 6 months as a WSM and finally found a position within the company as an operating engineer.

Go to law school

Lots of new engineers are having a hard time finding jobs now, not just petro engineers. Look into getting work experience in any kind of professional industry. When o&g companies start hiring again having a consistent employment would look really good on your resume, this shows that you know how to work in a professional environment. Having a PETE degree will be lagniappe and show recruiters what direction you are wanting to go in.

I had a good friend that was killing it for past 5 years in Denver with his petro engineer degree, a few months back he was laid off. He moved back home with his parents and just took a job at a plant as an auditor. Remember you are not the only one out there looking for a good job. Just keep your options open and look outside the box.

It's a really rough time to be graduating with a PetE degree. Just keep applying for everything you can and you might luck out in the spring semester, but I'd keep options open as far as staying in school for another year or so if you have the means. You can apply to be a rig hand, but there's plenty of unemployed hands already out there with experience that won't bolt as soon as an engineering position opens up. The incentive to hire you for that role isn't very high.

I graduated in PETE and I can tell you even getting a job as a rig hand will be almost impossible for you unless you know someone that can get you hooked up. There are so many people looking for work that have experience it's crazy. I would probably go to grad school, which is something I would've never suggested to anyone when I graduated.

Grad school at Colorado School of Mines

You are right don't hang your hat on just going into the oil industry. The engineering degree is worth it's weight in gold. Stay positive and look around in other industries.I am in the beer industry an my company hires engineers all the time. Have to do and internship but starting at 80 k after you are done.

Entry level jobs for a guy with a degree/PETE are only 7.5k a month, plus full medical and dental paid for, plus housing paid for (2.5k/mo)...oh and UAE has no tax, and the US doesn't touch your cash

The big bucks roll in with 5 years experience

Get into construction management and hire engineers to work for you one day.

People on OT detest me, but I really do understand your situation.

I actually had it alot worse than you. Physics BS as well as a not so stellar GPA. Fortunately for me, a Physics guy can get into most Engineering Grad Schools and I have gotten a few interviews (not much but better than nothing).

If you go the Grad school route make sure it is something you want to make a thesis/project about (Im going through the stress of that now). And try to make your thesis applicable and broad (ie useful research into other industries with better job prospects).

If non-engineering professional or grad school is your choice, just be careful because other other fields are not as prosperous right now (Law is on this level at the moment).

Any job related to your industry as a Technician or more obtuse opportunities like as a programmer would be useful. Just giving some thoughts.