What skills are useful in Offshore Energy?

There is such a wide range of jobs available in the offshore energy sector, as you'll see from the 'What can I do in offshore energy?' page. But what skills do you need to be able to do these jobs?

Below you'll find the top 10 skills that employers in this industry are looking for!

Looking at this list, you might recognise some of these terms and find that you are already developing some of these skills already. Think about what you do in your spare time, such as part time work, sport, cookery, environmental or conservation work and even playing computer games.

All of these activities can help you to enhance important skills. Let’s take a look at the top 10 employability skills, what they mean and how you can develop them.

Initiative and self-motivation

Putting forward your own ideas, doing things without having to be told and completing tasks.

How could you develop these skills?

• Use a new idea that could help with your work, such as asking real companies for information for a business project instead of just researching online.
• Complete your work without being told to.
• Whether it’s in or out of school, make sure that you complete any work that you start.
• Searching and applying for a part time job.

Organisational skills

Plan your work, organise your time and meet deadlines.

How could you develop these skills?

• Help to organise an event or project, such as a charity craft fair.
• Plan your homework diary to ensure that you get your work submitted on time.
• Make a revision timetable.

Working under pressure and to deadlines

Working under pressure and to deadlines

• Make a timetable for coursework or exam revision, to maximise use of your time and reduce stress.
• Prioritise tasks so that you are working on them in a logical order, for example if you have two projects, prioritise the one due first.
• Learn how to work effectively with others to get tasks done on time.

Ability to learn and adapt

Learning from mistakes and identifying ways in which things can be improved, learning new things and working with feedback.

How could you develop these skills?

• Read or listen to feedback from teachers and tutors about your work and use this to improve it for the next time.
• Be open to learning new things.
• If you are stuck with something, know when to ask for help.

Communication and interpersonal skills

Convey thoughts, ideas and feelings clearly, verbally and in writing, as well as listening to and understanding others.

How could you develop these skills?

• Take part in a debate.
• Do a presentation or speak to an audience.
• Give instructions to others and ensure that they are understood.

Teamwork

Understand how to work well with other people in order to complete tasks.

How could you develop these skills?

• Work with other students on a project.
• Keep a note of how the team works together and resolves any differences.
• If you take part in team sport, think about what makes you work well together as a team.

Negotiation skills

Reach agreement with other people on a topic or issue, which is fair and of benefit to both parties.

How could you develop these skills?

• Work with a team on a project and help to decide who is best for each task.
• Help someone with their maths work if they agree to help you with science in return.
• Offer to do some tasks around the house for money.

Valuing diversity and difference

Treating people equally by valuing and respecting differences between individuals and the contributions they make.

• Take part in debates at school or in a club to learn how to listen and respond to people with views different to your own.
• Take part in some charity work where you will be in contact with people from lots of different backgrounds.
• Be aware of behaviour and language that causes discrimination or is bullying in nature.

Problem solving

Identify and understand a problem, collect and examine information and use your knowledge and experience to develop a solution.

How could you develop these skills?

• Design and make working objects in your Design and Technology or Design and Manufacture class.
• Look at results from maths problems or science experiments and draw conclusions.
• Get involved in STEM activities in or out of school or college.

Numeracy

Use numbers and data to work out, understand and demonstrate meaningful information and results.

How could you develop these skills?

• You might have a part time job where you have the opportunity to count and handle cash.
• Take part in school or college projects that include using maths and numeracy.
• Use different types of graphs, tables and diagrams to interpret data.