Two surveyors. Two very different paths into the same technical discipline. Temi got into the Shell Graduate Programme during her NYSC year, almost did not apply, and now lectures part-time at the University of Benin's Centre of Excellence. Seember did not even apply in the traditional sense. Her university had a relations partnership with Shell that she did not know existed until an email landed in her inbox.

In this episode, they join Sona Hart for an unfiltered conversation about what a career in surveying and geomatics actually looks like inside the oil and gas industry, from the technical realities of stakeholder management and software upskilling, to the soft skills that matter more than people expect.

They also answer a wide range of audience questions live: how to network your way into a geospatial career, what actually happens at the final assessment stage of graduate recruitment, how to interpret repeated rejections, whether certifications are worth the money, and why your degree title rarely determines your ceiling in this industry.

One of the most repeated ideas in this episode: conviction matters as much as competence. Both guests describe walking into their roles without certainty, without a guaranteed outcome, and without overthinking the odds. They got in anyway.

If you are early in your career and trying to figure out where you fit in oil and gas, or you are specifically curious about surveying, geomatics, or GIS, this conversation gives you a grounded, honest look at what the path actually requires.

Sheraine Agbale studied agriculture, finished with a 2-1, and then applied to Seplat Energy on a whim after a friend sent her a link. She was one of 22,000 applicants. She got in.

In this episode, Sheraine joins Sona Hart to walk through the entire recruitment process step by step, from the online aptitude test and the disappearing-answer assessment, to a six-stage assessment centre that lasted a full day. She talks about being the only female in her group discussion, the one commercial point she raised that nobody else in the room thought about, and how she nearly gave up before her final individual interview.

They also get into what actually makes a candidate stand out, and the answers are not what most people expect. It is not your degree. It is not your grade. It is whether you understand that an oil and gas company exists to make money, and whether you can demonstrate that you think that way under pressure.

The conversation covers what to do if you think your degree is the barrier, why your experience in banking, real estate, FMCG, or any other industry is more transferable than you think, why the assessors in the room are not your enemies, and why you should never be thinking about the salary when you are still trying to get through the door.

Sheraine is now in her second year as a graduate trainee in procurement and supply chain at Seplat, rotating through category management, materials and logistics, and wells. She figured it out. This is how.

Ebuka Onwuagba did not plan to work in supply chain. He studied business management, started out in customer service, moved into finance, stumbled into SAP through the Young Professionals Programme without knowing what SAP was, landed in IT, and eventually found his way into supply chain in the energy industry. Every step was unplanned, and every step fed the next one.

In this episode, Sona Hart sits down with Ebuka to talk about what that non-linear path actually looked like, what the SAP Young Professionals Programme is and how it works, and why SAP remains one of the most underrated entry points into oil and gas for young professionals today.

They also field live questions from the community covering some of the most common challenges young professionals face: how to get promoted when you feel stuck, how to balance skill development with a full workload, how to transition into oil and gas from industries like banking, FMCG, and logistics, and why your degree or current job title matters far less than most people think.

Two things that come up repeatedly: domain knowledge beats certifications, and experience beats courses. If you are trying to break into supply chain or oil and gas more broadly, this conversation gives you a realistic picture of what the path looks like and what to actually focus on.

Getting into oil and gas as a graduate trainee is harder than most people admit. The acceptance rates at top IOCs hover around 0.01%. The competition includes first-class graduates from strong universities applying for the same roles. And yet people do get in, without connections, without inside knowledge, and sometimes without even knowing the company existed before they applied.

In this episode, Sona Hart sits down with Isioma Nosike, an HSE professional who got his first oil and gas role barely two weeks after NYSC, went on to represent Nigeria at the ISO General Assembly, and was named Employee of the Month at his current company. Isioma started out as a microbiology graduate, spent time in banking, and built his way into the industry through merit, visibility, and deliberate positioning.

Together they cover the questions that young professionals actually have but rarely get honest answers to: Does your degree matter? Do you need connections? What do recruiters actually look at beyond your CV? Why are there thousands of certified HSE professionals but companies still struggle to recruit? And what is the one thing most candidates do wrong at the interview stage that costs them the offer?

They also get into the role of content creation and LinkedIn visibility as a long-term career strategy, why grades still matter more than people want to hear, and what both of them would do differently if they were starting their job search today.

If you are finishing NYSC, trying to break into the industry, or already in it and wondering how to stand out, this conversation is worth your full attention.

The conversation covers Miracle's personal background, preparation for the assessment center, experiences during the group exercise assessment, and insights into the individual tests for fact finding and presentation. The conversation covers valuable insights on maintaining clarity and focus, preparation and mindset, patience and timing, recruitment process insights, qualifications and experience, career path and growth, CV writing and recommendations, NYSC and job opportunities, and job application and assessment.

Takeaways

• Preparation is key for success at an assessment center.
• Group exercises assess teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
• Individual tests require critical thinking, confidence, and the ability to make decisions with limited information. Maintaining clarity and focus is crucial in high-pressure situations.
• Preparation and mindset play a significant role in success during the recruitment process.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
• 07:12 Group Exercise Assessment
• 22:32 Individual Tests: Fact Finding and Presentation
• 40:26 Quality Over Quantity
• 47:06 Dealing with Rejection
• 53:49 The Journey of Preparation
• 01:06:32 The Age of Technology
• 01:16:36 Approaching Case Studies
• 01:26:08 Maintaining Clarity and Focus
• 01:31:17 Preparation and Mindset
• 01:38:59 Patience and Timing
• 01:44:04 Qualifications and Experience
• 01:54:52 CV Writing and Recommendations
• 02:00:06 Job Application and Assessment

The conversation delves into the graduate recruitment season, the expectations of recruiters, the assessment formats, and the unique aspects of oil and gas graded assessments. It also provides insights into eliminating strong candidates and offers preparation tactics for success in the recruitment process. The conversation covers topics related to interview preparation, cold emailing, internship, recruitment process, educational choices, recruitment timeline, young professionals, and future conversations. It provides insights into opportunities in the oil and gas industry and the NLNG assessment and recruitment process.

Takeaways

• Graduate recruitment season is a crucial time for job seekers
• Assessments test candidates' ability to think under pressure, communicate effectively, and align with company values Preparation for interviews
• Opportunities in oil and gas

Ella Agbo shares her career journey into the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the importance of soft skills, strategic planning, and intentional networking for success. She highlights the role of professional bodies like the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in providing career development, networking opportunities, and industry visibility. Ella's insights provide valuable guidance for individuals seeking to transition into the oil and gas industry and thrive in their careers. The conversation covers the importance of networking and surrounding oneself with the right environment, the impact of qualifications on opportunities, the development of skills and competencies, and the significance of professional development in career growth. The conversation covers diverse career paths in the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the importance of networking and professional associations. It delves into transitioning into oil and gas, acquiring technical credibility, gaining practical experience, and exploring opportunities for various academic backgrounds. The relevance of HSC certification, supply chain career development, legal roles, and the application of criminology and security studies in oil and gas are also discussed.

Takeaways

• Transitioning to the oil and gas industry is possible with strategic planning and intentional networking.
• Soft skills play a crucial role in career success, and continuous development in areas such as communication, collaboration, and attention to detail is essential.
• Defining personal success, conditioning the mindset for confidence, and striving for excellence are key factors in thriving in the oil and gas industry. Networking and Surroundings
• Qualifications and Opportunities
• Skills and Competencies
• Professional Development Diverse Career Paths in Oil and Gas
• Importance of Networking and Professional Associations

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Career Journey
• 09:29 Building Technical and Soft Skills
• 19:20 The Significance of Professional Bodies
• 29:52 Strategies for Transitioning to Oil and Gas
• 41:54 Networking and Surroundings
• 01:03:24 Professional Development
• 01:44:31 Venturing into Oil and Gas with IT Background

The conversation covers various aspects of transitioning into the oil and gas industry, including leveraging current skills, breaking into the industry without an engineering background, and the value of work experience over certifications. It also explores the potential for long-term growth in oil and gas amidst the rise of clean energy and provides career advice for students and early graduates. The conversation covers the importance of persistence and belief in career growth, as well as the significance of communication, collaboration, and value-adding tasks in professional development. It also emphasizes the role of networking and visibility tasks in career advancement.

Takeaways

• Experience over certifications
• Leveraging current skills for oil and gas
• Building a network for career success Value-adding tasks are crucial for career growth
• Networking and visibility tasks are important for career advancement

Chapters

• 00:00 Transitioning into Oil and Gas
• 09:33 Breaking into Oil and Gas
• 21:53 Certifications and Skills Development
• 28:34 Long-Term Growth in Oil and Gas
• 46:10 Career Advice for Students and Graduates
• 52:51 Overcoming Struggles and Persistence in Career Growth