I'm currently working in a petrochemical plant in Singapore at the moment owned by Shell as process technician or plant operator.

Regarding qualification, I got the job with my SPM with science subject, just as long as credit enough already. Found the job in The Star newspaper recruitment.

Higher qualification mean better position and pay of course. Managerial and executive positions, you really need all those Hons., masters and a very good CGPA like 3.3 and above for MNC companies. I know a lot of people with Engineering degree working as technicians under experienced Engineers. Because their paper qualification or grade is not superior enough. So they become "kuli" until they gain enough experience and recognition before they can come up.

As far as I know, engineering students have a lot of prospects in Oil and gas, Mechanical engineering and Electrical engineering is the most common qualification for an engineer job in Oil and gas. IT people also got a lot of prospects in MNC, might not earn as much but have good MNC benefits. But as far as I know, Operational staff upstream and midstream get the most pay, downstream less unless in sales department. Civil engineering also good prospects working for the enginnering companies contracted to oil and gas plus most companies always got some minor civil works going around their plant.

Chemical, and science students with very good grades, get the scientist jobs and executive level positions. So better study hard, a general degree won't get you far. Involved mostly in studies how to reduce costs and improve yield. Most of the managers and high flyers come from this background.

It's true about the 6 - 8 months bonus, a Shell cracker plant doing crude oil processing gets 8 months bonuses annually and the union in Singapore is damn strong. As long as your plant/rig don't burn down, it is always making money.

Pay range for engineers can be from SGD4k for fresh grad to whatever depending on your experience and qualifications. Operation staff like me start at about SGD2.2k, and with overtime, can reach SGD4k easily.

Work is mostly hands on for operation staff, engineers do a lot of planning and also field studies and work. Most of the labour is contracted out so you are mostly spared the dirty work and most dangerous situations if you are with the main company and not the engineering company.

Shift work is mandatory, and safety training for everyone is 1st priority. It's actually safer to work in a oil plant than in the offshore rig of course. But since I have no experience in offshore, I can't comment. I plan to come back to Malaysia one day and maybe go offshore though.

The risks is the real reason why we get paid so much. I know of 3 collegues from the Philipines who died of cancer already due long exposure to chemicals and gases. Their regulations there is more lax and the staff are expose more to dangerous stuff. So think about this well. I have seen high pressure fires, massive gas leakages, mild poisoning, bursting vesels, chemical burns, cold burns, deafness, blindness, crushed fingers, broken limbs, psychological trauma and skin discoloration due to chemical exposure. These risks are real and happens frequently, some companies hide it well, others play it down, but most are accepted as part of the industry.

There are a lot of companies involved in oil and gas industry, not only the oil companies. Engineering and construction companies, scaffolding companies, specialist companies, software enginnering, IT support, food and beverages and all that is needed to support the large workforce. As long as you are in the oil companies, you will get good pay. Support company employees don't earn as much and are expose to most risks.

During turnaround or major maintenance periods, risks of accidents and fire increases significantly as the workload and stress wear down the alertness of hundreds of people working in the same area. Companies always push for the best safety training and awareness, but people always make mistakes and some costs them thier lives. So if you still want to work in oil and gas, better prepare yourself for all these. It's not always rosy and the high pay has it's reason behind it.

Pros:
Very good pay
Get to travel
Constant training
Great overtime rates
Great bonus
Good working hours (long off days in shift)
Good work out

Cons:
Dangerous and always at risks
Away from family if offshore or travel other countries
Can be fired for major cock-ups
Always answer to someone, you can't be the boss
High pressure working environment
Hard work and dirty if ground crew
Cumulative effects 20 years down the road.(cancer, blindness, deafness)