By
Leanna Seah
July 24, 2025
Updated
July 24, 2025
Can my oil and gas experience open doors elsewhere in energy?
The answer is yes.
Thousands of skilled professionals are re-evaluating their next move. As the energy transition accelerates and the oil and gas sector experiences fluctuating demand, many are exploring how to apply their expertise in fast-growing areas like renewables, power generation, or petrochemicals.
So, what skills are actually transferrable? Where are they in demand? And what do you need to know before making the leap?
Let’s find out below.
Offshore engineering and floating infrastructure skills
The growth of floating offshore wind has opened the door to professionals with experience in offshore oil and gas platforms.
If you’ve worked on gravity-based structures, topsides, or subsea installations, your skills are highly relevant in today’s renewables market. Engineering, marine logistics, and offshore project delivery are in strong demand, not just in wind, but also in green hydrogen, CCS, and subsea cable deployment.
Tip for candidates: Frame your experience in terms of transferable applications; mention design for marine environments, safety protocols, or installation timelines, not just the oil and gas context.
High-pressure systems and complex fluid expertise
High-pressure piping experience is still incredibly valuable, especially as sectors like hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon capture continue to scale up.
The good news? Regulations and safety standards around pressurised systems remain largely consistent across industries. That means less retraining and a smoother transition.
For hiring managers: Candidates with pipeline or plant experience in oil and gas often bring strong problem-solving and risk assessment skills. These traits are gold when applied to new energy projects with similar infrastructure.
High-voltage skills
With so much investment in battery storage, electrified transport, and transmission infrastructure, high-voltage experience is more in demand than ever.
Whether your background is in commissioning, protection systems, or project engineering, this knowledge is critical in everything from wind and solar to utility-scale storage and EV charging networks.
The good news? Safety procedures for high-voltage environments are often universal.
HSE leadership and regulatory compliance
Health and safety professionals are essential across every energy sector. But in 2025, it's not just about workplace safety, it's also about regulatory alignment, environmental risk, and worker wellbeing.
If you’ve led or supported HSE functions in oil and gas, your skills are transferrable to renewables, power, and industrial energy projects. You may need sector-specific certifications (like a CCNSG passport or GWO training), but the foundational expertise is solid.
Pro tip: Highlight leadership in audits, incident response, and cross-border compliance; those responsibilities carry over exceptionally well.
Advanced instrumentation skills
Instrumentation work in oil and gas has historically been among the most technical in energy—and that expertise is now being applied to smart grids, remote monitoring, and AI-supported maintenance.
Your understanding of data-driven, sensor-based systems is in high demand across power, renewables, and new fuels, from designing control systems to troubleshooting field devices.
Looking ahead: Knowledge of SCADA, IoT, and predictive maintenance tools can give you a serious edge in modern energy environments.
Bonus: Two more skills you should consider
As energy projects evolve, these two skillsets are emerging as critical across industries:
Project controls and cost engineering
From budget forecasting to contract management, professionals who can keep large-scale projects on track are essential. This is particularly relevant as governments push for faster build-outs of renewables and infrastructure.
Environmental permitting and sustainability strategy
With greater regulatory scrutiny, every project—no matter the sector—needs someone who understands permitting timelines, ESG reporting, and local environmental policy. If you’ve worked on environmental assessments or liaised with regulators, your experience is transferable.
So what’s the catch?
While your core skills may transfer smoothly, sector-specific knowledge doesn’t always come along for the ride.
Projects in renewables, for example, are often run on tighter timelines, different financial models, and more sustainability-driven priorities. That can feel like a culture shock if you’re used to large-scale oil and gas operations.
It’s also worth noting that salary expectations might shift, especially when moving into emerging sectors or countries with different compensation structures.
What should you do next?
If you’re looking to move across the energy sector, here’s your checklist:
- Assess your skill set: What’s relevant beyond oil and gas? Make a list.
- Tailor your CV: Translate your experience into language other sectors understand.
- Upskill smartly: A short certification could open more doors than you think.
- Talk to recruiters: Especially those who specialise in energy
- Be open-minded: A slight pay drop now could mean more long-term stability or global opportunities.
Find your next energy job with Airswift
In today’s energy landscape, adaptability is your most valuable skill. Whether you're a job seeker weighing your next move or a hiring manager looking for untapped talent, transferrable skills are the bridge between industries.
Whether you're ready to apply your skills in a new sector or want to explore what's out there, we can help. Browse our latest energy jobs across renewables, power, and more.
