[slow&rusty]

While I agree with Souk to look into the Pipeline industry, most Pipeline operators are not hiring right now especially in Houston, even though the existing management and staff is aging and retiring.

The price of oil and gas is very volatile right now and there is too much speculation in the Auto Industry, politics and national consumption not to mention the wild card: Alternative Energy.

I recently spoke with several "top shelf" recruiters in Houston and there are lots of Pipeline engineers looking for work locally there. It it an employer's dream as there is alot of talent walking the streets.

The Engineering Consulting arm of the oil and nautral gas industry is even worse. Several firms I know of have closed their doors, or have their staff working 30hour weeks...it is not a stable place to be right now. Working for an Operator would be the way to go (for example Chevron, Shell, Sunoco etc) - mor estability.

I believe things will turn around in Q4 of this year and next year in the oil and natural gas industry. Remember that the Energy Industry is the second largest industry in the U.S behind medical!

As an aside I work for an Engineering Consultant in oil and natural gas (EPC - Engineering, Procurement and Construction ) as a Civil \ Mechanical Engineer (15+ years experience).

Most employers in this industry are looking for people with experience based on ASME (B31.8, B31.3 etc), DOT, FERC as well as P&IDs, piping, field experience, simulation \ modelling unless you were OK starting as a junior engineer (around $50-$55K).

Good luck,
Yasin