internship FAQs

How do I apply for an internship with Occidental?

We actively recruit from approximately 12 core universities in the beginning of the school year - usually the fall. If you attend one of these schools, and are interested in an internship, please visit your campus career services department for additional information.
College Recruiting locations ...

What can I expect to do at Occidental Oil & Gas during a summer internship?

Occidental interns often share the same job responsibilities as full-time employees. We are looking for petroleum and chemical engineering, geology, geophysics, petrochemicals, land and health, environment and safety (HES) students who want 'hands-on' experience. Interns are given real work with real challenges. As an intern, you'll be part of a team assembled to deliver on-time results while working with other Occidental employees.

Can I still be an intern if I don't have the specific degrees mentioned?

We are looking forward to your future and ours, so we require students with Chemical or Petroleum Engineering, Geosciences, Land Management, or HES majors. We're interested in individuals with a passion for excellence, a drive to succeed, and the ability to work well as a team member.

Will I work in different groups, or focus on one specific area?

We want you to become very involved with your project, so we assign you to a specific group for the entire summer. It's the best way to give you an opportunity to make a real contribution. However, there will be plenty of opportunities to swap stories and 'pick the brains' of other employees.

How long do internships last?

A minimum of eight to ten weeks. Enough time to really dive into a project and make a contribution. Most internships are available during the summer, but we'll work with you to develop a custom internship any time of year.

Internships at Occidental sound exciting and a little daunting. How can I be successful?

At Occidental, we will give you every opportunity to succeed by pairing you with a mentor - a colleague in your group who can show you the ropes and answer your questions. As you gain confidence and develop your skills, you'll be given more responsibility. Your mentor is responsible for challenging you and preventing you from becoming overwhelmed.

Where are Occidental's internships being offered?

We offer internships in Dallas, Houston and Midland, Texas, Los Angeles, Long Beach and Bakersfield (Elk Hills), California, and Liberal, Kansas as needed for any given year.

What kind of opportunities do you offer?

Occidental will offer you an internship based on your academic status and previous work experience. You could be pumping wells or modeling, monitoring and designing enhanced recovery systems or analyzing carbonate structures, mapping reservoirs or recommending other drill sites for example.

Our corporate interns may be working in finance, accounting, marketing, legal, or another, related corporate support position.

Do I have to be a United States citizen to apply for an internship in the U.S.?

We interview qualified candidates attending colleges in North America, regardless of citizenship or visa status.

Will you take care of getting me to the job site and pay for my housing?

Our oil and gas division interns receive a lump sum to cover incidental expenses and summer housing. It's enough to cover typical housing rates and it's yours to decide how to spend it. Getting to work is up to you.

Intern Orientation and Mentoring?

During that first crazy week, we will orient you to your job and to Occidental in general. Depending upon where you are interning, you may be teamed with a full time mentor from your group who will give you advice and help you get the most out of your internship.

Will I get paid?

So you want to get paid too? Okay. You get paid. Our salaries are competitive with other industry internships.

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