Key Takeaways
- Oxy maintains a relatively small number of active job postings at any given time (often around 14), so check the careers page frequently and apply promptly when a matching role appears — positions may close quickly.
- Safety is not just a priority but a core cultural value at Oxy — weave HSE experience and safety consciousness throughout your resume and interview responses, regardless of the role.
- Oxy's investment in Direct Air Capture and carbon management through 1PointFive/Stratos is a major differentiator — candidates who demonstrate knowledge of and enthusiasm for these initiatives may have a competitive advantage.
- Workday's resume parser requires clean, standard formatting for optimal results — avoid creative layouts and always verify that your parsed profile data is accurate before submitting.
- Tailor every application to the specific job description using exact keywords and terminology from the posting, as Workday's filtering capabilities rely heavily on keyword matching.
- Prepare for behavioral interviews using the STAR method, with particular emphasis on safety culture, operational excellence, teamwork, and ethical decision-making scenarios.
- Highlight basin-specific experience (Permian, DJ Basin, Gulf of Mexico) and relevant regulatory knowledge if applying for field-based or operations roles.
About Occidental Petroleum
Application Process
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1
Explore Open Positions on Oxy's Workday Careers Portal
Begin by visiting Oxy's official careers page hosted on Workday (oxy.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Corporate). With a relatively focused job count — often around 14 or fewer active postings at any given time — it's important to check frequently, as roles can open and close quickly. Use the search filters to narrow by location, job category, or keyword. Pay close attention to whether roles are tied to traditional oil and gas operations, OxyChem (chemical manufacturing), or the newer DAC/1PointFive division, as each may have distinct qualification requirements and work environments.
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2
Create or Log Into Your Workday Candidate Profile
Oxy uses Workday as its applicant tracking system, so you'll need to create a candidate profile to apply. You can typically sign in using an existing Workday account if you've applied to other companies using the same platform, or create a new one. Complete all profile sections thoroughly, including work history, education, certifications, and skills. Workday allows you to upload your resume, but it also parses your resume content into structured fields — review these parsed fields carefully for accuracy, as errors in auto-populated data can negatively impact how your application is evaluated.
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3
Tailor Your Resume and Complete Application Questions
Before submitting, customize your resume to align with the specific job description. Oxy's postings commonly include detailed qualification requirements, including years of experience, specific technical competencies, and preferred certifications (e.g., PE license, PMP, safety certifications). Answer all screening questions honestly and completely — these are often used as initial filters. For technical roles such as Water Technology Engineer or Control System Advisor, be specific about the systems, software, and methodologies you've worked with. For roles in the DAC-Stratos program, highlight any experience with carbon capture, chemical engineering, or emerging energy technologies.
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4
Phone or Video Screening with Recruiter
Candidates who pass the initial screening typically report being contacted by an Oxy recruiter for a phone or video interview. This conversation commonly covers your background, motivation for joining Oxy, salary expectations, relocation flexibility, and basic technical qualifications. Given Oxy's strong emphasis on safety and environmental stewardship, be prepared to discuss your experience with HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) protocols, even if the role isn't explicitly HSE-focused. Recruiters may also gauge your interest in Oxy's carbon management and sustainability initiatives, which are central to the company's strategic direction.
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5
Technical and Panel Interviews
For most professional and technical roles, candidates commonly advance to one or more rounds of in-depth interviews. These may include technical assessments, case-based problem solving, or panel interviews with hiring managers and team members. Engineering and operations roles may involve scenario-based questions related to drilling operations, reservoir management, process optimization, or laboratory analysis. For corporate and legal roles (e.g., Lawyer/Counsel positions), expect questions about regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, and energy law. Many applicants report that interviewers focus heavily on behavioral competencies such as teamwork, decision-making under pressure, and commitment to safety culture.
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6
Background Check, Offer, and Onboarding
Successful candidates typically undergo a comprehensive background check, which may include employment verification, education verification, drug screening, and criminal history review. Given the nature of oil and gas operations, certain field-based roles may require additional medical fitness evaluations or safety certifications prior to start. Oxy is known for offering competitive compensation packages that commonly include base salary, performance bonuses, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits. Onboarding processes at Oxy typically include safety orientation, especially for roles involving field operations, as well as introductions to the company's values, operational excellence frameworks, and sustainability commitments.
Resume Tips for Occidental Petroleum
Emphasize HSE and Safety Culture Experience
Occidental Petroleum places an exceptionally high priority on health, safety, and environmental performance across all its operations. Regardless of the specific role you're applying for, include concrete examples of your commitment to safety — whether that's leading safety initiatives, achieving zero-incident records, conducting risk assessments, or implementing HSE management systems. Use metrics where possible, such as 'Maintained zero recordable incidents across 500,000+ work hours' or 'Reduced safety incidents by 30% through implementation of behavior-based safety program.'
Incorporate Industry-Specific Keywords from the Job Description
Since Oxy uses Workday, which has built-in candidate matching and filtering capabilities, it's essential to mirror the language used in the job posting. If the posting mentions 'SCADA systems,' 'enhanced oil recovery (EOR),' 'carbon capture and sequestration (CCS),' 'petrophysical analysis,' or 'process safety management (PSM),' include these exact terms in your resume where they genuinely apply to your experience. Avoid keyword stuffing, but ensure that relevant technical terminology appears naturally throughout your work history and skills sections.
Highlight Carbon Management and Sustainability Experience
Oxy's investment in Direct Air Capture technology through its 1PointFive subsidiary and the Stratos facility represents a major strategic differentiator. If you have experience with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), emissions reduction projects, environmental remediation, renewable energy integration, or sustainability reporting frameworks, feature this prominently. Even for traditional oil and gas roles, demonstrating awareness of and enthusiasm for the energy transition can set you apart from other candidates.
Quantify Operational and Financial Impact
Oxy values operational excellence and cost efficiency. Structure your accomplishments using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and include quantifiable outcomes wherever possible. Examples include 'Optimized water recycling process, reducing freshwater consumption by 40% and saving $2M annually,' or 'Led drilling optimization project that reduced well completion time by 15%.' For corporate roles, quantify impacts such as contract values negotiated, compliance audit results, or process improvement savings.
Use a Clean, ATS-Compatible Resume Format
Workday's resume parser works best with standard formatting. Use a single-column layout, standard section headers (Professional Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications), and avoid tables, text boxes, graphics, headers/footers, and multi-column designs. Save your file as a .docx or .pdf (Workday typically accepts both). Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Ensure your contact information is in the body of the document, not in a header or footer, as these areas are commonly skipped by ATS parsers.
Include Relevant Certifications and Licenses
Many Oxy roles require or prefer specific professional certifications. For engineering roles, include your PE (Professional Engineer) license, FE/EIT status, or relevant software certifications. For HSE roles, certifications such as CSP (Certified Safety Professional), CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist), or OSHA training are highly valued. For IT and data management roles, include relevant certifications in data platforms, cloud technologies, or specialized software like Petrel, Techlog, or OpenWells. Create a dedicated 'Certifications & Licenses' section for easy identification.
Demonstrate Permian Basin or Relevant Regional Experience
A significant portion of Oxy's U.S. operations are concentrated in the Permian Basin (West Texas and New Mexico), the DJ Basin (Colorado), and the Gulf of Mexico. If you have operational experience in these specific basins, highlight it explicitly. Familiarity with regional regulatory environments (e.g., Texas Railroad Commission, New Mexico OCD, BSEE for offshore) and local operational challenges can be a meaningful differentiator for field-based and technical roles.
ATS System: Workday
Occidental Petroleum uses Workday as its applicant tracking and human capital management system. Workday is one of the most widely used enterprise ATS platforms, processing applications through a combination of resume parsing, structured data fields, and recruiter-configured screening criteria. When you upload your resume, Workday extracts information into standardized fields — work history, education, skills, and certifications. Recruiters and hiring managers can then search, filter, and rank candidates based on keywords, qualifications, and screening question responses. Oxy's Workday instance is hosted at oxy.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com, and your candidate profile persists across multiple applications to the company.
- Always review and correct the auto-parsed resume data in your Workday profile — the parser may misinterpret dates, job titles, or company names, and inaccurate structured data can cause your application to be filtered out incorrectly.
- Complete all optional fields in your Workday profile, including skills tags and certifications, as recruiters commonly use these fields to search for and filter candidates beyond what appears in your uploaded resume.
- Use standard section headers and chronological formatting in your resume to maximize parsing accuracy — avoid creative layouts, infographics, or non-standard section names that Workday's parser may not recognize.
- Apply early when a position is posted, as Workday allows recruiters to begin reviewing and dispositioning candidates immediately — with Oxy's relatively small number of active postings, competition for each role can be intense and positions may close quickly.
- If you're applying to multiple Oxy positions over time, keep your Workday candidate profile updated with your latest experience, as recruiters may search the existing candidate pool for new openings before posting externally.
Interview Culture
Occidental Petroleum's interview culture typically reflects the company's core values of safety, operational excellence, integrity, and innovation.
What Occidental Petroleum Looks For
- Strong commitment to health, safety, and environmental (HSE) excellence, demonstrated through concrete examples and a proactive safety mindset
- Technical depth and hands-on expertise relevant to oil and gas operations, chemical manufacturing, carbon capture, or the specific functional area of the role
- Alignment with Oxy's strategic vision, including enthusiasm for carbon management, Direct Air Capture technology, and the company's role in the energy transition
- Proven ability to drive operational excellence, optimize processes, and deliver measurable results in cost efficiency, production, or project outcomes
- Collaborative teamwork skills and the ability to work effectively in cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams across field and office environments
- Integrity, ethical judgment, and a track record of compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards
- Adaptability and willingness to work in remote or challenging operational environments, including the Permian Basin, offshore platforms, or international locations
- Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities, particularly for engineering, scientific, and data-intensive roles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are most Occidental Petroleum jobs located?
Does Oxy hire for roles related to carbon capture and clean energy?
What ATS does Occidental Petroleum use, and how should I optimize my application?
How competitive is the hiring process at Oxy given the small number of open positions?
What certifications are most valued for Oxy positions?
Does Oxy offer internships or co-op positions?
What should I expect during an Oxy interview?
How important is Permian Basin experience for Oxy roles?
Can I apply to multiple positions at Oxy simultaneously?
Sample Open Positions
Related Resources
Similar Companies
Sources
- Occidental Petroleum Careers Portal — Occidental Petroleum Corporation
- Occidental Petroleum - About Us — Occidental Petroleum Corporation
- 1PointFive - Direct Air Capture — 1PointFive (Occidental Petroleum Subsidiary)
- Occidental Petroleum - Sustainability and Climate — Occidental Petroleum Corporation
- Workday Applicant Tracking System Overview — Workday, Inc.
