I recently graduated with a BSc in Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering from Istanbul Technical University and am currently pursuing an MSc in Industrial Engineering & Innovation Management in Vilnius. I've had some field exposure through an internship with Sperry Drilling in MWD/LWD and a supply chain internship at a refinery, along with customer operations experience in Lithuania. However, I'm facing a significant challenge. I’ve been applying for full-time drilling jobs across Norway, the UK, and Poland but haven't received any responses, and it feels like I'm being blackballed. With military service looming in Azerbaijan, I know I’ll be out of the industry for 12 to 18 months, which is a critical time when others will be gaining experience. By the time I return, I’ll be nearly 25 with a degree that will be three years old and an MSc that doesn’t align directly with drilling. I worry that recruiters will see the gap as a sign of inability to get hired. I’m looking for advice on a few things: 1. Does a gap in service really hurt chances in oilfield services, or do companies mainly care about passing aptitude tests? 2. Should I still aim for an MWD/LWD trainee position at 27, or is it better to pivot towards operations and supply chain roles in energy? 3. Has anyone successfully re-entered the industry after a long break? What strategies worked for you? I’m feeling overwhelmed and could use some perspective.