Looking out on to pristine coastlines in Asia while helicopter blades pulsate overhead; avoiding snakes and herds of oxen in a rugged sports utility vehicle; braving pelting rain on drilling rigs; and making technology breakthroughs while sipping milkshakes in the Netherlands with your stroppy teenage son – these are all part of life working in oil and gas exploration and production at Royal Dutch Shell. Or so the company’s advertising film would have you believe.

In their quest to attract fresh talent, oil companies such as Shell and Total of France have come up with some captivating television and film advertising campaigns. Chevron has an aggressive ad campaign, highlighting the challenge of finding enough oil to feed the ever hungrier economies of China and India.