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Mate reckons he can just get any old job with no experience....is this the case? Won't he need some kinda qualifications/experience?
I need more argument ammunition!
Judging by my mate's recent experience, who is a medic/nurse, all offshore staff will need the industry-standard sea safety/survival/immersion training course before they can leave the mainland. After that, qualifications specific to the trade he/she wants to work in?
Normally bike shop owners go the other way ......
My mate tells me that all the people offshore are cowboys.
He's ex-forces but has no trade to speak of....I reckon he'd be best going to college or uni
Yer mates kidding himself on.
IF the ex-forces guy is a marine he might have already done most of the stuff needed to work offshore.
get him to turn up at heli port and see how far he gets from there.
Bosiet , mist , full medical and drug test and thats just to get a chopper to the rig.
If hes willing to travel to places like africa - no bother getting a job as a field operator of some kind to pick up a trade.
Once in to industry its pretty fluid to move about.
Its a small world - dont piss folk off
He was int army years ago.... He's doing the rounds of the agencies tomorrow to see what's on the go.may be possible then.all the jobs he showed me needed experience
If he doesnt have a trade or a ticket he will be likely telt to poke it
Offshore tickets cost about 2k .... Unlikely to get it paid for him if he has nothing to offer company.
How old..... Deckhand possible way in - might if he is lucky be able to pick up a job there if not really old.
Wireline ops always popular
He's 42.... Working as a bus driver at the mo,one of his bus driving pals did it but I think he did a trainee role for over a year
Nowt wrong with trainee , Lot to learn just to stay alive, Its a different world at times.
Perhaps thats just cause i only do shite holes mind you.....
His bold statement is a bit general. If he means with "no specific experience I could get a menial offshore job" then perhaps he's correct. One imagines he's learnt something in the forces that might be useful and the Offshore company may offer hiim the job and train him up including on the safety stuff before deploying him.
I work in an engineering consultancy, some of my friends left to work offshore and earn big money.
One ended up on some sort of acid cleaning tug that floated arround in the south china sea doing 12on12off shifts on an 8/2 rotation (and the 2 was regularly canceled if they arrived back late or had to leave early to avoid storms).
I don't think there a huge amount of demand for bus drivers offshore, he could re-train as a helicopter pilot as that's the most comparable job, but then the guy working at the shell garage down the road is about as close to being an operator.
There's no such thing as free money, in most well paid jobs there's either barriers to entry (training, experience) or the jobs are just plain shit. Offshore seems to be both.
I thought this too but he's full of vim and bold statements so ill just offer a alternative viewpoint....
offshore, ex forces-- some security work going off the somalia coast....
Haha rudebwoy my ex marine mate does that
Not all jobs offshore are shit.....not all the time anyway barring equipment failure 🙁
Only an idiot would go on an 8 and 2 rotation.
Ps as for menial jobs seems they are mostly taken by eastern europeans these days in the north sea sector - my mates tell me that they are even creeping into rousties and roughnecks
I did eight years at sea as an AB, won't catch me going off again, had me fun, but things were very different in the seventies/eighties.
I work offshore and do so by accident which I think is the case with most people out there. as for working for the actual oil companies eg. shell BP it almost impossible as most of the work is subcontract Im a nechanical engineer by trade which helps as for ex forces they do fit good into the industry as they are used to being away from home having said that it all depends what your trade is easier trades to go offshore with are riggers scaffs for army types, but as said in earlier posts you need survival, mist ,medical trade qualls then hardest of all a start not an easy industry to break into, and yes it is a small industry where everybody knows each other (over rated)
Yep, as others have said, medical, sea survival, etc before he leaves dry land.
Being ex-forces a security job might suit...
I don't work on the rigs, but slightly similar industry (Warship support)
he might have been a cook .......
He might have been 'Just a cook'
I've been thinking of going off shore ever since I left the Royal Navy (I was an aircraft engineer) doing the sea survival courses wouldn't be an issue and I would just fund that myself, however I don't have the first clue where to look for actual jobs. Anyone got any ideas or tips?
euans2- no jobs on shore for aircraft engineer?
i don't know about you, but the most tedious times at sea were anchored off somewhere and never moving, ......off shore is a permanent version, unless you work on supply ships..
All the stress of being cooped up, with non of the fun , that's my take anyhow, then again matelots were always different 😉
rudebwoy
it really depends what kind of rig it is.
been on some that are nothing more than the equivalent derrick and a portacabin jacked up in the ocean with ultracrap food. Off shift you just sleep and watch movies
how ever the other extreme is transocean barents in norwegian waters was like a floating 4 star hotel - how the other half live
and everything inbetween. I run completions so never a dull day once they get us there at the last minute unless im waiting on my chopper outa dodge and its foggy.
Oilcareers - oil and gas people - rigzone and service companies own websites are good places to look for jobs.
sure, its not going to be monotonous for everyone, and if you lucky to be moving round a lot that's great, but for many of the more humdrum occupations it would be well paid prison. My mate who does still occasionally go offshore(rope access) dreads it because of the petty racism , reactionary types he has to work/live with.
At sea we used to get to let off steam,runs ashore etc,but on a basic rig it must be like a living hell in some cases
and nowhere to ride yer bike....... 😉
A few things to consider...
The money is not as good as you would expect, unless your able to offer specific in demand experience and expertise. Menial work is especially not well paid at present and competition for such work is high.
To get into much of the low level menial work your expected to train yourself and put yourself through the relevant courses... this is great for the company's offering the courses but in no way guarantee's you work (This is a bug bear of mine... some of the Muppet's I've seen pass these courses have no place being in a chopper or on a platform/rig).
Being away from home on platforms or desert camps does not suit everyone. Many people only last a hitch or two when they discover that it's hard/boring/not-paved-with-gold/interferes with personal life etc. Can be like prison... or worse if your stuck in a Saudi land camp for two months with no english speakers!
Nepotism is rife and in my experience a lot can be about who you know. If you can get a way in through a friend/relative/referral it can help a lot. Some companies like to employ ex-forces. I can think of one company who had many ex-submariners as service hands... the bloke in charge came from that background and used his contacts to fill positions. Another company was mostly ex-forces aircraft mechanics.
I look back and wonder how I got in? I have a degree in engineering, and my way in was to take a technical, but low paid job, with a mental amount of travelling to crap holes of the world for a few years. I was young and single at the time... no way would I do that now.
As above... not much call for bus drivers... but there will always be demand for mechanics.
It can pay to think laterally and take a long term view when looking for work. The oil companies themselves pretty much only go graduate or experienced hires so you have to go for service companies. Competition is high for the good offshore roles and companies will often promote good staff from within. i.e. you have to prove yourself in the base before you get considered for out into the field... although if your too useful in the base you'll never be allowed to go.
Good luck.
Messiah-- stuck on a rig with ex-submariners-- one flew over the cuckoo's nest, i sailed with some of them,they were the most damaged of the damaged!
We used to joke about one service company's recruiters hanging around outside Barlinnie...
I subsequently worked for them 😆
The ex-submariners I worked with were a great bunch... the manager must have chosen well.
I found a typical requirements for [url= http://www.joboilrig.com/2012/10/rig-mechanic-on-oil-rig-platform.html ]oil rig mechanic[/url] which sounds very exaggerated. Is it really true or someone is just joking with the people looking for a job?
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:The oil rig mechanic performs daily prophylactic support checks
sorry, i just read this far and thought "you need to stick a rubber johnny on your head and inflate it?WTF kind of job is that?"
i fail to see the need for a driving licence as suggested there for offshore work.....
The oil rig mechanic performs daily prophylactic support checks
sorry, i just read this far and thought "you need to stick a rubber johnny on your head and inflate it?WTF kind of job is that?"
That is just someone who knows what the word prophylactic means trying to have a laugh at people who don't and ending up sounding like a knob.
I expanded that and found a few other bits including the part about Mud Engineer's being a happy lot... and I still can't figure out if it's for real or a piss take?
happy mud engineer.... on this planet ?
Having just moved into an offshore job, I wouldn't say that is the case in my experience. You have to show some sort of suitable experience and qualification for the role you're applying for. I hear a lot of the old sweats moaning that it's getting far too professional now! I think there is still good competition for jobs and the better companies can afford to be picky. Fortunately I was offered a job without my offshore certs providing I passed my offshore survival within a set time period after the offer, that made it easier to part with the cash.
[url= http://pdf.focusnet.co.uk/FocusThumbnailer/GetImage.aspx?type=brochures&val=1603060_292847.pdf ]still cant interest your mate in a bike shop no ? [/url]
you can find further information about the [url= http://www.joboilrig.com/2012/10/rig-mechanic-on-oil-rig-platform.html ]oil rig mechanic[/url]
I am A happy Mud Engineer. I sometimes spend time on this Planet. 😀
( Trail-Rat.. Spent most of last winter on the Aker/Transocean Barents)
dear righog, is there anything common in work of a mud engineer with this one http://www.joboilrig.com/2012/06/mud-engineer-jobs.html
i will appreciate your prompt response
thats why you were happy then righog - that place is a floating palace ! i was only there for 2 days - lots of swelling formation meant i got in to casing shoe and went thump into formation - POOH and went home.
wonder if the OP has got an offshore job now his bike shops shut.
the last i could find is http://drillingrigs.blogspot.com/2013/04/offshore-oil-rig-job-companies.html
my brother started that way - he had no experience, but found some companies close around, contacted each of them, and had the luck with one.. and so already 4th year.
I am finding this thread interesting. Have a degree in mechanical engineering and have worked for 9 years in mining. Looking for a career change into oil and gas, potentially offshore. Went to a careers fair a couple of days ago in Aberdeen and was overwhelmed by the amount of information. Not sure how best to target applications. I am signed up to oil careers and a couple of recruitment agencies, however these only recruit for onshore positions. Any advice on progressing an offshore career would be welcome.
I work as a hydrographic surveyor on a large ROV Survey / Construction Support vessel, & I love it; 5 weeks on then 5 weeks off, not stuck in one location - we work all over, North Sea, Mediterranean, West Africa, Caribbean, India, although mostly North Sea. The ROV guys on board have a great time, there are a lot of ex-divers and ex-forces guys and it's a great work environment. The vessel is pretty plush and we are well looked after. Before getting my place on her, I was doing rig moves and hated working on the rigs, weird, inhospitably bleak places compared to working on a vessel. I can claim my tax back too... Although its getting harder and harder.
For the OP, as people have previously mentioned, if you get your tickets then that shows a lot of willing on your behalf and you'll find it easier, but it is a large outlay (some of the courses are good fun though!). Maybe worth looking at training as an ROV pilot / tech as good ones are always in demand.
The sun's shining here in Devon, time for some cheeky coastal singletrack...
8)
" Any advice on progressing an offshore career would be welcome"
right now - apply for everything - even if they specify experiance
its boom time and theres a serious shortage of skilled staff about- i could if i wanted to double my money just by moving company if i felt like i wanted the stress ..... im happy where i am and i dont "need" the extra money tbh.
A big disincentive for oil and gas service companies taking on staff is how frequently people decide that the offshore life is not for them... training folk up and heaving them leave is an expensive business. This is particularly a problem for the ad-hoc guys who flit-here-there-everywhere at a moments notice. It takes a particular character to fly into (say) Yemen and be taken up into mountains in the back of 4x4 next to a guy chewing khat carrying a Kalashnikov; then dealing with the boredom and petty BS of the north sea platform "girls" the following week.
As trail-rat says.
right now - apply for everything - even if they specify experiance
But don't expect an easy life and the road is not paved with gold... unless you have the expertese and experience the industry requires.
Trail-rat... swapping jobs for more money can be shortsighted (often just a change of boiler suit colour 😉 ). Changing jobs to remain interested and broaden your experience is far more rewarding in the long run.
As stated it could be worth a punt getting your CV out there but anyone thinking it's an easy path to riches will be in for a surprise. Without experience you will (most likely) start at the bottom but any half decent company will see if you do well and should/might help you progress. Once you are 'in' then with a few years behind you opportunities will arise as you'll have a track record and possibly most importantly contacts.
Throughout the late 90's and 2000's I've worked in some interesting places which I wouldn't change but as you start to get older being away from a young family etc frequently becomes more difficult. I started in various contractors and finished offshore work about 5 years ago working for a super major as a company man who I am still with. Now I'm do mostly 9-5 hours with an international trip for a week or so about every 2 months.
"But don't expect an easy life and the road is not paved with gold... unless you have the expertese and experience the industry requires."
This.....but if you are a grafter and can put up with some shitey conditions you can make some good coin.
My life plan doesnt consist of working offshore for the rest of my life thats forsure but its making a good dent in the mortgage.
My life plan doesnt consist of working offshore for the rest of my life thats forsure but its making a good dent in the mortgage.
Having a life-plan puts you head and shoulders above most of the pond scum in this industry who's idea of culture is a designer outfit, a bling watch and an evening of drinking piss lager while letching at foreign girls dancing in the gentlemans clubs 😥
Great name [u]juanking[/u] 8)
My experience has been similar... I switched jobs for interest and not money. My broad background get me in with supermajor and after 5 years sucking up the training I got pissed off with the pointless BS and went DRB 😉
Get a foot in the door at almost anything. Work hard and smart and you can move up and around to almost anywhere...
Mate reckons he can just get any old job with no experience....is this the case? Won't he need some kinda qualifications/experience?
Your mate needs to have a word with himself. If he suspects he can get a job offshore with no qualifications or experience, my advice would be for him to give it a try. He might get lucky....but doing what & where ? The well paid jobs are filled by people with qualifications & experience. The lower paid jobs are filled by contractors who outsource their employees from places like the Phillipines.
Getting a job offshore's just like getting a job onshore. You have experience, bits of paper & contacts. It's a progression & sometimes a difficult one even for well qualified & experienced applicants.
D.
I'm in the process of trying to get offshore, I have a feeling it may prove to be a real challenge.
I have a basic knowledge of hydraulic pumping equipment as I work with it every day in my current job as an HGV driver, also have basic mechanical skills as I used to do routine maintenance on my lorry at my last employer, nothing official though.
I am fine with starting at the bottom and working my way up, not afraid of hard work and used to working away from home. I applied to maybe 12 companies online on Monday and handed in a further 6 CV's and covering letters on Tuesday.
Heard conflicting stories, some people saying "you will get offshore no problem, young, hard working, eager to learn, quick learner, sensible, easy to get on with etc" others saying "no hope without experience".
How do you get it if nobody will give it? They say there is a massive shortage of "good" people willing to work offshore...
Well... Here I am, ready and willing to go ASAP!
Still early days though so fingers crossed, I don't even know anybody in the industry well enough to get them to put in a letter and CV on my behalf (heard of a few guys who previously applied to companies with no reply, then when a friend or relative hands in the same CV and letter... Chatting! Interview then job)
If anybody has any info or help please feel free to email mikedonald@hotmaildotcom.
Why is it that most people on this thread feel that they have to go offshore straight away? If you get a job offshore then fine, but don't rule out a job onshore where you can gain valuable experience.
I started work as a drilling tools & NDT inspector onshore and gained valuable experience before going offshore and eventually all over the world. I started at the bottom and am now in a management position through sheer hard work.
Oppotunities are there just now but just be realistic in how you want to get your foot in the door.
Why is it that most people on this thread feel that they have to go offshore straight away?
crappy jobs seem attractive at offshore rates?
tbh even in the north sea the crappy jobs and even entry level semi skilled positions are being taken by lower paid eastern european workers from the agencies of late.
for my job this is not a bad thing in my experiance as they are much more friendly and helpful IME than many(but not all) of the north sea tigers ive experianced who seem to have a major chip on their shoulder about outsiders - maybe feel their job is at threat by outsiders on "THEIR" rig.
for our country it might be a bad thing as it prevents a pool of homegrown talent - although many of our homegrown drillers and toolpushers ive met in west africa earning superstar wages.
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