Offshore Oil Rig Jobs: How Do I Get Started With No Experience?
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Even with the recession going on, there are companies hiring workers for offshore oil rig jobs. Offshore drilling companies like Transocean are still rolling out new offshore oil rigs. Oil companies like Exxon spend $79 million in just one day just to look for oil. Worldwide, oil companies will spend $400 billion in 2009 on oil exploration, even though it is the middle of a recession. As long as you target the right companies, getting ofshore drilling jobs is not a problem if you are young, fit and hardworking.
Job seekers without experience should apply for entry level roustabout jobs. A roustabout is basically a general laborer doing most of the basic maintenance and heavy lifting on the oil rig or oil field. If you work hard and work smart for one or two years, you should be able to climb up the ladder to become a roughneck. Roughnecks still do a lot of hard and dirty physical work, but they also supervise a team of roustabouts. In addition, they get the chance to assist the derrickhands and drillers in their work, which is good experience. Work hard, do everything right, and you could become a driller (the number 2 man on an oil rig) yourself in 5 to 10 years.
On an oil rig, a university degree is just a useless piece of paper. On the other hand, a useful trade certification for electricians or mechanics could get you a high-paying job in the motor room or electrical department. A high level welding certification from the AWS (US) or CITB (UK) could get you a rig welding job which pays $60,000 a year. There are many other useful trades and skills – a good cook is always welcome on an offshore oil rig, and a medic is always a necessity.
If you choose to look for offshore oil rig jobs, remember that oil platforms in the middle of the ocean are covered under maritime law. So make sure you do some reading to find out how it affects you. You should also find out how offshore work affects your income taxes. Depending on where you want to work, you may need vaccinations and additional certifications like an offshore survival course. Some places also need first aid certification, firefighting certification and/or helicopter underwater escape training.
There is no real secret to getting offshore oil rig jobs when you have no experience. Start at the bottom, work your way up, proving yourself at each step of the way.
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by CALVIN LOH