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Getting a job offshore in the UK
sector is not that difficult, getting one that lasts
is a different story.
Basically there's three ways, the
first and the hardest to do, get a position with a
oil company. These are like hens teeth, very
difficult to find! They only tend to employ
technicians and the staff positions above. Wait
until you see them advertising in the newspapers and
send them your C.V. and the best of luck to you.
They will employ people who have not been offshore
before but are looking for good qualifications and
related experience (not necessary offshore). You
might end up having two or three interviews before a
decision is made. Don't worry about having a current
offshore survival or medical as the company will put
you through it. If you do get a position it will a
permanent position, although nothings guaranteed
offshore. BP have recently been advertising for
people after paying of loads a few years ago.
Drilling companies come in between
the Oil companies and the service companies. They
own their own rigs but will usually work on behalf
of an Oil company. They usually recruit all their
own staff and will employ unskilled labour as well
The second way and the easiest is
with a service company. More and more of these
companies are getting long term contracts with an
Oil Company, four or five years, yes that's long
term offshore! You might be offered a "core crew"
contract which is meant to give you peace of mind
for a few years. They also carry out much of the
"shutdown" work offshore, if you do have a
up-to-date survival course and offshore medical then
you will stand a better chance of being taken on at
short notice.
The third way is to get start with
a "vendor" offshore. They are the companies who have
supplied various equipment on installations. They
then are used by the companies to carry out major
maintenance on there own equipment. The trouble with
this type of work is you will not be on a fixed rota
and will be send from rig to rig depending when your
needed and be expected to work onshore and abroad.
Some Tips
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"Borrow" a yellow pages for
the Aberdeen area all the latest address's are
all there.
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Get the local papers like the
Aberdeen Press & Journal and Evening Express all
the Oil related jobs are there.
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Offshore survival course and
offshore medical. This is always a tricky one.
Do you pay it yourself or hope the company will.
If you fork out the £550 you may never get a
start. The one thing in its favor is that if you
have it and are available at very short notice
then that cuts the companies choice down
dramatically. Off course short notice jobs also
tend to be short term jobs but its a start.
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Hammer all the companies with
your CV and follow it up with a phone call,
don't be shy and just ask to speak to the human
resources dept.
Rotas
Two weeks on and two weeks off
used to be the norm in the British sector. Some
companies have moved to three weeks on and three
off. Everyone's now looking for two on three off and
more and more UK sector companies are going this way |
