There has never been a better time to look for a career in the offshore oil and gas industry. Business is booming and there is a high demand for workers, even if you don’t have first-hand experience of working on an oil rig, you may still be considered for a position.
If this appeals to you, please read this article for some tips on how to make this a reality.
Learning Phase
Before you consider applying for a position on an oil rig, you will need to do a bit of reading up on the business. You will see that the industry goes through various phases and the hiring process is not exactly constant in comparison to other heavy industries. As the economy recovers it seems to be the gas and oil trade that has suffered the least. There is always a big demand for natural gas and as a result, the rigs are drilling deeper than ever. You need to find a niche within the industry and try to pick an area that matches your most commercial skill set.
Oil Rigs
When you start to learn more about the business you will learn that oil rigs are usually owned by a group of companies and there are hundreds of different jobs going on 24/7. They are like floating cities and attract all of the usual occupations that you would find on terra firma. Look at all of the available jobs on an average rig and start to draft your resume so that it aligns nicely with the position you desire.
Family Matters
The very nature of working on an oil rig means that you will be expected to spend a lot of time away from home. This is not for everyone and you really need to speak to your family members before making any concrete plans. Many marriages have broken up because couples were not on the same page regarding this aspect. If you are just getting into a new relationship, it will probably be toast before too long. This type of work is best suited to single folk, or those in a long term stable relationship.
Life On The Rig
If you secure a job as a trainee, you can expect to be referred to as ‘worm’ for the foreseeable future. As long as you take this in good spirits you will soon be thought of as part of the team. Your role as ‘worm’ or ‘roustabout’ will involve many hard hours of manual work and running errands, but you will soon pick up new skills as a result. It is not unknown for ‘worms’ to eventually get to the top of the ladder and earn a considerable wedge of cash.
A Few Tips For The Road
When you apply for a role on the rig, you should avoid using any agencies. They tend to take a nice slice of the pie and can have a say over your actions for as long as you are on the books. You should be prepared to relocate as often as you are asked and as long as you work hard during your ‘worm’ status, you will be reeling in the ‘moolah’ before you know it!