Career change.I'm going offshore!

For the last couple of years I have grown somewhat bored of my work.I know, I should be happy to have work in these times.And I am.
But just a few days ago I had a chat with a guy at a party that worked offshore. Suddenly I knew what I wanted to do! I can't believe that I haven't seriously considered this before!
the next day I signed up for a basic drilling course, don't get me wrong, I'm not naiv.I know its tough getting the first job.But I have been told by several people that there is a good chance with my background.(carpenter) I will also try to get as much education as possible in my spare time, if I could get an offshore job.

Anyone with any advice? I'm so excited, this could be great!

Kristoffer.

Good luck, I have a friend who works on oil rigs, he's a geologist - tells them what they're drilling through and if they're headed in the right direction and stuff I think.

He enjoys it, goes all over the place.

I don't have any specific advice for working on oil rigs but I do have a lot of experience getting hard-to-get jobs and making difficult transitions (such as an American getting a work permit in the EU).

Start with the guy at the party, if you can find him. Ask him who else you can talk to. Call every company in the sector and ask to talk to someone about working there. Ask to visit them even if they say there are no jobs, just for information purposes. Ask them if they know anyone else you can talk to, just for information purposes. Send them a thank you note and keep working the chain of contacts until you find the right person. Every job has a gatekeeper, the person who can open the door and let you in. The trick is to find him (or her).

No advice, but good luck, and hope it works out well for you.

Thank you guys!

I called a friend of mine.Or more excact, a friend from my childhood.
I knew he was working on a rig.He works for two weeks, 12 hour shift.And then four weeks of!He makes about 100000 $ a year :eek::eek:


Kristoffer

You should pm Coully. I think his last job was working on an offshore platform and he could probably offer some good advice.

Just remember it is not easy job. No body pay hundred $ for nothing. :gl::gl::gl:

Good luck with your new job! My only advice: take extra good care of your razors. The air at sea is full of salt particles that will ruin carbon steel blades in no time!

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Originally Posted by ryrelav

Just remember it is not easy job. No body pay hundred $ for nothing. :gl::gl::gl:

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You should have thought about this before you wrote it!

You know how many $100k+ morons I know.... personally?

Any way good luck!!!!

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Originally Posted by Chimensch

I don't have any specific advice for working on oil rigs but I do have a lot of experience getting hard-to-get jobs and making difficult transitions (such as an American getting a work permit in the EU).

Start with the guy at the party, if you can find him. Ask him who else you can talk to. Call every company in the sector and ask to talk to someone about working there. Ask to visit them even if they say there are no jobs, just for information purposes. Ask them if they know anyone else you can talk to, just for information purposes. Send them a thank you note and keep working the chain of contacts until you find the right person. Every job has a gatekeeper, the person who can open the door and let you in. The trick is to find him (or her).

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+1. All the insiders you can talk to are great ways to start. Get friendly and they can help you with the application and interview process, as well as get you in touch with the gatekeeper.

Good luck and enjoy once you get there!

Good luck with that! My relationship with oil rigs is to negotiate with them the contract when they want to repair a rig in one of the shipyards I represent (I am a lawyer..yes, I know...). I can tell you they have lots of resources and LOADS of money, but they are generally speaking very good proffesionals...the best money can buy/hire, I guess...

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Originally Posted by Bill S

You should pm Coully. I think his last job was working on an offshore platform and he could probably offer some good advice.

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Yeah Simon put in a lot of time on the riggs he should be someone worth chating with. he is a great guy. drop him a pm.

Sorry guys, haven't read up on the forum in a while.

Thank you all for good advice.BTW.I have contacted Simon, and he was very helpful.

I also just recently got accepted at a fulltime study as a mechanical engineer.That should probably make me look prettier for the oil companies:)


Kristoffer

yeah, man heck with the roughneck side of working on the oil rig. Go get an engineering degree. Graduate, then say you want to work off shore.

Actually, I don't mind the roughneck stuff.I'm gonna finish the degree while working on a rig.Start at the bottom, than work my way up.Both thru experience from labour and from studies.:)

Kristoffer