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To be successful in seeking offshore employment, you must be willing to do what average and ordinary people are not willing to do.  First of all, there’s likely to be travel involved with your job. Some people, for example, has been at it since 1972 and has worked alongside Americans, Spaniards, Brazilians, Norwegians, Dutchmen, Mexicans, Englishmen, Philippines and Australians. He says he’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, but he’s made a lot of friends, as well as a few acquaintances that were not quite so friendly. His only regret is he didn’t get started sooner. Do not be misled by any rumors you might hear about the kind of people who work offshore.  If you want to just find a job in the oil industry then I recommend Oilcareer.com which is the one of the very best oil industry employment job sites online. They've been around helping people find oil rig jobs since 2000, and they know they're stuff.

The Complete Offshore Employment Resource Center is also a website If you are interested in working in the offshore oil and gas or maritime industry, you are at the right place at the right time. Matt' The Complete Offshore Employment Resource Center was written to provide you with information and guidance you need to help you find an job in this adventurous industry. It is an excellent guide and  it's free - Click Here – .

They come from all walks of life: farmers, lawyers, preachers, musicians, bankers, businessmen, laborers, college graduates, high school dropouts, medical personnel, retired military personnel, male and female alike. You will find one of every kind in the oil field.

Also, do not be discouraged by any stories you might have heard about how hard working offshore is, or that they will work you to death. To be sure, the work is hard, but if you are in good physical shape and are willing to work, you shouldn't have any trouble adjusting to the increased work load.

Finally, remember offshore work is not for everyone. It requires that you be away from home, sometimes for weeks at a time. More often than not, the drilling vessel you are on will not even be in sight of land. It involves long and hard hours, working in all kinds of weather and conditions as well as in some dangerous situations. Being 100 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico in the middle of a hurricane is a frightening experience for sure! 

On the plus side it is very rewarding and exciting. The food is good, the quarters are clean and well kept, and the benefits and opportunities for advancement are excellent. It is not uncommon for a person starting at the bottom with no previous oil field experience to be making $40,000 to $60,000 a year, and that is for working only six months out of the year! 

Entry-level positions start at $700 to $1,000 per week. Dishwashers and BR hands (who wash dishes, sweep and mop floors, put up inventory and do general house-cleaning in the living quarters) earn $700 per week. 

Roustabouts (general laborers) earn $900 to $1100 per week. Other entry level positions are deckhands, oilers, welder helpers, cleaner painters and so on; and there are currently plenty of openings. 

Here’s some helpful information you might like to know to help you decide if working offshore is for you. 

Health Requirements

The first and foremost requirement for working offshore is that you be in sound physical condition. You will be required to pass a thorough physical examination, including a spinal X- ray, before you can be employed. Answer all questions truthfully. You will also be given a drug screening. 

Age

In most cases, you must be at least 18 to work offshore for a drilling contractor. You need only be 16 to sit for Coast Guard endorsements. The average age for offshore workers is 27.

Experience

The better your experience in your particular field or profession, the closer prospective employers will look you at. If you do not currently have any skill or experience that relates to the offshore industry, it does not mean you will not be hired. 

There are many entry level positions available which require no previous offshore experience, these can be quickly learned. The most important thing is honesty. Do not misrepresent yourself, your experience, or your skills. For example, do not claim to be a pipe welder if you've only had experience on plate. Or, do not claim to be a diesel mechanic if the only experience you have is doing minor tune-ups in a garage.

Education

The majority of entry level rig jobs do not require a formal education as the employer is more interested in your ability to do your job well and learn quickly than in how many years you went to school. Some jobs, such as a ballast controlman, mud engineer, etc., require at least a high school education. Other positions, as they get more complex, will naturally require higher levels of education. 

Dependability One of the foremost concerns of offshore employers is dependability. Regardless of how good a hand is, he  isn't much good if he isn't there! One of the quickest ways to lose your job is not to show up for crew change. When you hire on with a company, you become part of a team, and it is difficult to operate when any member of the team is not present. Interest/Ambition Your interest and ambition will play a very important part in your getting and keeping a job, whether it be offshore or anywhere else.

Offshore work is an immensely interesting field, and interest in learning your job and others, as well, sparks ambition. Once you get in and get some basic experience you can move into many different areas involved in all phases of the industry.

Benefits

Benefits of companies involved in the oil and gas industry range from virtually nonexistent to excellent. The better companies will provide major medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, 401 K, programs, and profit sharing.

Advancement and Training

Advancement offshore will depend primarily on the company you work for and your particular abilities. All companies want you to advance. They want you to become better trained so you can take a more responsible position. Some companies have excellent training programs to help you move up the ladder with trainee slots for most positions. Other companies have only marginally efficient training programs, or none whatsoever. 

More and more offshore positions now require certification by a Coast Guard approved certification agency. In order to get these certifications, you will have to go to a specialty school. 

The length of time it takes to complete one of these schools ranges anywhere from a few days to several weeks. If you attend any of these schools in your off-time, you will usually be paid your normal wages (eight hours a day if you are an hourly employee). Salaried people normally don't receive compensation for special schools as their attendance is part of their job requirement. Room and board are provided for both salaried and hourly workers, and compensation is often given for mileage traveled. 

Outside schools include Able Seaman, Life Boatman, Master, Offshore Drilling Units, Marine Firefighting, EMD Maintenance and Operation (representing the Electric Motor Division of General Motors), BOP schools, and the list goes on and on. The more schools you complete, the more credentials you have when you shop for another job. What this means is the company you're working for is financing your future. Thank them!

Available Positions

There are many good positions available in offshore drilling.  The list very long, and many positions are available at entry level as well as for professionals seeking a new career orientation. Because the list is long, we suggest you go directly to Matt’ book located at his website and check out each position personally. - Click Here -

So, how does one apply for employment?  There are four ways to secure offshore employment. The personal physical search is the least effective, and any success is usually attributed to near luck.  Nonetheless, taking this route can be an adventure in itself as you pack up your bags for a couple of weeks touring the coast and checking leads from such places as Houston, Texas, or Lafayette or Morgan City, Louisiana. 

A more affective way to search is through newspaper want ads. Key words will usually include the word offshore and usually 7&7, 14&14, etc. The ad will give a phone number and/or an address. These newspaper ads will be seeking entry level personnel as well as experienced hands.  Sometimes you can call or write, and sometimes you have to appear in person just to apply. If you apply by phone, ask them what openings they have and request the one you feel most qualified to fill. If they want to send you an application, fill it out and mail it back with your resume as soon as you get it. There are always ads in the New Orleans' The Times Picayune, The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, LA, the Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle.

The most effective way to job search is through a professional placement agency. Companies that offer offshore, maritime, or overseas jobs fall into one of two categories. The first is the kind of agency that places you in a job and charges you a fee for doing so. The other is the kind that sells you a list of potential employers and you are responsible for placing yourself.

For more information, go to Matt’ website and click on OILCAREER. There’s absoulurtley no doubt that an offshore job will bring you the kind of adventure and income you’ve been looking for. Have fun.