• Getting into the oil industry, means you have to be patient and persistent.  It takes time and effort to get an oil rig job, so having a well worked out structure for your oil career job search will make a big difference to your success.

• Avoid disappointment by not applying to huge companies like BP, ExxonMobil, Shell or ChevronTexaco, etc. because they use agency staff for their catering, drilling and some other departments, but particularly entry level positions. Use your time better by applying to companies that own and operate their drilling rigs and platforms, supply vessels, helicopters, etc.

Once you have developed your plan of action and your list of companies to apply to, you need to be aware of the 3 vital elements in applying for offshore oil rig jobs.

1.  Your Resume or CV is Your First (and Possibly, Your Last!) Chance to Sell Yourself.

• Set yours apart from the pack – Oil companies receive hundreds of resumes (CV’s) every week, so you need to make yours stand out – this may be your only chance to make a good impression.
  

Using off-white or light beige paper (no other colors!) and white (letter size / A4) envelopes will set your CV and cover letter apart subtlety, as will adding a small photograph to the top of the first page of your resume.

• Keep it short and to the point – try to get all of the important information onto one page, but if you definitely can’t, never use more than two pages.

Your CV should contain your personal information – name, address, telephone, mobile and email. Leave out sex, date of birth, nationality and marital status. Then, with most recent first, add your education with dates and name of institution, include any special training, then job history with a brief description of duties and accomplishments, skills and certifications. Lastly, add your interests/hobbies. If the company wants further details, they will ask for them.

• References and hobbies – Because your space is limited and, again because the company will ask if they want to know, do not include references. Simply state “references available upon request”.
  

The hobbies or interests you put on your CV could show a potential employer that you are not a team player. So, if your favorite activities are done mostly by yourself like computer games, reading, etc., include a couple of team activities, i.e. playing football, rugby, pot holing with friends, etc.

• Layouts – There are lots of different layouts, find a professional one and use that. It’s not necessary to have one done professionally but be sure to have someone else proof read it and correct any spelling or grammar mistakes before sending it off.
  

2.  The Cover Letter Sets The Stage.

A cover letter should introduce you to the reader and briefly state what you want. A good cover letter can make the difference between your letter and CV ending up in the pile of “must read” or not.  The letter should quickly grab the reader’s attention, then get to the point.  Here is an example:

Now, you’re ready to send out your letters and resumes. Or you could use a CV submission service that will send your CV to multiple companies.

Rigworker is such a CV submission service. They charge a one-time fee of $59.75 and although they can’t guarantee you a job, they certainly can make the process much easier and you don’t have to come up with all those addresses!

3.  Your Follow Up Is Critical.

• Two weeks or so after sending off your CV and cover letter, telephone the company and ask if they received your employment packet. They may have to rummage through the pile to find it but it will bring your CV back to their attention.

You may find they haven’t had your CV or it’s been misplaced, immediately offer to send another employment packet (CV, cover letter, copies of certificates, etc.).  Ask for the name of the person you should send it to. Then send it out that day, with your cover letter addressed to the name you got.

If they do have your CV, ask if they have filled the vacancy and if not, when they are likely to do so. Be brief and very polite, thank them for their time and if you get the opportunity ask for the name of the person who will be making the hiring decision.  That’s the person you’ll ask for the next time you phone.

If you’ve sent your CV in on spec. or for a specific vacancy and they have got it, you may get the statement that they will add it to their database or something that you feel is negative feedback. Don’t be discouraged, this usually happens. Remember they don’t yet know what a great guy you are!

• After that first phone call, follow up with a phone call or email every two weeks or so. This is to keep your name in the front of their minds but be careful not to annoy them. Keep your phone calls brief and to the point – you’re just touching base. Over time, you will develop a relationship with the person you talk to and when the next vacancy comes up, she/he is likely to think of you. You know the old saying “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” or the job in this case.
  

• Keep track of all of your follow up efforts – when you made contact, to which company and who you spoke to (write their names on your log and be sure to thank them for their time).

• If you’re not getting anywhere by sending in your CV and are willing to make the trip, go to Great Yarmouth or Aberdeen and visit a number of oil drilling, oil production or other oil services companies, and don’t forget to include the oil recruitment (employment) companies. Take your CV and cover letter in personally and introduce yourself. You never know, you just may be in the right place at the right time when someone has just quit!

Tip: If you’re unemployed or ex-military and in the United Kingdom, ask at the Job Centre if you can get help with the cost of photocopying, stamps, envelopes and phone calls. Also, you can join job clubs that will give you some of these services for free.

In Conclusion

To get an oil industry job, you have to become obsessed with doing what you need to do.  Here’s a summary of the main events:

• Do your basic survival course and get your certificate,
• Get, or at least apply for, your medical certificate,
• Put together a CV that paints, in words, a really good picture of who you are,
• Prepare your cover letter, briefly highlighting your skills and what you can do for a potential employer,
• Learn about the oil industry and the companies that have the jobs you want. Get organised about keeping the information you get on each company – this will come in handy when preparing for the interview.
• Keep track of your follow-ups by putting together a log of all your efforts,
• Keep in regular touch with the companies you’ve sent your CV to (keep the contact brief, it’s counter-productive to irritate the person who answers the phone!),
• Talk (network) with everyone you can about which oil drilling company is recruiting and who to talk to.

Developing a plan of action, getting together an up-to-date list of companies to contact or registering with a CV submission service, finding all the free resources you can get and factoring in the information about the 3 vital elements in applying for offshore oil rig jobs will eventually get you the job you want.  Be patient, but persistent.

3 Vital Elements in Applying For Offshore Oil Rig Jobs

These courses are actually an essential investment in your offshore oil career because regardless of any other qualifications, if you can put down that you already have your course certificates, you will be a much better prospect for a potential employer – you’ll show you are ready to work where as someone else will still have to take the courses.

Each country has individual standards for offshore survival and fire fighting training so check out the specific requirements for the country you’ll be working in.

Facilities in the United Kingdom where you can get the initial Offshore Survival Courses and other training you will need include:

• Scotland – Blackpool & the Fylde College,  www.blackpool.ac.uk  Tel : 01253 352352

• Northern England – Humberside Offshore Training Assoc., www.hota.org  Tel : 01482 820567

• Aberdeen – NUTEC Centre For Safety,  www.nutecuk.com  Tel : 01224 725808

• Norwich – Petans Ltd.  www.petans.co.uk  Tel : 01603 891255

• Aberdeen – RGIT Montrose Limited,  www.rgitmontrose.com  Tel : 01224 899707

• Southern England – Warwish Maritime Centre, www.warsashcentre.co.uk  Tel : 01489 576161

Outside the UK, have a look on the OPITO website for the Network of Approved Training Providers – http://www.opito.com/uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31&Itemid=247

Other courses that are both useful for offshore jobs and will get your resume (CV) noticed are ones that meet OPITO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization) standards. (Check the OPITA website for a complete list of trainers by country.)

Having training in any of the following (plus others) will greatly improve your chances of oil rig employment.

• hoisting and lifting operations,
• hoisting and rigging safety,
• NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) technician,
• laying pipe,
• oil rig operations,
• pipe fitter,
• painter,
• rigger & electrician, especially IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) trained,
• scaffolder,
• steel erector,
• tower and derrick builder,
• welder (colour coded),
• winching.

Since health and safety are always a priority on offshore oil rigs and vessels, having training in first aid, CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation), manual handling, risk assessment, abrasive wheels safety, slinger signalman/slinger banksman and supervisory roles will certainly give you skills employers are always looking for.

In America, if you’ve done some of the OSHA courses and HAZMAT training, you will be far more valuable to any potential employer.

Alongside the required training for offshore oil rig workers such as BOSIET, HUET and FOET, there are others such as comprehensive Europe-wide courses that will enable you to work in all North Sea sectors. It is becoming more common for people, ‘green hands’, to gain specific skills for oil and gas jobs prior to applying for any oil vacancies.  The better skilled you are, the more valuable you will be to any potential oil company employer.

Required Training for Offshore Oil Rig Workers – BOSIET & Skills Training

With lots of openings for work in offshore oilfields, men and women are needed for oil rig catering staff including chefs, cooks, bakers, kitchen helpers and cleaners to feed the crews and keep the oil drilling rigs clean and tidy.  There are plenty of opportunities for women, have a look at some of the articles about women joining the oil rig ranks on our other websites.

Yes, there are still lots of entry level job vacancies with no previous offshore experience required for both men and women on offshore oil and gas rigs.  People with skills such as electricians, engineers, mechanics are currently much in demand and are earning very good wages in the UK plus many other places worldwide.

Who Wants These Oil & Gas Jobs?

Entry level roustabout jobs or catering jobs or any of the many other jobs on the oil rigs, appeal to all sorts of people – musicians, bankers, businessmen, university graduates, ex-servicemen, lawyers, farmers, ministers, medical personnel, labourers, etc., maybe even someone like YOU.  If you’re looking for an interesting career, opportunities to better yourself, job security and good pay, look no further than a career in the oil and gas industry working on the offshore oil and gas rigs.

For your turn to celebrate, join the experienced oil men and women on offshore drilling rigs in the North Sea, on the UK continental shelf, in the UK waters off Aberdeen, and all over the globe.

What’s It Like to Work on The Rigs?

Yes, the work is hard.  There are jobs that aren’t as tough as those on the rig platform, like electricians, mechanics or catering and housekeeping, but as long as you’re in physical condition that’s good or above, with a strong work ethic and willing to work as part of a team, you’ll fit in just fine.

The pay, benefits and career opportunities are great. If you’re willing to work hard, you can move from an entry level job with no prior oil or gas field experience to making over $100,000+ or £65,000+ / a year.  Don’t forget this is the pay for working only 6 months out of 12 – think what you could do working 2 week on, with 2 weeks off.

Because most of the offshore oil drilling platforms are a long way from shore, you’ll be working and living on the oil rigs but don’t worry, the food is good, the accommodation is well kept and your off-time facilities often include a canteen, gym, sauna, computers with Internet connection, videos, computer games, snooker, pool, films, etc.     What Do You Need to Get One of These Offshore Jobs?

Health: for working offshore you have to be in good physical condition, often able to life at least 50lbs., and able to pass a drugs test.

Education & Qualifications: Most of the entry level oil rig jobs don’t need any formal education beyond high school or the equivalent. There are lots of jobs that do require more education but these won’t be entry level positions.

Job & Life Experience: Lots of what you’ve done in your life will be transferrable, for instance if you’ve worked on a fishing vessel or on a construction site, it will be easier to get a roustabout oil job or roughneck rig job. If you’ve had experience as a mechanic, welder, plumber, fitter, or scaffolder, etc. that will really help you get an oil rig job – these skills are very much in demand right now.

If you’ve been in the services, skills like diesel mechanics, engine room mechanics, motor transport fitters, etc. plus having worked as part of a team and learned to take orders will greatly improve your chances.  Because the crews need to be fed regularly, jobs in catering and housekeeping are also always in demand.

If They Can Get a Job, Then Why Can’t YOU?

It’s really important showing that you have the interest and ambition to learn and do the job of roustabout, roughneck, welder, cook etc. and, once you’ve learned a few new skills and gotten some experience, you’ll be ready to move on in your oil and gas industry career.

Getting the information you need about the lifestyle, the job, the company and the industry will all help in making the right impression on the recruiter. Although many employers actually provide the safety and survival training as well as the marine fire fighting courses and the offshore drilling on-the-job training, getting some initial training before even applying for a job shows the kind initiative that people trying to fill the offshore drilling job vacancies are looking for.

At the moment entry level oil rig jobs, no experience are plentiful, so what’s stopping you from getting in there while the getting is good?

Entry Level Oil Rig Jobs No Experience

This means that you are more likely to have significant numbers of job openings to choose from.

Some of the jobs available are in the USA and while others are overseas.

There are oil jobs in Alaska, as well as oil jobs in North Dakota and oil jobs in Texas. These are both offshore and onshore positions.

Offshore jobs often pay more because of the conditions – they are often more arduous and located on oil rigs sometimes far out to sea. The onshore jobs are at facilities on land and therefore pay somewhat less than offshore, but will still be higher paying positions than in other industries.

Some Entry Level Oil Jobs To Consider

Helpers: This job starts at around 35K a year. They are responsible for getting rid of rust, painting, washing, transportation, loading supplies and working with the heavy equipment.

Maintenance Roustabout: This job starts are around $47,000. They are mostly responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the decks, as well as doing some of the rig painting.

Roustabout: This job starts at about $54,500. The duties involve running the cranes, dealing with moving equipment, making sure the deck areas are clean and tidy, etc.

Welders: This job starts at about $62K a year. Rig welders are generally based on one specific rig and go out daily to do repairs and metal work.

Scaffolders: These are not restricted to working on just one site. They may go to different rigs as needed to do construction work.

Radio operator: This job pays around $62 K a year. It is one of the few entry level jobs that don’t involve heavy  manual labor.

Medic: These jobs pay around $69K to start. They may not be fully qualified doctors, but are usually former EMTs, nurses or from others areas within the medical field.

Rig Safety & Training Coordinators: These jobs pay around $80K. You must be good at  communications, have good computer and organizational skills to take this job.

Mud engineer: This job pays $72 K a year. They are the ones that are in charge of the drilling fluids and usually need a degree in chemistry to apply. This position can be done by either men or women.

Materials man/woman (Store man/woman): this job pays $59K. They handle stock orders, maintenance and other office paperwork and must be computer savvy.

Painter: This job pays around $57K to start. They are in charge of all painting duties on and around the rig.

Stewards: These people work in the kitchen, help with housekeeping and assist in the kitchen making sure everything is neat and tidy. Pay starts at around $45K a year.

Camp boss: This position pays $63K a year and is the one in charge of the catering department on the rig.

If you meet the requirements and are motivated to join this group of dedicated and hard working people, then put together a ‘killer’ resume and cover letter and apply for one of these onshore and offshore oil and gas jobs.

Oil Rig Jobs No Experience – Specific Entry Level Oil Jobs Available Now

The best way to apply for these jobs is to go directly to the company you want to work for and speak with their human resources department. You could get hired on the spot if things are super busy and they are in need of workers. Or you could send in a resume.  However be sure your resume is easy to read and add a cover letter saying what job you are applying for and explaining what makes you an excellent choice for the job even though you have little or no experience.

Since the format oil and gas companies want the resume in is often different from the norm, check their websites for what the company wants and follow their procedures. If you don’t, they could easily think that since you didn’t follow their policies, you won’t be the right type of employee either.

There are lots of websites for offshore job resume writing and recruiting.  These can help you in your quest for offshore employment. They often specialize in helping people just like you to get hired for their dream future in an offshore career.  Do be careful about scams, some sites charge up front fees so check out what you get before giving them any money.

Types of Oil Jobs

In the oil and gas industry, there are jobs on both offshore and onshore rigs. Obviously, onshore jobs are those done on land.  Pipefitter engineer is a job that could require that you work on a rig, pipeline or refinery onshore. However don’t think just because the job is onshore, that it’s going to be easy. These jobs can be in  the conditions you’d find in Alaska or the deserts of Dubai, Texas or Libya where working on a pipeline could mean dealing with bitter cold, winds and lots of snow and ice or heat of up to 140ºF and sand storms.

Pipelines are large steel tubes underground or above-ground that transports their precious cargo of oil to destination where it is refined into gasoline or other petroleum products. It’s cheaper sending the oil this way than transporting it overland by trucks. There are hundreds of thousands of miles of pipelines all over the world, with pipefitting jobs paying upwards of $100K once you have some experience under your belt.

Deepwater Offshore Jobs

Offshore deepwater jobs are often on rigs that are sitting in more than 1,000 feet of water far out to sea. Deepwater jobs can be dangerous, so they pay among the highest salaries to start – between $50,000-$60,000, while the same jobs in shallower water pay about $10,000 or so less, depending on the position.

One of the jobs done in deepwater situations is offshore cementing assistant. This person is responsible for installing casing and shoring up the inside of the well from which the drilling team is extracting the oil. This job can be dangerous as wells have been known to blow out, so people doing the job get paid more than many of the other oil jobs.

Due to all the factors that make working on offshore oil rigs hazardous, all workers are required to take safety classes and helicopter survival classes just in case one is downed and goes underwater. If being safety –conscious isn’t part of your makeup, then the jobs on oil rigs, especially those in deep water, won’t be a good fit for you.

The bottom line is that if you are looking for a job but have little or no experience on an oil rig, then check out what’s available within the oil and gas industry – the jobs are high paying, with good benefits and great opportunities for moving up the ladder.

Check it out and make a long term career for yourself.

Oil Jobs Requiring Little Or No Experience

What Kinds Of Jobs Are Out There?

One of the best things to do is apply for work on an oil rig that is based on land if you haven’t got any experience. There are usually roustabout jobs available- a roustabout is a general laborer. Once in that job, you can work your way up the line to other jobs such as roughneck, where you would supervise the roustabouts. Other jobs higher up, include derrick hand and driller; these pay higher than the roustabout oil jobs and have more responsibility.

Some jobs in oil require a suitable technical certificate such as for electricians or mechanics but having any kind of skilled training could very well net you a job on an oil rig. Or, if you like to cook, there’s always room for cooking jobs on offshore drilling rigs. Perhaps you have some medical training, there is a need for paramedics, nurses and doctors as well. Of course, these may need that certificate or diploma, but they also pay better too.

Here is a listing of some of the possible oil jobs with no experience that you could get:

Roustabout: Makes between $45,000 and $55,000. Duties include all-purpose maintenance, cleaning and painting of the external areas and decks.

Roughneck: Makes between $52,000 and $55,000.  Duties include guiding the cranes, all-purpose cleaning and maintaining the decks, helping the roughnecks, and other duties as needed.
Storeman: Makes between $57,000 and $60,000.  Duties include ordering and receiving supplies. You do need computer skills for this job.

Painter: Makes between $55,000 and $58,000.  Duties include painting, of course, but you can’t be afraid of heights as you will be working all over the rig from all sorts of locations and could need to be in a special harness, or basket raised by a crane to get to where you need to paint.

Welder: Makes between $60,000 and $63,000.  Duties include being able to do repairs, weld new metalwork, etc.

Radio operator: Makes between $60,000 and $63,000. This is one of the few no experience needed jobs that isn’t hard labor. However, it is very important since you will be sending and receiving all the messages received on the oil rig.
Electrician: Makes between $62,000 and $88,000.  Duties include maintaining and fixing all electrical related things on the oil rig.

Medic: Makes between $67,000 and $70,000.  Medics are not doctors, but they do require something like an EMT course or nurses training. They will be assisting the regular doctors on the oil rig.

Mechanical jobs: Makes between $55,000 and $88,000.  Duties include working on all sorts of generators, equipment and other machines related to the oil business.

Rig safety and training coordinator jobs: Makes between $77,000 and $80,000. This is an administrative job and requires that you have good leadership and communication skills and are good with a computer.

Wanting Oil Jobs But Have No Experience?

One thing is sure, working on an oil rig or in some of the oilfield jobs is no picnic and it’s only for someone who is serious about hard work and knows the basic safety standards. With all the activity and heavy duty machinery onboard an oil rig, there’s great potential for accidents and injury! Most of these jobs require that you have basic safety and first aid training, so be sure to check the company’s requirements before applying.

Oil jobs with no experience needed, may not require previous work experience on an oil rig, but they do expect everyone they hire to have plenty of common sense.

How do you get hired for these jobs, or even get the attention of the people doing the hiring for oil jobs with no experience needed? Some experts say:

• Create your own resume webpage to introduce yourself and that paper resumes are worthless in this industry.
• Others say to visit some of the companies and talk to the people there to see what jobs may be available.
• Use recruiter services that specifically help people get oil jobs. These places will help you put together the online resume and then make sure it gets seen by hundreds of oil and gas companies who are looking for people just like you.

How do I get a job in the oil industry?

If you decide to look for oil jobs, then it is important to know exactly what you are doing, as well as how to go about applying. Just because the jobs may be advertised as “no experience necessary” doesn’t mean that you don’t have to follow the companies’ procedures to get one of them.  Check out The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit for all the information you need.

The oil industry is doing very well at the moment and needs many people to fill entry level jobs working on new and exiting oil rigs on offshore oil rig drilling platforms. The job outlook for these types of jobs is expected to stay high, and according to top economists, it could be this way for the next 20 years.

If you are a hard worker, in good shape, and don’t mind getting dirty, then one of these jobs might just be the thing for you. But, how do you get started in these high paying entry level jobs?

How can I better my chances of getting hired?

If you do have even a small amount of experience or some training that is required for the job you’d like, that of course will improve your chances of getting hired. As stated above, since an oil rig is potentially a dangerous place to work, it helps a lot if you have recently done courses in first aid, CPR, health and safety and survival.  Other oil industry training for roustabouts is also helpful since it gives you a good starting point.

All in all, oil jobs with no experience needed are out there. You just need to know where to look and how to apply. Soon you, too, could be in a really good paying job in the oil and gas industry.

Getting An Oil Job With No Experience – Getting Hired