For Entry Level Offshore Jobs, there are opportunities for drilling employment and travel to countries such as: Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the United States, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, Norway, China, Canada and the United Kingdom.

WAGES
Typically salaries for roustabouts and roughnecks (drill deck workers) are approximately US $300 – $500 per day. Annual salaries work out to be approximately US $60,000.00 to $80.000.00 plus (for 6 months work a year; if you want to work more and make more, you can do that too).  Entry level positions typically make between US $50,000 – US $80,000 per annum. Trades, technical and professional positions will likely earn between US $70,000 – US $220,000 per year.  You can rise the ladder fast in this business, and it isn’t uncommon to start at 50-60k and be making 80-90k in two years, and over 100k in five.

RIGWORKER and The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit both provide the kind of insider knowledge, experience and contacts needed for those without experience to be able to break into the Offshore Oil business.  However, competition is definitely heating up with 6 million people having lost their jobs over the past year.  Getting the edge these guides and service provides has helped many to beat that competition.

If you are serious about gaining work in this field, utilizing one of these inexpensive services will give you a competitive advantage. Both of these services come highly recommended by those that have used them (and gotten jobs).  They well deserve the good reputation they have in the industry.

Offshore Roustabout and Roughneck Jobs

Roustabouts

The Roustabout job is the most common entry level occupation for an oil rig’s marine section. Most new hires in the Drilling and Marine Sections start out as Roustabouts. A Roustabout is typically an inexperienced worker who works as a trainee or helper for those in more senior positions. This position is comparable to the Able-bodied Seaman on board a ship. The Roustabout will assist with a variety of work, typically unskilled , which might include maintenance, cleaning rust removal, painting, or learning to direct the huge cranes on board.

After working in an offshore Roustabout position, people typically take one of two paths – to the drill floor, as a Roughneck, or to the Cranes, as an Crane Operator Trainee. He will start in either capacity by serving as relief during meal and coffee breaks, and then be given progressively greater responsibility.

Roughnecks

A Roughneck ( Floorhand ) is the entry level position on an offshore rig’s Drilling section. This is the guy who handles the drilling pipes, connecting them as they drill deeper with huge hydraulic clamps. This is the physically most demanding job of the entire drill crew – one can work hard labor 12 hours straight during a drill operation. Offshore, it is easiest to get a job as a Roustabout first, and many experienced roughnecks will take Roustabout jobs offshore just to prove themselves, and learn the ropes offshore – things are a bit different out in the middle of the ocean.

Wages

Wages for entry-level Roustabouts and Roughnecks run from 50 to 60k

Getting a Roustabout Job Offshore

If you don’t have previous offshore experience, your chances are improved if you have any kind of technical work background. This can include experience as a welder, fitter, engineer, electrician, technician or mechanic. If it is possible, the best way to land an offshore Roustabout job is to apply in person – there are many unadvertised Entry-level jobs offshore. Obviously, the person whose face is in the office asking for work every week or two is going to stand out above all the other applicants.

If visiting the employment offices of offshore drilling contractors isn’t possible for you, then the next best thing is to ensure that your Resume, C\V and Cover Letter are specific to the offshore industry, and to the job you are applying for. We recommend the services of Rigworker and Oil Jobs Guide if you wish to facilitate the process and improve the odds. Thousands have had success when they chose to utilize the Resume \ CV submittal service from Rigworker or The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit. Both charge a nominal fee for their services, $40 – $60, but they are honest, legitimate companies, and their services have been tested multiple times, with a job offer (or several) being the standard result. While they make no guarantees of getting hired, they do guarantee your satisfaction with their services, and you will get far more for the small investment than anywhere else on the internet.

To be avoided are programs that charge hundreds of dollars for the same thing.

Offshore \ Oil Rig Roustabout \ Roughneck Training Programs – Greenhand Courses

There are several training programs available designed to prepare applicants without offshore or oil industry experience for a Roustabout position. Offshore, the Roustabout position is the most common entry level job in the oil rig’s marine section. Working as a Roustabout requires one to be physically fit and capable of performing strenuous manual labor, in all weather conditions. Those without experience are termed greenhands. The term originates from the custom on some rigs to make inexperienced employees wear a green hat so that they may be distinguished to the other employees as being new, so allowances can be made for the greenhand not being aware of all the regulations and requirements specific to offshore work.

Maritime Drilling Schools Unlimited

Floorman ( Roughneck ) training. This school offers a 20 day program taught in Nova Scotia, Canada. The 20 day course of instruction in Pre Employment Floorman (Roughneck) Training will consist of drilling programs, hands-on rig training, and industry safety programs. Life skills and job readiness will also be included during the program. This program is available for Americans. The Floorman course costs $ 3.750.00 Canadian, plus $250.00 for books and a $200.00 registration fee. Accommodations, if required, are $600.00.

Métis Nation BC (MNBC)

Pre-Employment Floorman (Roughneck) training. Probably the best program available – you will find work after completing this program. This Pre-Employment Floorman (Roughneck) Training Program will provide students with a comprehensive training program that is tailored specifically for the drilling industry. Students will learn how to safely operate and maintain drilling equipment and the job functions that are relevant to drill floor and deck crew operations. Students will also learn the skills of a Roustabout and Lease hand with a high emphasis on Oilrig safety. Training is located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. All-inclusive cost for the course is Canadian $ 8,650 including meals and accommodation for 24 days.

Atlantic Petroleum Training College

Floorhand / Roughneck training. Training is hands-on and takes place on a working onshore drilling oil rig in Nova Scotia. They offer a certificate program in oilfield training. This program provides an opportunity for unskilled individuals to take advantage of quality hands-on training to begin a successful career in the oil and gas industry. This program provides the knowledge and skills to work safely and productively as part of an oilrig team. In addition to the core program, mandatory H2S Alive and 2-day Standard First Aid with Level A are given. Potential earnings for an individual starting in this dynamic industry can exceed $60,000 per year.

For those seeking oil rig work either offshore or onshore, opportunities continue to grow, even with the economic slowdown. Half of the current workforce in the oil and gas industry is retiring in the next 10 years. This is creating a huge labor shortage for the energy companies and drilling contractors, and a huge opportunity for those seeking jobs offshore and onshore. There has never been a better time for either experienced or entry-level workers to find an oil rig job or offshore job.

This growing workforce shortage is creating a groundswell of opportunity for a variety of jobs offshore. Drilling and Catering crews are always in demand, but there is also an urgent need and openings for the following jobs: Crane Operators, Riggers, Welders and Underwater Welders (or welders who would like to train for underwater welding), Electricians, Scaffolders and Mechanics. Offshore employment (as well as onshore) is expected to accelerate in 2009 as the economy begins turning around.

Riggers

A rigger is defined as: “anyone who attaches or detaches lifting equipment to loads or lifting devices” on fixed offshore platforms. This is the next step up from the offshore Roustabout position. Offshore rigging jobs lead immediately into the Crane Operator position.

Crane Operator

The Crane Operator is responsible for all crane operations on board the rig. He is

foreman for the Roustabouts whom he supervises during loading and discharging

of supplies from the supply boats and during transfer of equipment on board the

rig. The Crane Operator must hold an Offshore Crane Operator Certificate and

have experience working as a Roustabout and Rigger.

Offshore Crane Operators and Rigger Training

• Offshore Crane Operator courses and Rigging Courses

http://www.astpl.com/training_courses.html

• Crane Operator’s Certificate Program – Canada, 26 weeks. Offers both offshore and land based mobile crane operation training and certification

http://www.cna.nl.ca/ProgramsCourses/program-details.asp?cProgCode=389

• UK and US Offshore Crane Operator training centre (Sparrows 1-3)
• OPITO approved Rigger courses with certificates.

http://www.sparrowsoffshore.com/Courses_Offered.html

Offshore Crane Operators and Rigger Wages

Note: Actual salaries depends on Crane Operator certificate level and years experience.

• North Sea Crane Operators 14 days on / 14 days off - US $ 5.000 per month.
• Nigeria Offshore Crane Operators – $400\day

Riggers and Crane Operators Offshore Job Finding Assistance

For those without offshore industry experience, your odds are going to dramatically increase if you utilize a professional service to assist in the job hunt. Many have had success when they chose to utilize the Resume \ CV submittal service from Rigworker or The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit. Both charge a nominal fee for their services, $40 – $60, but they are honest, legitimate companies, and their services have been tested multiple times, with a job offer (or several) being the standard result. While they make no guarantees of getting hired, they do guarantee your satisfaction with their services, and you will get far more for the small investment than anywhere else on the internet.

Offshore Technical, Electrical and Mechanical Jobs

Chief Electrician

The Chief Electrician ($85,500) is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the electrical equipment on the rig, even including tasks like changing light bulbs. Requirements of the job include on occasion working a 12-hour shift and being hoisted into the air at heights. Has a general salary of US $85,500. Ideal for someone with a background in mechanics and /or electrical.

Electrician

The Electrician ($74,000) is responsible for maintaining and inspecting all electrical systems and related equipment on board the rig. New installations and modifications of

existing ones are also carried out by the Electrician. He must be an Industrial

Electrician or a Certified Electrician.

Electronic Technician

The Electronic Technician ($65,000) is responsible for assisting the Electricain in maintaining and inspecting all electrical systems and related equipment on board the rig. He will also assist the Electrician with new installations and modifications of existing ones.

Scaffolding

Scaffolders ($60,000); are not usually tied to any one rig. They go to different installations depending on where their company has work.

Mechanic

The Mechanic ($72,000) has the responsibility to carry out the maintenance and inspections of the mechanical equipment and systems on board the rig. To obtain the position of a Mechanic, some years’ working experience as a Motorman is preferred.

Motorman \ Assistant Mechanic

The Motorman \ Assistant Mechanic ($57,500 – $65,000) assists the Mechanic in his daily work. To qualify for the position as a Motorman, the applicant must be a Certified Fitter or Mechanic or hold a corresponding education.

Materialsman (Storeman)

The Materialsman ($60,000) is responsible for maintaining the rig’s stock of spare parts at the specified level. He also ensures that all stock items are properly stored and

labeled and that all certificates are present. Responsible for the maintenance of the stores and stock ordering and receiving. Must be computer literate. One drawback of this comfortable job is that on smaller rigs with only one storeperson they sometimes have to get up at all hours to check the cargo coming off the boat.

Job Finding Assistance for Electrical, Mechanical, Scaffolding and Materialsman Jobs Offshore

For those without offshore industry experience, your odds are going to dramatically increase if you utilize a professional service to assist in the job hunt. Many have had success when they chose to utilize the Resume \ CV submittal service from Rigworker and

The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit . Both charge a nominal fee for their services, $40 – $60, but they are honest, legitimate companies, and their services have been tested multiple times, with a job offer (or several) being the standard result. While they make no guarantees of getting hired, they do guarantee your satisfaction with their services, and you will get far more for the small investment than anywhere else on the internet.

Offshore Welding \ Underwater Offshore Welder Jobs

Welder

The Welder ($62,000) is responsible for carrying out repairs and modifications in accordance with the Maintenance Supervisor’s instructions. His work also includes maintenance and service of all welding equipment. An education as Certified Welder is required for this position. There above water welders, and underwater welders. The above water welders fall into two categories. First are the rig welders. They are permanently on one rig and carry out all day to day repairs and building of new metalwork. They are always busy. Then there are the roving welders. When there is a big project often a squad of roving welders are hired to finish the job quickly. These guys move from rig to rig wherever their company has a contract.

Underwater Welder

Underwater welders earn considerably more; $80,000 is the low end, and day rates can approach $900-$1000. For a guide on how to start a career as an underwater welder, see http://www.aws.org/education/plunge.html . For advice on choosing a good underwater welding school, read the following article: http://www.ehow.com/how_4449877_find-underwater-welding-schools.html

There is a lot of underwater welding work available, and more coming on line in the very near future. In particular, there is going to be a lot of work in the North Sea. The North Sea is a mature oil field, and many rigs and other structures will be decommissioned starting now, and going on until 2015. Much of the work will be performed by underwater welders.

Required Skills and Qualifications

From the Commercial Diving Academy:

“The skills and qualifications suggested for entering the field of underwater welding are generally recognized as an experienced welder-diver with commercial diving skills. This means you should be familiar with the use of specialized commercial diving equipment, have an understanding of diving physiology, safety, rigging, the underwater environment and communication. You should also be proficient in weld setup and preparation skills such as those tasks typically assigned to a fitter or rigger, such as materials alignment and materials preparation including beveling, stripping of concrete, fitting a steel patch or repair plate. In addition, you will have to certify to a required underwater weld procedure.”

Underwater Welder-Diver Training and Certification

Listed here are a few of the better diving and underwater welding training centers. It is to great advantage for experienced divers to acquire additional training as underwater welders and welding inspectors.

• US diver welding training school in Houston with courses for commercial divers, underwater welding and burning.

http://www.oceancorp.com/udtinfo.shtml

• Training for NDT welding inspectors ( level 2 ).

http://www.oceancorp.com/ndtinfo.shtml

• Underwater welding school ( US ) with option for International welding certification and non-destructive testing levels I & II from UK.

http://commercialdivingacademy.com/sub/resources.htm

• Air / Mixed Gas Commercial Diver course ( US – Jacksonville, FL ), 16 weeks (720 hrs), total cost USD 17.400 (about USD 24/hr). Including NDT underwater levels I & II

https://elyksecurity.com/commercialdivingacademycom/sub/apply.asp

• List of commercial diver training schools

http://www.divercertification.com/training/

• Onshore /Offshore API, AWS, and NDT training schedule for year 2009 (requires Adobe Acrobat)

http://www.cutechgroup.com/Brochures/Training Schedule.pdf

• Worldwide list of Welding Inspection and NDT courses ( UK ) – certification ( CSWIP ) http://www.twitraining.com/world/courses/index.jsp?coursecode=WTC19

• UK diving school with underwater cutting and welding courses, AWS or BS certification. http://www.interdive.co.uk/diving-courses.asp

• UK national commercial diving school with courses for commercial air and mixed gas divers, ROV pilots / technicians, and Assistant Life Support Technicians. CSWIP 3.1U Non Destructive Testing course for divers with a minimum qualification of HSE Surface Supplied or equivalent, 2 weeks.

http://www.theunderwatercentre.co.uk/courses.asp

• Offshore wet welding diving courses at The Underwater Centre, Freemantle – Australia. ADAS [ ADAS Part 1, 2, and 3 ] certification up to Dive Supervisor. The training centre can assist in finding employment after successful training.

http://www.tucf.com.au/divingcareers.html

Wages for Offshore Underwater Welding

Note: Actual salaries depends on project location and years of experience. Underwater welders are typically paid by the project. Salary depends on the skill set needed for each specific project. Once you have a portfolio of completed projects the amount you can charge increases dramatically

• Underwater welder – Gulf of Mexico, US $80,000 \ year.
• CSWIP 3.2 Inspection Divers – Gulf of Thailand, USD 450 per day.
• Underwater welder-diver – Offshore Australia, USD 870 per day.

Welders and Underwater Welders Offshore Job Finding Assistance

For those without offshore industry experience, your odds are going to dramatically increase if you utilize a professional service to assist in the job hunt. Many have had success when they chose to utilize the Resume \ CV submittal service from Rigworker or The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit . Both charge a nominal fee for their services, $40 – $60, but they are honest, legitimate companies, and their services have been tested multiple times, with a job offer (or several) being the standard result. While they make no guarantees of getting hired, they do guarantee your satisfaction with their services, and you will get far more for the small investment than anywhere else on the internet.

Rigworker was founded in 1998 by a group of offshore workers and former offshore workers who saw an opportunity in the lack of  information about the offshore oil industry.  Utilizing their industry contacts and knowledge of the industry, they started a business which has stood the test of time while many imitators (and there are still many) have come and gone.  They will help you tweak your properly formatted resume to be relevant for Offshore Oil Jobs, and then send it to their industry hiring contacts.  Basically, you can hire these guys to be your inside source to the offshore oil industry.

To summarize, if you want to get an Offshore Oil Rig Job fast, consider hiring these guys to work for you. It’ll make your life easier, and vastly increase the odds of landing that oil rig job as well.

The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit is probably the most comprehensive resource for landing jobs in the oil and gas industry that has ever been made available to the general public.  It consists of 5 different manuals totaling over 400 pages; they were all written to work together to provide you with the best strategy and tools available to start a career in the oil and gas industry, both land-based and offshore.  They have created a win-win business model leveraging their contacts made over the years to help oil and gas industry job-seekers.  The five modules of the resource kit provides hiring decision-makers, job listing web sites for both recruiters and hundreds of companies, and a manual on resume creation for onshore as well as offshore oil jobs.  For a limited time, they are giving out free resume critiques for their customers.  The price of  The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit is, at $37.00, an absolute bargain, and comes with a 60 day, unconditional money-back guarantee.

These two services have a huge range of Oil and Gas industry contacts, and using both provides the best chance of getting hired, especially for entry level oil rig Jobs.

1. Double your “insider” contacts by joining RIGWORKER. Basic membership is free. If you are hesitant, just subscribe to their free newsletter to learn more about working offshore. This company has helped many people break into the industry, and have earned the good reputation they enjoy in the industry.

2. Let the industry insiders at  The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit go to work for you. This is a great resource for those just starting out in the field as well as experienced people, and is well worth the money.

Following the plan outlined above will cost much less than few hours wages working offshore, and shave weeks off your hiring time, so it is a good investment, and money well spent. Offshore work is truly the adventure of a lifetime – the friends, the camaraderie, the new and exciting places, and the money to enjoy it all,  make offshore employment an incredible opportunity. Those of us who have been lucky enough to work offshore (or anywhere in the oil drilling industry for that matter) wouldn’t trade the experience for the world – it’s a blast.

The requirements needed to gain employment in the Offshore Oil Industry have more to do with your willingness and ability to work hard, be a team player, and learn new skills quickly, rather than experience, training, or education.  Oil Rigs, both Onshore and Offshore, will always be willing to hire the right person.  The available job openings aren’t limited to just drilling jobs, either – there is a strong need for cooks, painters, crane operators, platers, and electrical and mechanical technicians and engineers, medics, and supply managers, just to name a few. This article will discuss the requirements for getting hired in an entry level offshore job, as well as the major work locations and expected salaries wages for entry level offshore personel.  For the most part, much of the information applies to onshore work as well.

Entry Level Offshore Requirements

Working offshore is hard physical labor, so you absolutely must be in good shape. You will be given a physical as well as having your back xrayed, and you must be able to pass a drug test.

Be at least 18 years or older.

There are many different job categories offshore. The more experience you have in the particular offshore job you are interested in, the better the odds are that you will be hired. There are, however, many entry level positions that do not require previous experience – grunt work, such as cleaning, scraping rust, housekeeping, being a galley hand, and so on.

For entry level jobs offshore, a formal education isn’t required. Employers are more interested in your potential and your work ethic than in formal training for these types of positions. For technical and advanced positions, both degrees and certifications will be required.

Reliability is another important quality that employers look for. Drilling for oil is a team effort, and the other team members depend on you, as you do them. Do your best to be a good part of the team, and you will go a long ways.

Having a strong desire to advance yourself up the ranks is another quality employers like to see. Many roustabouts don’t make it – make an effort to stand out in a good way by your determination, grit and work ethic, and you will be able to get promoted quickly.

Entry Level Salary Expectations

For someone with no experience in oil industry work, starting salaries today are ranging from $50,000 to $60,000.  When you consider this pay level is for working only 6 months out of the year, the appeal of oil field or offshore work becomes very understandable. Entry-level positions start at $800 to $1,000 per week. Stewards and Galleyhands (the guys who clean the living quarters, dining hall, wash dishes, stock inventory and do general kitchen help) earn $700-800 per week.  General labor, or Roustabouts make from $900 to $1100 per week. Some of the other jobs available for entry level personel include deckhands, oilers, welder helpers, cleaner painters and more.

Locations and Current Job Openings

There are many job openings, in particular in Canada and Nigeria, as well as Dubai UAE (United Arab Emerites).  In Canada, several new offshore platforms are being put into place off the coast of Nova Scotia, and they are now hiring for all positions, no offshore experience required.  Also in Canada, the Alberta tar sands projects generate a huge, constant hiring demand; if you are willing to get a work visa, you can get a job just by driving out there).  The Nigeria offshore projects are always hiring, and the pay is extremely high, among the highest in the world.

Some of the other locations currently hiring include Texas (Houston being the main hiring center), Louisiana, the North sea United Kingdom, Louisiana (offshore and onshore), the Gulf of Mexico (offshore), Norway, Alaska (both offshore and on the North Slope), Florida, Kuwait, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (always hiring), and the favorite of many, Australia (offshore).  Australia is a particularly great work location of many, as the pay is among the highest in the world, yet the cost of living is relatively low in Australia.  Guys that get on Australia rigs typically don’t come home for a very, very long time.

If you would like to get hired in a hurry, the best way to go about it is to utilize the services of an offshore job finding service such as Rigworker.  Rigworker is a great resource, in particular for those just starting out, as they will both create and send your resume to the companies that are hiring.  They do work directly with many companies and recruiters that hire beginners for offshore work, and most of their services are free, so people can try them out and see if their services will work for them.

For those seeking oil rig work either offshore or on land, opportunities continue to grow, even with the economic slowdown. Half of the current workforce in the oil and gas industry is retiring in the next 10 years. This is creating a huge labor shortage for the energy companies and drilling contractors, and a huge opportunity for those seeking jobs offshore and on land. There has never been a better time for either experienced or entry-level workers to find an oil rig job or offshore job.

This growing workforce shortage is creating a groundswell of opportunity for catering personnel who would like to find an offshore catering job. Offshore catering employment in 2009 – 2010 is expected to accelerate as the economy begins turning around. While all job categories are experiencing vacancies and shortages, the opportunities are particularly good for offshore cooking jobs and other catering personnel.

There are many openings for a variety of offshore oil field catering positions, including Chefs, cooks, assistant cooks, night bakers, galley hands, stewards and stewardesses, housekeeping and cleaning staff. Offshore catering is typically contracted out and managed by catering and food service companies. The catering contractor is responsible for all food service, to include meals, snacks, and special Holiday requirements. Additionally, the offshore catering service manages the cleaning and upkeep of the kitchen and chow hall, as well as the recreational \ common areas and sleeping quarters. The following jobs are in high demand and available now.

Offshore Catering Jobs, Duties and Wages

Camp Boss

The Camp Boss is responsible for running the catering department. He oversees the chefs, cooks, night bakers, stewards, and housekeepers. The rig crew work long, hard hours, and an important part of running the operation is ensuring they have adequate energy and good morale. Ensuring that the kitchen puts out great tasting and nutritious food is what the Camp Boss does every day. He is assisted in this responsibility with a small crew of Chefs, Cooks, Night Bakers, Galley Hands and Stewards \ Stewardesses. Four to Six main courses are prepared and served every 24 hours, split into 12 hour shifts, so that both shifts get good meals. The Camp Boss also manages the Stewards and Stewardesses, ensuring that the rig’s recreation areas, downtime areas and, living quarters are kept clean, and the laundry completed.

Chef \ Head Cook

For the Chef or Lead Cook position, while previous offshore experience isn’t a requirement, previous cooking experience is. The quality of offshore food preparation is often comparable to the fare one would receive in the nicer Hotels and Restaurants; the food is good, nutritious, and there is lots of it. The Chef plays an important role in keeping morale high among the drilling crews; looking forward to a good meal goes a long way in maintaining job satisfaction. Therefore, for the Chef position, the catering contractor will wish to look at resumes of those with fine dining and Chef or Sous Chef experience; experience managing a kitchen is a must. This is not an entry-level cooking position, one is expected to have a proven record of preparing quality food. However, those with less experience will be considered for the Galley Hand or Assistant Cook or Sous Chef position. Salaries run from the mid 60s – 70s, depending on the rig, the catering service company one is working for, and experience

Night Baker

This is a very important position on the rig. All bread onboard is baked by the night baker, as well as pastries, muffins and desserts. On smaller rigs, this may be rolled up with the Assistant Cook \ Sous Chef as one job; on larger rigs, the positions will be two separate jobs. Offshore Night Baker wages will run from the 50s to 60s.

Assistant Cook

Most people with experience seeking an offshore cooking job will start here. The Assistant Cook will work the night shift. This is a great position in which to obtain one’s first offshore job. The Assistant Cook will prepare meals according to the recipes and directions of the Chef or Lead Cook. If you do a good job, and prove capable of running the kitchen in the Chef’s absence, you can move into a Lead Cook or Chef’s position fairly quickly. Offshore Assistant Cook wages \ salary will range from the mid 50s to mid 60s.

Galley Hand

If you have worked as a dishwasher or busboy in a Hotel or Restaurant for any decent amount of time, you can qualify of an Offshore Galley Hand job. This is a great way to get a foot in the door for those wishing to progress up to Chef or Head Cook – as on the mainland, many Offshore Chefs have gotten their start in the industry by starting at the bottom and working their way up. Offshore Galley Hand wages \ salary will range from the mid 40s to mid 50s.

Cleaning \ Housekeeping Staff

Generally speaking, anyone with mainland experience in a janitorial or housekeeping position, especially in industrial facilities or hotels, can qualify for an offshore job in the same capacity. It is not uncommon for people wanting to break into the industry to accept a cleaning or housekeeping job, get to know people, and then, when the opportunity arises, advancing into a position of greater responsibility. This could be a supply room job, a roustabout job, or moving up the ladder to become a maintenance supervisor. It is quite common for people to start in this sort of position and then make a career in the offshore oil industry, moving in whatever direction they choose. A great way to get the proverbial foot in the door. Offshore Janitorial and Cleaning \ Housekeeping wages \ salary will range from the mid 40s to mid 50s.

Steward

The Steward \ Stewardess position is essentially a combination of Galley Hand and Janitorial \ Housekeeping responsibilities. On small rigs, these jobs may be rolled into one, and that would be the role of Steward. Offshore Steward \ Stewardess wages \ salary will range from the mid 40s to mid 50s.

Getting Hired for Offshore Catering Jobs and Offshore Cooking Jobs

For those without industry experience, it has been proven that the fastest way to get hired is to utilize the Resume \ CB submittal service from Rigworker or The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit. Both do charge a nominal fee for their services, $40 – $60, but they are honest, legitimate companies, and their services have been tested multiple times, with a job offer (or several) being the standard result. While they make no guarantees of getting hired, they do guarantee your satisfaction with their services, and you will get far more for the small investment than anywhere else on the internet. Rigworker and The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit are trusted, well known companies, and the firms they send your Resume \ CV too are well aware of this. Replies from the hiring companies will be sent directly to you. This is quite cost effective, as your Resume \ CV will first be reviewed to ensure it meets industry-specific standards ( a $60.00 value in itself, as this is the standard price from Resume companies simply to review your resume). They will then submit your Resume \ CV to well over 1000 companies – another $60.00 value in itself.

For someone with no experience in oil industry work, starting salaries today are ranging from $50,000 to $60,000. When you consider this pay level is for working only 6 months out of the year, the appeal of oil field or offshore work becomes very understandable. Entry-level positions start at $800 to $1,000 per week. Stewards and Galleyhands (the guys who clean the living quarters, dining hall, wash dishes, stock inventory and do general kitchen help) earn $700-800 per week. General labor, or Roustabouts make from $900 to $1100 per week. Some of the other jobs available for entry level personel include deckhands, oilers, welder helpers, cleaner painters and more.

Locations and Current Job Openings

There are many job openings, in particular in Canada and Nigeria, as well as Dubai \ UAE (United Arab Emerites). In Canada, several new offshore platforms are being put into place off the coast of Nova Scotia, and they are now hiring for all postions, no offshore experience required. Also in Canada, the Alberta tar sands projects generate a huge, constant hiring demand; if you are willing to get a work visa, you can get a job just by driving out there). The Nigeria offshore projects are always hiring, and the pay is extremely high, among the highest in the world.
Some of the other locations currently hiring include Texas (Houston being the main hiring center), Louisiana, the North sea \ United Kingdom, Louisiana (offshore and onshore), the Gulf of Mexico (offshore), Norway, Alaska (both offshore and on the North Slope), Florida, Kuwait, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (always hiring), and the favorite of many, Australia (offshore). Australia is a particularly great work location of many, as the pay is among the highest in the world, yet the cost of living is relatively low in Australia. Guys that get on Australia rigs typically don’t come home for a very, very long time.

For more in-depth information on current wages, please see Rigworker.

CADC CURRENT WAGE SCHEDULE

The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit is designed as a toolkit for those who wish to go to work in the oil industry, regardless of the position or location. Produced by http://OilJobsGuide.com, the Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit is the best resource of its kind available for any price. The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit oil company hiring contacts,recruiter contacts, job listing resources, and web sites you can post your resume on for free.

For those considering employment in this arena, either offshore or in the oil patch, the industry insiders at RIGWORKER provide a comprehensive resource for getting hired.

Entry Level Oil Jobs Training Programs

Having no experience in the Oil drilling industry is not necessarily an obstacle to getting work in an entry-level capacity.  It is perfectly possible to get hired on an offshore rig without having worked on one before (most of us were in that boat at one time). There are actually many entry level offshore jobs available.  It all depends on what you want to do, and having the the correct contacts to get your resume in front of.  The range of entry level employment opportunities on offshore oil rigs include: Floormen or Roughnecks and Roustabouts, Crane Operators, Cleaners/Painters, Storekeepers, Rig Mechanic, Rig Electricians, Rig Welders, Rig Medics, Cooks and Assistant Cooks.

However, most people looking to get into the industry are looking to get hired on as a Roustabout or Roughneck, otherwise known as Floormen.  While it is perfectly possible to get hired with no training or experience whatsoever, your odds of getting a Floorman job are going to increase greatly if you have even a modicum of industry training.  Fortunately, there are several programs available to help those without any experience gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the job. Without a doubt, this can greatly assist getting hired; placement rates of these 1 to 8 week programs are about 97%. Following are a few of the better programs.

Maritime Drilling Schools has a world-wide reputation in putting out graduates from their 3 week Floorman course that can start work as a Roughneck in an Offshore or Onshore environment. Training consists of drilling programs, hands-on rig training, and industry safety programs. Life skills and job readiness will also be included during the program. The Certificates issued upon graduation, required in Canada, will enable you to start work anywhere in the world, right away. They also offer advanced training that will enable you to move up to Assistant Driller and Driller.

EnForm is another renowned Petroleum Industry training company. They have been in business for 50 years, and work closely with the Petroleum Industry, and assist their graduates in finding jobs. Their 1 week Floorhand \ Roughneck training program is designed to prepare individuals with little-to-no experience to work safely on an oil or gas well drilling rig. The student will gain a foundation of knowledge and skills through classroom lectures, skills training and drilling rig practice sessions, and will be prepared on completion to become an effective member of a drilling crew.

PetroSkills is geared more for the Engineering side of things, and is the considered the industry standard for technical training in the Petroleum Industry. It is the product of a consortium between the world’s largest oil companies, and serves the industry by training a wide range of technicians and engineers in the latest oil field and offshore technology.

Getting a foot in the door of the Offshore Oil industry by taking a few basic courses to learn the fundamentals is an investment that will pay off immediately in the form of higher wages as well as a greatly increased understanding of occupational safety. You’ll hit the job running, and your team mates will quickly see and appreciate that you know what you are doing, and won’t be a risk to yourself or others.

Once you have those fundamental skills, save time on the job hunt by taking advantage of the industry insider contacts provided by

For those considering employment in this arena, either offshore or in the oil patch, the industry insiders at RIGWORKER provide a comprehensive resource for getting hired.

The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit, which is designed as a toolkit for those who wish to go to work in the oil industry, regardless of the position or location. Produced by http://OilJobsGuide.com, the Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit is the best resource of its kind available for any price. The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit oil company hiring contacts,recruiter contacts, job listing resources, and web sites you can post your resume on for free.