If you have read about offshore oil rig jobs and are interested in obtaining one, there are a few things you will need to do, in order to prepare. While there are a variety of offshore oil rig jobs to consider, including drilling jobs and even chef jobs, there are a few things you need to reflect on in preparation for getting the job and going on the oil rig.

Finding Out Where To Apply:

The first thing you need to do is find out the names of contacts in the industry. Often, sending a resume blindly to the human resources department might not be the best tactic. There are directories that have contact names at big oil companies, when you are ready to start sending resumes. If you already know somebody that has worked in drilling jobs or you have experience with onshore oilfields, you might be able to network to find the best offshore oil rig jobs.

Getting Ready For The Interview:

You need to present yourself in the best possible light, during an interview. Be sure you are properly groomed, clothes are pressed and appropriate and be sure you are on time for the interview. Arrive more than 5 to 10 minutes early and be prepared with any questions you might have about the job or the company. Be sure to bring a couple of extra resumes along, because you might need one for the interviewer and one for the human resource department.

If you aren’t experienced, there are several entry-level drilling jobs and other offshore oil rig jobs you will be considered for. Be sure to do your research about the positions that might be available and know the salary ranges, to better negotiate the positions you are most interested in.

So You Got The Job! Now What?

Be prepared to get all of your personal affairs in order because you are likely to be on the offshore oil rig for several weeks at a time, with only short breaks in between. Most people will get all of their bills and banking set up for online bill paying and direct deposits on their paychecks. In addition, if you are single and have no other family members to depend on, you will want to make arrangements for your belongings.

There are some people that will put their personal belongings in storage, but there are some that are leaving a family behind. Make sure everything is in proper order because you won’t be able to get off the offshore rig easily to come back and tend to personal issues. Your marriage and family bonds need to be strong to get through long absences.

Packing To Go To Work:

Be aware that you should have everything you will need, including toiletries and other items, when you are packing to start your first shift on the rig. Most shifts are 12 hours on and 12 hours off, which doesn’t leave a lot of personal time. In addition, you will get meals onboard, but there isn’t a store down the street, so take everything you will need for several weeks. Offshore oil rig jobs or drilling jobs can be a lucrative career path to take, with proper preparation.

For those searching for a high-paying job, getting a job on oil rigs might be the answer. There are fewer on-the-job mishaps in the oil rig industry than many other occupational fields, even though a recent accident has been in the news. When you get a job on oil rigs, there are stringent safety standards and procedures that are normally followed for worker protection. For this reason, oil rig jobs are among the safest jobs that also offer lucrative pay pack.

Dependability and Team Work:

Other things to consider about getting a job on oil rigs include being a team player that is very dependable. The oil rig jobs require longer shifts and you must be dependable, or you won’t last long. This means you must show up for your scheduled crew shift to relieve your fellow employees and it might mean 12 hours on and 12 hours off, which means you will be relieving a worker that will be quite tired. In addition, getting along well with co-workers is another important thing to consider because you are living with the other crew members for long periods of time, while you are on the oil rig.

Education

If you have not had any experience, there is no need to worry that you might not qualify for entry level jobs. There are employers that are willing to give you a job on oil rigs that is considered entry level and they are willing to train you with the skills you will need. While they don’t require a formal education, the higher level jobs might require a secondary level school education and above. The more complex jobs will require formal training and your education might need to be college level for certain jobs, but there are plenty of entry level job opportunities available, if you know where to look.

Benefits, Training and Advancement:

There are some companies that offer medical, dental, and life insurance, along with profit sharing and other benefits. Your advancement and training will come with the jobs you are able to perform and learn. While on the offshore oil rig and most companies will offer promotional opportunities from within. Working on an oil rig is an interesting job and the more aspects you learn, the better your training and opportunity for advancement. Many employers will provide additional training, including Sea Survival, First Aid, Offshore Drilling Units and Marine Firefighting, which are considered essential for working on an oil rig.

Secrets To Finding A Job On Oil Rigs:

There are secrets needed to find the best oil rig jobs because most people that search on their own have little success. Finding confidential contact information can help you get in touch with the hiring managers at some of the best offshore oil rig employers and these are the most recommended sources. Finding named contacts in the industry are listed in directories that may be the best way to find entry level or career-level oil rig jobs.

Off-shore oil rig employment can take you all over the world and into a number of different positions and locations. Though it can be demanding and exacting work, this type of employment can satisfy your need for adventure while providing you with a steady pay check. Though there is not a lot of common information regarding this position, there are many advantages for seeing off-shore oil rig employment.

Wide Variety of Positions

Off-shore oil rigs are hugely complex structures and they require many different types of service personnel. Some of the career paths include that of the derrickhand, which involves working the drill, or a driller, who actually operates the drill. A commercial deepwater diver takes care of the underwater maintenance, repairs and cleaning, while a motorman is an all-around mechanic who will keep things running smoothly. A roustabout is responsible for many small jobs performed around the oil rig. The ability to work hard is an essential part of this, but the rewards on the different  range of positions that are available is quite awesome.

Many Entry Level Positions

Despite the high levels of training that are required for many of the positions on the oil rig, there are still many entry-level jobs that can be acquired with little to no previous experience. For example, a roughneck is an entry-level position that can help you get familiar with the functioning of the oil rig. There is a great deal of opportunity to learn and to advance your position on an off-shore oil rig, and evidence of dedication to the work will soon provide many opportunities.

World Travel

One of the biggest reasons to work on off-shore oil rigs is the ability to see the world, though it does come with the disadvantage of being away from home for long periods. Depending on what organization you sign with, you can go to places that include the Scandinavian coast, Venezuela, Canada, South Africa and the Middle East. If you have ever wanted to travel and to have most of your living costs taken care of while you do, this is an opportunity you need to look in to.

Good Living Conditions

While you are actually living on the oil rig, your room and board will be covered. Rigs are now meeting hotel standards and there are many recreational facilities available on many rigs, including things like pool tables, saunas, television and Internet connections. Far from being spartan, the amenities offered by many off-shore oil rigs are impressively luxurious.

Benefits

If a person is dedicated and highly committed to their work on the oil rig, there are many benefits that are often provided by the company. Though this will vary from company to company, some of the benefits can include things like major medical insurance, dental insurance, and life insurance. A few other things that might be thrown in on top of the insurance include profit sharing and travel allowance, but this will vary depending on the company.

When looking for a satisfying, high-paying job, finding a job on oil rigs comes to mind. There are different types of jobs available, so it is a matter of finding a job on oil rigs that suits your particular background or talents. There are things to consider about an offshore oil job, because they aren’t suited for everybody. They can be rewarding, but there are sacrifices involved, which is why they pay more than other jobs.

Time Away:

If you are married and have a family, a sacrifice on offshore oil rig jobs cannot be interrupted by family time. You will be away for several weeks at a time, when you have a job on oil rigs because it isn’t an easy commute. You will have assigned periods on an offshore  rig job and you will have breaks for spending time with family. Once you are on the rig, you are expected to stay through your assigned period.

Your personal relationships need to be strong enough to weather long periods apart. It won’t be unusual to find there are many people that have a job on oil rigs that are single or divorced. Make sure you are prepared for long absences from your family.

The Perfect Job on oil rigs:

There are a variety of offshore oil rig jobs. There are catering or food department jobs and there are drillers, deck maintenance and oil rig management. Workers that have a job on oil rigs are living on the rig for months at a time and it is run like a community with a common goal. There is more danger involved in deck crew and drilling crew of this offshore oil  job.

If you have food preparation experience, consider a job on oil rigs in the catering kitchen as a steward or camp boss, but if you have a background in the oilfields, consider a job on oil rigs like a roughneck, pumpman, derrickman, assistant driller, driller or deck crew maintenance, crane operator, roustabout, painter or barge engineer.

Salaries For Offshore Oil Rig Jobs:

While a steward starts with an annual salary in the low-$30’s per year, a camp boss annual salary is in the mid-$50’s. A roughneck on the drill crew makes an annual salary in the $40’s, a pumpman averages mid-$50’s and a derrickman averages in the $60’s. The average annual salary for assistant drillers is mid-$50’s, and a driller has an average annual salary of the mid-$60’s.

Annual salaries of a deck crew job on oil rigs can be in the $40’s to the $60’s depending on position, area of expertise and experience. A management job on oil rigs has salaries from the mid-$70’s to over $100,000 per year depending on your experience or position. There are entry-level positions and those that require experience, when it comes to offshore oil rig jobs.

Conclusion

When considering a job on oil rigs, there is offshore oil  job that are perfectly suited for those that want a challenging and rewarding career. They can be very satisfying jobs that pay more than average and they offer opportunities for promotion. Once you have a job on oil rigs, you are likely to be spoiled for any similar positions on stable ground.

The most popular offshore oil rig jobs can be some of the most rewarding and highest-paying jobs that many people will find. For people looking online for information on these different types of oil rig jobs offered, it helps to know some of the secrets to finding these positions and it also helps to know the mistakes to avoid.

Mistakes To Avoid And Proactive Actions To Take:

Many oil rig jobs won’t be listed in the classifieds, online job websites and probably won’t be listed on the websites of the big oil companies. Many oil rig jobs are listed through specific oil rig job agencies that can present qualified workers, willing to relocate and spend the employment agency fees to get the oil rig job they want. There are ways you can find an oil rig job, if you live close to the oil fields, but you have to be diligent and sometimes, there are smaller oil field specialty companies that are hiring. It helps to make friends with somebody that works for an oil company that has offshore oil rig jobs. If this isn’t an option, it is still possible to find oil rig jobs, but you might have to start out with entry level positions and work your way up.

Types Of Oil Rig Jobs:

There are some people that start at entry level oil rig jobs, which require a wide range of skills. In the catering department, positions range from $30,000 per year as a steward or stewardess to more than $55,000 as a camp boss. If you start out on the drill crew, you might start out as a roughneck at $43,000 to $47,000 per year, a pump man at $55,000 per year or a derrick man for $60,000 per year. An assistant driller has an average annual salary of $54,000 and a driller can expect around $66,000 per year. Deck crew jobs can range from $40,000 per year to more than $60,000 per year in a variety of maintenance type positions, including crane operator, roustabout, painter or barge engineer. When it comes to oil rig management, you can expect $78,000 per year as a tool pusher, $90,000 as an offshore installation manager or $120,000 per year as oil company liaison.

Getting Prepared For Your Offshore Oil Rig Job:

When you are hired to go on an offshore oil rig, even an entry level job means plenty of hard work and a little preparation. Make sure you take care of personal issues, bring plenty of toiletries because there won’t be a store on-board, and it helps to understand the industry and have a stable personal life. In other words, you need to be prepared to travel and most of the offshore oil rig assignments don’t allow you to leave the oil rig for a number of weeks, once you are on board. That makes an oil rig job ideal for the single and divorced workers, but you need to have a secure marriage because you won’t be able to run home to patch up differences.

In summary, the secrets to finding oil rig jobs might involve non-conventional means, but once you have landed an oil rig job, you will find it is plenty of hard work, but can be very rewarding and lucrative.

Roughnecks at work

When it comes to finding offshore oil jobs and work on an oil rig, there are several popular options for both entry-level workers as well as those who have some experience under their belt. Perhaps the most popular jobs are the entry level jobs such as the Roustabout, which is a unique experience both in and of itself. However, there are plenty of other opportunities around for those who would like to work in offshore oil jobs and don’t mind spending several weeks at a time away from their home.

Popular Entry Level Jobs

As mentioned, one of the popular entry level offshore oil jobs is the Roustabout. Individuals in the Roustabout offshore oil job have a variety of duties on deck and are generally responsible for maintenance of the deck and upkeep and cleaning duties. In addition, Roustabouts help guide the crane loads as well as work in other areas as needed. Those who work as a Roustabout typically make around $45,000 annually to start with opportunities for advancement.

Roughnecks and electricians are two other offshore oil jobs that are popular entry-level positions. These are positions which may require a bit of technical knowledge or on-the-job training. Roughnecks start out at around $55,000 per year and are responsible for the maintenance of drilling equipment. Roughnecks typically report directly to the Drillers working on the oil rig.

Electricians and electronic technicians are offshore oil jobs that require a college degree in some cases. Full electricians must have a college degree and usually make around $50,000 when starting out; this offshore oil job is responsible for taking care of monitors, controls, and other electronic equipment. An electronic technician does much of the same work, but is supervised by the electrician and is paid somewhat less as well.

Catering Jobs

There are several entry level offshore oil jobs related to the catering and food industry that not many people think about until confronted with the opportunities. These jobs are basically responsible for cooking and preparing meals, doing laundry, and other such miscellaneous jobs.

A steward or stewardess is one of the popular offshore oil jobs that has a variety of duties. These are the people usually responsible for the laundry for the others on board the oil rig. Stewards also help the cook or chef when needed and take care of any last-minute prep work that needs to be done in the kitchen. Stewards and stewardesses usually start out around $30,000 on an oil rig.

In addition to the jobs of the stewards, other offshore oil jobs in the catering department are those of the night cooks, bakers, chefs and cooks, as well as the camp boss. Night cooks and bakers typically work during the late-shift and overnight preparing breads and doing much of the preparatory work needed for the next day. The people starting in an offshore oil job as a night cook or baker don’t usually have a starting salary of around $45,000. Chefs and cooks are the primary ones responsible for cooking duties for the oil rig crew; they make around $39,000 annually. In addition, the camp boss is essentially the head of the catering department and oversees all the cooks, chefs, stewards, and bakers. The camp boss will make around $55,000 to start out.

Conclusion

All things considered, there are definitely several popular offshore oil jobs that you can work in if you’d like an interesting experience on an offshore oil rig. Whether you have experience in a field and want to work as an electrician or want to start out as a Roustabout or even have an offshore oil job in the catering department, there are opportunities for virtually everyone on an oil rig.

Working on an offshore oil rig can be an exciting career as well as lucrative. There are many entry-level positions that an individual can start out at, such as Roustabout jobs or a Crane Operator. Both of these are exciting oil rig jobs that offer the chance to get started in the oil work industry. Roustabout jobs are one of the most common positions in which individuals who start working on an offshore oil rig are placed, but some others include the Painter, Maintenance Foreman, and Control Room Operator. All of the different kinds of oil work have different responsibilities, and each has their own rewards to go with it.

What is a Roustabout?

Obtaining one of the Roustabout jobs means that your career will involve most of the action when it comes to working on an offshore oil rig. For example, some of your major responsibilities will be the oil rig drilling, keeping the rig floor supplied with the necessary equipment, as well as keeping the main deck clean. Roustabout jobs could also include the guidance of the crane as supplies are being moved. For this entry level oil work in the industry, Roustabout jobs are compensated anywhere between $27,000 on the low end and $40,000 on the higher end.

Crane Operators and Assistants

As individuals who work in Roustabout jobs are able to move up in their offshore oil rig jobs, Crane Operators and Assistant Crane Operators are both possible career positions that can follow. A Crane Operator is in charge of supervising the Roustabouts as well as the Crane Operator Assistant. The Crane Operator will be responsible for lifting and moving supplies with the crane from the boats to the oil rig. Since this is a position that does need several years of mechanical experience in other work or from working in the Roustabout jobs, the compensation is higher and usually averages about $65,000.

Control Room Operator and Barge Engineer

These are a couple other oil rig jobs and oil work careers that are important to operations in the offshore oil industry. The Control Room Operator is essentially the assistant to the Barge Engineer, and the Barge Engineer is responsible for duties such as anchor handling and rig stability. Compared with Roustabout jobs, these two oil rig jobs may be more demanding and also require some experience. A Control Room Operator usually has a salary of about $45,000 while a Barge Engineer of about $70,000.

Other Entry Level Positions

Just as Roustabout jobs are a great entry level position to start off with in oil rig jobs and oil work careers, there are several others as well. For example, take a look at some of these exciting offshore oil rig positions and salaries:

Ordinary Seaman – This is an entry-level position that usually requires no previous experience, and some of the duties include general maintenance and cleaning responsibilities. The salary for this position averages $25,000 to $30,000 per year.

Boiler Operator – This individual is responsible for basic operations in the boiler room, such as gauging the temperature and recording data. Boiler Operators average $27,000 annually.

Storekeeper – A storekeeper is responsible for being in charge of the stock room and organizing any supplies of which they are put in charge. A Storekeeper makes around $35,000 on average each year.

As you can see, there are plenty of oil rig jobs and oil work careers to be had in the offshore oil industry. Roustabout jobs are some of the most popular because it is a step towards higher positions after you have gained experience. All in all, the offshore industry is one of the most rewarding career paths with many options.

An offshore oil job can be very tough, but it can be very rewarding too. Having an offshore oil job can afford you tremendous opportunities and even accommodations alone can equal the top hotel standards, even while you are assigned somewhere in the middle of the ocean.

While a lot of these offshore oil rig jobs are quite demanding physically, employers really get out of their way to ensure that their employees spend their time onboard enjoyably with full amenities such as first class accommodations comparable to prestigious hotels. If you hold an offshore oil job, you will also enjoy complete amenities such as sponsored food, board and laundry services, including traveling and transferring expenses.

An offshore oil job can be any of the following job descriptions: Rig Medic and Safety Man, Captain and Chief Engineer, Ballast Controlman or Watchstander, Barge Engineer, Rig Welder, Rig Electrician, Rig Mechanic, Sub Sea Engineer, Mechanic/ Electrician, Storekeeper, Cleaner/ Painter, Roustabouts, Crane Operator, Driller and Assistant Driller, Motorman, Floorman or Roughneck, Toolpusher, Shakerhand or Mudman, and Derrickman.

A majority of offshore oil rig jobs require a 14 to 21 day schedule, meaning you work for 14 days straight, then get 21 days off. This basically means that if you hold an offshore oil job, you would typically be on holiday 60 percent of the time, which is unequalled compared to other regular daytime jobs in other fields.

Another perk of having an offshore oil job is the opportunity to travel to many countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Norway, Russia, Mexico, Venezuela, and a host of Middle East countries. This is because of the rotation schemes of most oil companies for their employees.

When talking about salaries the roughnecks and roustabouts, or the drill deck laborers, earn around $300 daily or around $47,000 yearly. The more skilled jobs such as the Driller typically fetch some $56,000 per annum, while the Drill Leaders and Supervisors normally earn from $75,000 to $100,000 a year. On average, entry level jobs would earn anywhere between $50,000 and $80,000 per year, while the trade, professional and supervisory positions can take home anywhere from $70,000 to $220,000 yearly.

A typical life for an offshore oil job is getting used to official issues of safety boots, hard had, safety goggles and coveralls. Good work attitude and focus are needed on the job at all times. Smoking rooms are designated, and for meals, workers are required to remove work gears first. Because oil rigs are operated round-the-clock, workers may be required to do night shifts and straight duties from time to time.

Several people working on oil rigs are considered support groups like the food crew and the medical team. These support groups are as important as the main working group, because they ensure the continuity of services aboard oil rigs with their support services always ready for the main crew. Because of the extent of the size of typical oil rigs, many issues may arise that may affect the operations on the oil rig, and the support groups are important in keeping the balance of the said operations in check. Truly, an offshore oil job is a hard but rewarding job.

Offshore Oil Rig

Are you considering your options for an oil rig job? Perhaps you are but you may not be sure if this is the job for you. You have certainly heard a number of good things about this particular profession. However, procuring an oil rig job may come with some risks. You might have to relocate and then there are potential issues with an unstable economy. So, is it wise look towards such a job?

In a word, oil rig work has many values and benefits and not the least of which is that oil rig jobs are far steadier and more secure than a number of other professions. In fact, the current economic climate is actually expanding the opportunities available for those interested in this type of work.

Oil Rigging Careers, Growth, and Stability

One of the most rewarding careers one could land would be that in the oil rigging business. No, this is not easy work but it is work that is always in demand. Why is this so? The reason is that the world runs on gasoline and electricity. Without either, all of the world’s societies come to a crashing halt. That means someone needs to work the rigs to get that much needed oil out of the ground. Again, this is where oil riggers come into play.

Also, many people are looking to hedge their investments outside the stock market. That means they will be increasing their portfolio outside the world of the stock market. In particular, they will put money into exploratory oil. That further opens the door for career opportunities in the realm of oil rigging. 

Seeing the World and Earning While Doing So

When you accept an oil rigging job, you will be traveling to the parts of the world where oil exploration is occurring. This could be anywhere in North America, South America, or the Middle East. For many, accepting an oil rigging job proved to be the impetus for their ability to see parts of the world that they would never had the opportunity to visit without such an offer of oil rigging work. Some even find the travel to be the best benefit of oil rigging jobs.

There is another added benefit to this type of work that fits quite well into the travel component. With oil rig work, a rigger will work often work for 14 straight days in a row and then receive 21 straight days off. Some may opt to travel back home and see the family and others will take their time off and use it to see the sights of the regions they may be living in. This can be considered an added perk that makes oil rigging a lot of fun to take part in.

Salary and Pay

For those wondering about the type of salary one can earn in an oil rigging job, it is not uncommon to start at just under $50,000 per year. That can be a nice sum of money for someone looking for steady work at good pay. So, if such work appeals to you, why not explore the opportunities that are available?

When it comes to looking for oilfield jobs, there are actually a number of entry level jobs that you may be qualified for without any extra education or specialized knowledge. For example, Roustabout jobs, Painters, and Roughnecks are all possible starting career paths for someone interested in oilfield jobs.

Other oil rig jobs higher up on the pay scale include Tool Pushers and other management jobs that can usually fetch quite lucrative salaries. Before getting all excited about your oilfield career, though, there are a few things that you should know about the industry before sending in your resume or application to just any oil company.

Know What the Work Entails

First, do you know what your scheduling will be like with rigging jobs? The most common work schedule for oilfield jobs is to work 14 days straight and to have 21 days off. This is a rotation that many get used to so be prepared for a lot of time away from home. If you have a partner or children, be sure that they know this as well and prepare them for long trips away.

In addition, be prepared physically and mentally for the rigging jobs you want. Some of the work can be quite taxing if you aren’t used to it. Working on offshore oil rigs will definitely allow you to become more in-shape than you ever wanted to be depending on your job title.

Getting Oil Rig Jobs

Second, do your research well in-advance if you are planning to apply for oilfield jobs. For example, do you know where the majority of rigging jobs are listed? Chances are that you won’t find many of these offshore oil jobs listed on job boards like Monster or CareerBuilder. On the contrary, you will probably have to visit specific oil companies’ websites and even possibly get in touch with a human resources coordinator to find out if there are any openings.

Word of mouth is also another great way to find oil work. As many oil companies decide to advertise online and offline, one of the methods they frequently use is referrals from current employees. Networking with everyone you know to find out about open oil rig jobs is one of the best ways to go as you just never know which of your mother’s brother’s friend has the information.

Preparing your Resume

Third, do some oil work prep for the certifications and special requirements that may be needed of someone who is working oilfield jobs. For example, specific maritime laws may require you to have first aid certification among many other skills that are preferred. Finding all of this out beforehand and then listing it on a resume for the oil company will be a great start at getting the position that you want.

There are plenty of rigging jobs to go around and many people are getting started in this career on a regular basis. The first step is to be prepared, but once you have accepted an offer for one of the oilfield jobs then a demanding yet rewarding job has just begun!