Offshore Drilling Jobs | Offshore Oil Drilling

With the current economic turmoil resulting in job losses across the board, you are no doubt looking at alternative careers such as offshore jobs. Roustabout work is an entry level job in the offshore oil rig world. If you have little or no experience working in the oil and gas industry then you will probably start your career as a roustabout. However, after you have gained experience you can then start to work your way up the ladder to the higher paying jobs and careers in the oil drilling industry.

So what can you expect when applying for a job as a roustabout on an oil drilling platform? This is the number one question that people want answered. For starters you need to understand that:

an oil rig is a dirty and dangerous place to be
the work is hard and
the hours are long
it can also become boring and tedious

If you work in some of the rougher areas of the world you will find that the storms at sea can be quite terrifying. When you spend a little time with experienced crew, you will notice missing fingers and various injuries are common place. An oil rig is no place for sissies. You need to be tough and you need to be able to work in unpleasant and dangerous conditions without complaint.

Despite the fact that working on an oil rig is dangerous, it can also be very fulfilling. The knowledge that you have done a job that few would consider possible is something that no-one can take away from you. Working your way up the ladder can be a satisfying experience both personally and financially. After a few years, your earnings can be way above the average. For example, you can expect to earn as much as USD50 000 per year doing the bottom level work on an oil platform. It is not unheard of for an oil rig worker to be earning as much as USD 300,000 per annum. This will obviously take some time to achieve but is very achievable. And don't forget, you're also only going to be working for about half the year.

So what is your next step? It's a good idea to contact a maritime training institution that will provide you with the necessary training and certification that you will need to survive offshore. You will learn the various skills that will equip you to be a productive member of the oil rig crew. It is also important to understand that if you want to progress in your chosen field, you are going to have to increase your skills and training. Some rig workers have been roustabouts for years without moving up the ladder. That's OK if you are not ambitious, but if you want to maximize your earnings then you will have to keep pace with the training requirements.

So there you have it. It is quite possible to start working offshore jobs as a roustabout with little or no experience; you just have to know how to stand out from the crowd. The best way to do that is to get some training in first at a maritime training academy. You then need to know who to speak to in order to find the right job for you. There are plenty of rumors and even down right lies doing the rounds on how to get an entry level job on oil rigs. Your best bet is to do your research thoroughly and take advice from people who have actually worked on the rigs themselves.

To find more information on how you can land oil rig jobs check out: offshore jobs - roustabout at Hunter Recruitment. You will find great resources to help you find a job in the oil and gas industry written by people who have actually worked on oil rigs themselves. Visit http://www.hunterrecruitment.co.za/petrochemical.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mulder