Get an Oil Rig Job With No Experience

Image by OZinOH via FlickrBy Dave Berger

Are you laid off and don't know where to turn? Do you keep getting turned down for jobs because you don't have any special training? Are you not the type of person to go to college but still want to make a good living? Oil rigs are hiring. In fact there are more oil rig jobs than there are applicants, if you know where to look.

Did you know that most of the big oil companies don't do the actual drilling for oil themselves? They hire private contractors like Haliburton to actually do the work. That's the mistake most people make when applying for oil rig jobs. They apply at the wrong companies. Big companies like Exxon may have online applications, but they rarely have entry level positions because those positions are employed by the contractors.

So how do you find the contractors who hire the oil rig workers? You can spend hours doing research on the Internet but still wont know if the companies you come up with are hiring. Then you'll have to contact them one-by-one to see if they have any job openings. Some people will actually call the companies but most will send an email and lie to themselves that they really have tried to find a job. Most of the companies you come up with probably won't have oil rig jobs for workers with no experience because you'll most likely be thinking of only the big companies. Remember, the actual work on the rig is done by contractors. If you can't find them, you'll be wasting your time. Probably the only thing you will accomplish is to become more frustrated than you already are.

10 Entry Level Jobs on Oil Rigs That Need No Experience

By Calvin Loh

If you are willing to face a certain amount of physical danger to earn more money, you should look at no experience jobs on oil rigs. There are few places where someone without a college education can make $50,000 a year. In fact, jobs in the oil industry have some of the highest salaries in the world, easily comparable to the sin industries of tobacco and alcohol. Here is a short list of the work available on an offshore oil rig where you can get paid the big bucks to do honest, hard, sweaty labor.

1. Roustabouts

A roustabout provides general labor, doing almost everything on board the oil rig. He is the muscle, cleaning and painting the oil rig, and carrying, storing, setting up various pieces of equipment. On more complicated jobs, for example, when carrying out certain tasks on the drill floor, he will work under the supervision of the roughneck. If you play computer strategy games, the roustabout is basically guy who does all the basic work like the peon, peasant, drone, probe, SCV and what not. For all his sweat and hard work, he takes home $45,000 to $55,000 a year, better than many white collar jobs.

2. Steward

If you have ever worked in the hospitality industry, you will know all about this job. For those who are unfamiliar, the typical duties include helping out in the kitchen, doing the laundry and cleaning the accommodations. The only difference is that you will be working on board an offshore oil instead of a hotel or cruise ship. For facing the risk of the oil platform exploding, the salary goes up to $45,000 per year.

3. Rig Welder

Image by The Library of Congress via FlickrBy Calvin Loh

A skilled welder in the dying manufacturing industry can easily make the transition to rig welder. Due to government regulations, rig welders need trade certification (CITB for the United Kingdom, AWS for the United States). For daring to work on top of the ocean instead of on dry land, the welder doubles his salary from $30,000 on dry land to $60,000 on the offshore platform.

Offshore Oil Rig Jobs and Employment

Image via WikipediaBy Claire Calkin

If you are interested in entering the oil industry then you need to be sure you have got what it takes to apply for these positions. There are a few aspects that need to be taken into consideration when you are thinking about joining this industry. If you have had little or no previous experience then you will need to work at an entry level job and work up.

The easiest way to improve your chances are to work for an onshore oil rig company first or complete a Fire-fighter or basic offshore survival certificate. This training is not required but may increase your chances of getting the job you want. When you work at an onshore company you will be trained to use the equipment safely and learn how to oil rigs work. Onboard there will be classroom-based training as well as practical training. Over time you will be given the chance to move forward and apply for work that is more demanding and better paid. Starting off at an entry-level job you can expect a salary of US 50,000 a year and upwards. This amount may vary depending on your contract with the Oil Company. Do not be put off if you may think you are too old. There are many people who work on an oilrig will into there 60's! Provided you are in good health, physically able and pass the required medical certificate you are an ideal candidate for the oil rig industry.