Offshore Jobs North Sea

For the ultimate in terms of offshore employment have you ever considered working on an oil rig?  Those who do so literally work off shore from the UK, and they also benefit from the fact that they do so by earning a tax-free salary…usually for only working 6 months of the year!

As the world remains ever dependent on natural resources to fuel homes and cars and businesses, so the business of off shore drilling, mining and harvesting these resources is thriving – so much so that there are still many vacant positions month in month out in the offshore industry.

In this article we take a look at what it takes to find offshore jobs in the North Sea and what the basic benefits could be for someone who wants all the advantages of being an expatriate without actually going too far from home!

The average age for those who take offshore jobs is 27 with the minimum age requirement of 18 usually standing for anyone to be considered for a position on a rig.  You do not necessarily have to have any previous experience, and entry-level positions - perhaps working as a kitchen hand, a BR hand or a roustabout (general labourer) – can earn you up to GBP 800 a week.  You usually work two weeks on and two weeks off, and once you’ve found an offshore job on a North Sea rig, chances are you will be given the opportunities to skill up and advance your career.

It takes quite a strong character and a tenacious individual to be able to survive and thrive in the industry – and it is very much a man’s world – but if you’re of strong character, you work hard, take orders and criticism and are willing to be adaptable and work in a very safety conscious way, work hard and perhaps play even harder, you could do very well working offshore in the North Sea.

To advance you do not necessarily have to specialise in a specific aspect of the oil or gas industry, instead you could concentrate on welding, painting or even cooking – and because a rig is an entire home from home for the men abroad for the two weeks duty they do, every conceivable home comfort is available on a rig from snooker and pool rooms to decent canteen facilities and even movie screenings!  Therefore you needn’t think it is all hardship!

The basic requirements you need to think about when considering an offshore career are that you should be fit, able bodied and healthy, above the age of 18, if you have any skills or experience that could get you considered for a specific posting, so much the better – although that doesn’t mean that there are no jobs for you if you have no skills – it just means the positions will be more menial and worse paid!  You need to be honest, reliable and trustworthy as you will be working in a real team environment where everyone pulls together for safety and survival stakes.  What’s more you need to be dependable, because if you’re put in place to fulfil a role, no one will be available to cover for you if you can’t get out of bed in the morning!  You don’t necessarily have to have any formal educational qualifications, but you do need to have an interest in the work you’re applying for, and some ambition helps!

The advantages of working offshore in the North Sea, or even elsewhere in the oil and gas industry are varied, good and manifold…for example, a salary package is usually very generous and takes into account the rough, tough environment you work in and the dangers and discomfort you face.  A relatively straightforward job can see a worker earn a tax free salary of up to GBP 50,000 a year – and remember, that’s for working two weeks on and two weeks off – i.e., for having 6 months off a year!  The better companies offer their employees health and dental insurances as well as some life insurance cover – and any decent firm will offer their staff training and career advancement incentives too.

If you’re looking for a very broad and diverse career where there are many openings and opportunities, where you can skill up for the long-term benefits of your working life and career, meet like minded and motivated people, earn a fantastic salary and do something very exciting with your life, why not look a little closer at careers and job openings offshore in the North Sea oil and gas industry?  It could be your family’s way of beating this recession and it could be a way for you to find a rewarding job that will challenge you and keep you interested for life.

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