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 - 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 - 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 - 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 will 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 the better guides that are available for the Offshore Oil industry.