People enter the industry with a range of experience, although offshore oil & gas experience will always be the most relevant, people do enter from other industries too. Particularly ex-military, offshore wind, Oil & Gas supply chain companies or offshore companies but with an onshore position.
Many businesses will offer traineeships and apprenticeships, these are a good way to get well-rounded experience and quality training. You will also usually be given a chance to work for a company, although this isn’t guaranteed and you don’t always get a choice about the company you go to work for.
Hands-on experience, even in a different industry is always preferred as you can be taught an industry far easier than a job role.
Minimum Training
To get into the Offshore Industry there’s a number of basic or initial courses that you must complete. These will allow you to travel to the offshore installation, but they won’t get you a job - you must always have relevant skills and certificates in a trade once you are these.
These are often referred to as Offshore Survival Training and includes:
- BOSIET – Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training
- MIST – Minimum Industry Safety Training
- CA-EBS – Compressed Air Emergency Breather System
- Shoulder Measurements
- Oil & Gas Medical
- Norwegian Escape Chute*
*This is an optional course to work in Norwegian Waters but is often included within the package of Offshore Survival Courses.
