What are the basic qualifications you’ll need to be considered a prospective candidate?

   Health:
   Your health and physical condition must be outstanding. You will be subjected to a thorough physical exam. This will include a spinal X-ray. You also need to answer all the questions truthfully. A drug screen test is compulsory.

   Experience:
   If you are an expert in your field of work, your chances of getting a job on the rigs are very good. If, however, your skills do not match that of the offshore industry, it will not mean that you will not get a job. Keep in mind that there are many entry level positions (positions for people who do not have any experience whatsoever) available. These tasks are easily coped with. If you are honest, it will count favourably for you. Do not claim to have certain skills you do not have. Even if you did do minor welding jobs in your garage, it does not qualify you as a welder. If you are presently a member (or an ex-member) of the police force or any of the armed forces (especially the Navy), it will count immensely in your favour. Force members are used to taking orders, executing discipline and know how to react in emergency situations.

   Reliability and decency:
   You will work in the team, successfull work of which depends upon solidarity and mutual aid. Be polate to people around you, it will help you in your work!

   Training:
   Before attempting to secure employment aboard an offshore oil rig, that you firstly obtain some land-based experience. Land-based training lasts during three days on a training complex of the company. A great deal of your learning will occur while onboard the rig. This provides experience in the general running of the job. Then once you are accepted for offshore oil rig employment, you will then be trained on the equipment aboard that particular rig. Because most of the equipment is proprietary and would come through a particular company, this is the best way to learn. Onboard training lasts during eleven days. Total training time is 14 days (two weeks). After this training you will be accepted for offshore oil rig work.

   Interests and Ambition:
   The more interest you show in your work, albeit a tedious and boring job, will get you the timeous promotion you will deserve. The different types of work on an oil rig is very interesting and if you show ambition, you will be rewarded. Once you start moving around through the different job types on a rig, the next application will be so much easier. You basically need to work on a rig for 6 months before you will be regarded as “rig experienced”.