Professional Offshore Employment Agencies:

Instead of the above methods some people want to turn this hair pulling job hunting chore over to someone that does it for a living and has great success in placing personnel in the offshore / oilfield / maritime industry. Reputable agencies have a staff of people who work very hard to find you a job.

Yes, you have to pay them, usually 14 day's pay (reasonable payment plans are available) but it is well worth it because you get instant results or you pay nothing. If you choose to use a professional agency, here are some tips that might be of some help to you.

• Use a reputable agency, an agency which has been in business for some time opposed to a brand new
   one. The established agency will run smoothly and efficiently. The new agency will be in the process
  of getting the bugs out.

 

• Don't pay any money up front. Do not pay a filling or administrative fee. That's like having to pay a
  cover charge to go into a grocery or department store. Don't pay any money for a drug screen.
  When you get offered a job, you will be required to pass a physical examination which includes a
  drug screen as a condition for employment. The cost of this will be paid for by your employer.

 

• Do not pay any money to see a training or orientation video. Most companies require their new 
  employees to watch a video about the company's operation before they turn them loose on a rig or a
  boat. These videos will include general operations, safety guidelines and fire and abandon ship
  procedures. Again, there should be no charge for this.

 

• Do not pay any money for Z-cards, licenses or certifications unless they come from a bona-fide
  training institute that requires you to participate in intensive hands on training. Watching a video for
  15 minutes about an offshore crane lifting pipe and pallets of chemicals off an offshore supply boat
  does not qualify you to be a rigger. Use some common sense here.

 

• Do not use an agency that will hold you liable for their entire fee if you get to the work site and for 
  some reason beyond your control the job doesn't work out. An example would be not being able
  to get along with the crew, captain, pusher, etc. The patch has got some great people in it but it also
  has some people that are real jerks and most difficult to work with. On your first trip out you might
  wind up somewhere it is impossible for you to stay. Discuss this in detail with your agency and understand
  the terms and conditions before you sign. Once you sign you are legally bound. A fair agency will
  not hold you responsible for the entire fee if the job doesn't work out due to conditions beyond
  your control. They will make every attempt to place you somewhere else.

 

• Do not agree to pay any unreasonable amount. The standard rate reputable agencies charge is 14
  days pay. The standard pay back time is one day's pay for each week you work until your obligation
  is completed.