Finding Offshore Work: 5 Common Problems And Their Solutions
Plenty of people are tempted by the exciting work and generous compensation that offshore jobs offer. Securing one of these positions may be harder than you think, especially if you haven’t given much thought to positioning yourself as an attractive hire. Below you’ll find the most common reasons offshore applicants are turned down and some solid suggestions for overcoming them:
1) Lack Of Offshore Experience
Major companies are often hesitant to hire someone who’s never worked on the open ocean before. There’s a significant risk in taking on a brand-new offshore hire: Many people lack a real understanding of the offshore life and burn out quickly when they’re thrust into it full-time. This is a significant problem that has an easy solution for the employers: Simply refrain from hiring applicants who lack prior offshore experience.
Potential Solution: Look for offshore opportunities outside your chosen industry. On an increasing number of offshore platforms, service workers (e.g. cleaners and caterers) are working right alongside engineers and oil professionals. Take a contract or two in a related industry to build up a little offshore experience. This will put a bright shine on your resume when you apply for your ideal offshore job.
2) Ignorance Of The Job, Employer, Or Industry
As with any other job, you’ll have to interview at least once for an offshore job. An interview is a tremendous opportunity to impress your potential employers — or to demonstrate your unpreparedness for the position you’re seeking. Failing to understand the industry, the company, or the specific job you’re applying for is a speedy way to remove yourself from consideration.
Potential Solution: Invest as much research time as possible gathering both general and specific information on the job you’re applying for. Practice linking the position with your own skills, demonstrating that you’d be a valuable asset to the company. Finally, prepare insightful questions in advance. The more you prepare, the less you’ll come off like an opportunist looking to get rich quick with offshore work – keep abreast with news on sites like Primat Recruitment.
3) Lack Of Training Or Certification
A growing number of offshore applicants are making themselves into better job candidates by paying their own way through training and certification programs before they start applying. Unfortunately, this has become so common that potential employers are coming to expect it. Investing in training can be a terrific way to give yourself a leg up in the job-seeking process, but not everyone has the time and money to make training feasible.
Potential Solution: Look for technical trade programs that are tangentially-related to offshore work. Training as an electrician, plumber, or mechanic will equip you with a base of technical skills that can translate very quickly to the offshore arena. You may even be able to secure scholarships or grants to reduce the financial burden of technical school.
4) Lack Of References
Networking plays a critical role in filling a lot of entry-level offshore jobs. When companies have openings, their first step is usually to ask their current employees for references. This is a fast and simple way to hire, and most employers trust their employees to vouch for the suitability of the people they recommend. If you have any acquaintances who are already working in your target industry, you should absolutely start your job hunt by asking them about any openings that you might be suitable for.
Potential Solution: Open up lines of communication with offshore workers. Seek them out through trade organizations, websites, and forums that focus on offshore work. This sort of networking activity may not produce a job offer out of thin air, but it cannot hurt. If nothing else, it will familiarize you with the practical concerns of people who are already doing the sort of work you want to do.
5) Bad Timing
The number of offshore positions available ebbs and flows with the seasons. Winter is often the busiest part of the year, leading employers to “crew up” in October and November. Conversely, demand drops off sharply in the spring. Many companies reduce their staff or even close up entirely for two to three months.
Potential Solution: Complete all of your job-hunting preparations in early summer. Prepare yourself to apply aggressively from June through October.