Offshore Jobs in Louisiana

Offshore jobs are abundant along the gulf coast. Although some companies are experiencing layoffs in 2012, the drilling rigs themselves cannot be left unmanned, so those jobs are unlikely to go away any time soon. Many companies not only pay you for your time on the clock but also pay per diems for any time that you are offshore. The workers who work offshore many times make as much or more than their supervisors. If you are entering the workforce for the first time or considering changing careers, offshore jobs may be what you're looking for.

So you are looking for Louisiana engineering jobs? Where do you start? You can check out job boards, here are some companies you can do a search on, Schlumberger, Baker Oil Tools, Chevron,Devon Energy, Stone Energy, Shell and Exxon-Mobil all hire petroleum engineers or individuals with industrial technology degrees. Have an electrical or mechanical engineering degree try to search companies like Entergy and other similar utility companies. Government entities also hire engineers, though the pay is usually a lot less than private companies. Engineers are such a commodity nowadays that more and more women are entering this field once dominated by men. Louisiana engineering jobs are one of the hottest Louisiana Jobs today.

The oil field is composed of people like yourself, people who are looking for the same things in life you are: job security, an interesting career, an opportunity to better themselves. You can find all these things with offshore jobs.

They come from all walks of life: farmers, lawyers, preachers, musicians, bankers, businessmen, laborers, college graduates, high school dropouts, medical personnel, retired military personnel, male and female alike. You will find one of every kind in the oil field

Offshore jobs are not for everyone. It requires that you be away from home, sometimes for weeks at a time. More often than not, the drilling vessel you are on will not even be in sight of land. It involves long and hard hours, working in all kinds of weather and conditions as well as in some dangerous situations. Being 100 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico in the middle of a hurricane is a frightening experience for sure!

On the plus side it is very rewarding and exciting. The food is good, the quarters are clean and well kept, and the benefits and opportunities for advancement are excellent. It is not uncommon for a person starting at the bottom with no previous oil field experience to be making $40,000 to $60,000 a year, and that is for working only six months out of the year!

Entry-level offshore jobs start at $700 to $1,000 per week. Dishwashers and BR hands (who wash dishes, sweep and mop floors, put up inventory and do general house-cleaning in the living quarters) earn $700 per week.

Roustabouts (general laborers) earn $900 to $1100 per week. Other entry level positions are deckhands, oilers, welder helpers, cleaner painters and so on; and there are currently plenty of openings.

Here’s some helpful information you might like to know to help you decide if working offshore is for you.

Experience

The better your experience in your particular field or profession, the closer prospective employers will look you at. If you do not currently have any skill or experience that relates to the offshore industry, it does not mean you will not be hired.

There are many entry level positions available which require no previous offshore experience, these can be quickly learned. The most important thing is honesty. Do not misrepresent yourself, your experience, or your skills. For example, do not claim to be a pipe welder if you've only had experience on plate. Or, do not claim to be a diesel mechanic if the only experience you have is doing minor tune-ups in a garage.

Education

The majority of entry level offshore jobs do not require a formal education as the employer is more interested in your ability to do your job well and learn quickly than in how many years you went to school. Some jobs, such as a ballast controlman, mud engineer, etc., require at least a high school education. Other positions, as they get more complex, will naturally require higher levels of education.

Benefits

Benefits of companies involved in the oil and gas industry range from virtually nonexistent to excellent. The better companies will provide major medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, 401 K, programs, and profit sharing.

Available Positions

So, how does one apply for an offshore job? There are four ways to secure offshore employment. The personal physical search is the least effective, and any success is usually attributed to near luck.

A more affective way to search is through newspaper want ads. Key words will usually include the wordoffshore and usually 7&7, 14&14, etc. The ad will give a phone number and/or an address. These newspaper ads will be seeking entry level personnel as well as experienced hands.

The most effective way to job search is through a professional placement agency. Companies that offer offshore, maritime, or overseas jobs fall into one of two categories. The first is the kind of agency that places you in a job and charges you a fee for doing so. The other is the kind that sells you a list of potential employers and you are responsible for placing yourself.

Working in the oilfield business can be very lucrative, particularly if you are in sales. I personally know a couple of people from Lafayette, Louisiana who are making six figures from their oilfield sales jobs. Not only do they make a commission off of their sales but they are also paid a base salary and get quarterly performance bonuses, trust me they make a ton of money. Some oilfield salesman even get paid a per diem when they have to go meet a customer offshore. Lets say they have to go on a rig for 3 days, they may end up making an additional 300/day just for having to go offshore, how sweet is that. So if you are a salesman and youre good at it, you might just want to consider giving the oilfield business a shot, its definetly one of the best offshore jobs around.