Out of school, where to start?

Hey guys,

I have been through a lot of the forums and found that the majority of people interested in working in the industry have a lot of experience behind them. I was hoping for some advice on where to start as I have ZERO relavent work experience.

Here is my current situation.
I have just turned 20 and am unemployed. I spent 1 year at uni studying Automotive engineering, I acheived a B average and got a HNC equivalent but decided to leave, as uni just really isn’t for me. I found out about the ROV world and think it would suit me down to the ground, but what would be the best way in to the industry.

The more I read the more interested I become but as places are highly sought after and the majority of applicants being more experienced and better qualified than myself.

What advice would you give someone in my situation?
More education?
Get offshore?

Any help, advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

You said it yourself – you have ZERO relevant work experience. As long as the likes of the Armed Forces keep supplying a steady stream of qualified experienced personnel, people like yourself will have very slim chance of gettinga job in ROVs.

Harsh but true.

Flash,

The fact someone has never been to sea before is irrelevant, this is a 20 year old kid who wants to go off shore, he has an HNC in an engineering disipline, so why not give him a shot?

To be honest I think more people of his age are what we need, I know a few young ones, some good, some not, but they can be moulded (if thats the right word) much easier than the 30/40 years olds that tend to be moving off shore, be they be ex-military or whatever.

Smokie, if this is what you want to do as a career then go for it, get your cv out now and see what comes of it. It makes a refreshing change to see a young lad with a bit of get up and go.

Good luck
Dog

Get an education, good results and seeing things to completion still does impress. "Positive" decisions to drop out does not. Some relevant work experience gained during holiday or weekend employment while in training would show commitment.

Young blood is required in the industry, some of the larger companies can offer sponsorship to college or UNI gradutes then a "career" starting in one section of the industry with progression, either in positions offshore or moving onshore to Project Support and Management, but there is huge competition for these positions.

If you have nothing to offer, why would you be considered. The ROV schools offer familiarisation training to those with hands on journeyman experience. They do not prepare the unqualified for a future in the industry. But they will tell you they do!
see http://www.imca-int.com/core/tcpc/profile/careers/

Now I have a question – I googled and read results for 15 mins before my answer above –
From IMCA site links – Freemantle training is $8400.00 Australian dollars
Fort William is £10000 – why would you train in the cold wilds of Jock land, when a holiday, world travel and training can be achieved for the same price? unless sheep take your fancy of course!

what modules did you cover in your HNC curriculum.? What highers/standard grades (jockanese for a-levels and GCSEs!)

Have you looked at correspondence courses in electronics?

In terms of other things offshore.

1. Catering/Administration/Stewarding – would get you offshore very quickly.
2. Wireline/e-line/slickline – paid as well as ROV – quite competitive but some of the guys I’ve met I’m suprised they managed to correctly function a door-handle.
3. Deck-crew/A-bs/Marine crew – glasgow have a huge college for marine crew training – go try become a vessel master?
4. Roustabouts and work your way up through deck crew?

If you look at your skills set – think about what it is you have for ROV? Can you understand how an optical fibre works – terms of losses, measurement of performance of an optical system??

That is just a "for instance"?

Fugro are recruiting for an onshore guy – skills are practical but mixed with some adminsitrative stuff – if you can type, good paperwork, etc – you might give that a go. (just based on my interpretation of the job spec…). Might be a future inroad if you can learn quickly???

Organisation and the willingness to learn matey. But you have to have a semblance of a grounding.

There are examples of people who just have no idea, but somehow they’re in ROV. Yup- happens, but no-one likes working with them because they’re a total drain and some real drama queens.

In Response to cabledogs comment!! You are correct in what you say with regards to young blood needed in the industry! However,the fact remains that if a person is a professional course taker,without a ounce of common sense to go with the paper work?.I am personally tired of guys being sent out that 2/3 months prior.where shearing sheep or working at a check out counter in B & Q.This I would like to say is not directed at you smokie,but is becoming a common problem.

Flash,

I agree mate, but one thing we have to try and get away from is tarring all the new guys with the same brush. Give them a shot on base before going offshore. If they can not do the job shore side then get rid of them, no harm done.

We have all come across the numpties that get sent straight offshore, and that is what needs sorting out. But that is a differnt topic!!!!

Smokie, try and avoid the agency route, it works for some but is not the best way to go, (see previous posts on this subject, go direct to the major companies, you should know who they are by now, if you get a place they will train you, saving you a fortune along the way.

Check your PM

Dog

Dude,
Seriously, finishing your training and getting some sort of certification is priorirty number 1! Then establish contacts with guys who are in the industry and heavilly known. Then start thinking about trying to get into the game. Do work experience in relative fields such as hydraulics or electronics.
Your not going to get your foot in the door by just putting your name out there if you have nothing to back it up with.

I’m 22, barely hanging in there, trade behind me and there are plenty more guys who are still smarter and more qualified than me and they are waiting at home for the next email/phone call.

Automotive engineering…finish it off dude.
Seriously take on the opinions from those in this forum, they know well.

Good luck dude