rov questions

nelson69

£10K…… 😯 , that’s the most expensive course I’ve heard off although it is also the longest.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post on this site recommending an ROV course, quite the opposite. There are also many, many posts asking for advice on what is required to enter the industry and the response is pretty much the same: hydraulic and/ or electronic knowledge & practical experience.

I couldn’t agree more & I’m confused as to why I see the same questions being asked time and time, does anyone read the advice from guys already offshore? What you have mentioned in your ad’ you could’ve done during your first couple of trips offshore for free and been paid to do it, with the exception of the survival and medical.

However, don’t get too despondant, it’s all about attitude. Regardless of what you have to offer, if you want something that bad you can get it.
But also remember, if it’s worth having then it won’t come and slap you in the face, you’ll have to work for it.

If all you have to offer is the course then you should be looking at a salaried position, somewhere that takes trainees and gives them the opportunity to learn while not jeopardising the safety/job they’re on.

There’s a ton of helpful hints and links within this site. If I were you I’d sit down and read through the advice, check out the companies sites, get your CV sorted then make your move. I’d do this as soon as you have your survival & medical certs and are happy to go.

Good Luck

😉

nelson69

Will you find work? – who knows, maybe you will. As you mentioned, someone who already has a trade, i.e. electrical/electronic or hydraulic/mechanical etc is what the companies are probably looking for.
The piloting experience is only really gained on the job – bit of a chicken and egg situation, but everyone has to go through the stage of being a trainee on the operational side, even if they have good technical skills already.

You can’t expect to learn in several weeks on a short course what someone may have trained for several years to get a trade and engineering qualifications, plus years of practical technical experience.
(If companies do think this is possible, then it’s a bit of an insult to people who have spent years of effort learning a trade and getting qualified).

Saying that there are many guys offshore who are good technically but who never did formal trade training or qualifications.
You didn’t say what your previous experience was.

I wish you luck after spending that much money – at least it shows commitment if nothing else.

NOTE FOR OTHER PEOPLE THINKING OF DOING A SELF-FUNDED ROV TRAINING COURSE:

It may be an idea to find out your likely job prospects if you were to do the course self-funded (in addition to any previous technical experience) by asking potential employers BEFORE forking out a lot of money on a course.
Or, look/ask on this website to see what many offshore people think of the courses (not much, generally), BEFORE you pay for one.
People will generally take the time to reply and try to give impartial advice, although you may get the odd unhelpful comment.

Don’t just take the word of the training provider, as they are obviously keen to sell you the course. Some of them do make some dubious claims about the percentage of course attendees who go on to get an ROV trainee job. Ask them for proof – if the claims are genuine they should be able to provide supporting evidence. Get more specific detail about existing experience of the people who did get jobs – it may be that they would have got work anyway by virtue of previous experience wothout having done the course, doing the course may have simply helped get them an interview.

The ROV courses are obviously fairly specific to ROV’s, even though you may gain some NVQ’s (non-vocational qualifications) in the process, some of which may be useful elsewhere. If not successful in getting an ROV job, it is more or less wasted money as it will probably not be of much interest to other potential employers in other industries.

You may be better off spending your money on training that is broader – i.e. will help get you work in other industries if not ROV. For example in the UK you could do an engineering HNC/D for a hell of a lot less money (e.g. £2 to 3K at COLU, ‘open learning’ whilst doing your current job). It will cost even less if go to your local technical college in UK full-time for 2 years. Couple that with a ‘modern apprenticeship’ or whatever they call them now, where you actually get practical training and experience over 2-3 years or so.

If initially unsuccesful getting into the ROV industry, you could always try for other oil&gas industry technical/engineering work, then try and move into ROV later on.

temp

I will try and get this added to FAQ’s, as this question crops up all the time.

Nelson69

Can you tell which course you are studying and with which establishment?

What is the syllabus? Do they provide you with High Voltage training as part of the course?

Do you complete any Hydraulic training?

£10000 seems a lot of money for no Guarantees employment, a lot of companies are taking on trainees at the moment and they complete the ROV Training while they are paid.
Most companies get hundreds of CV s a week and it is normally the previous experience that assures employment, too many cv’s have little or no relevant work experience (for any type engineering employment.) Some people think they can do a a short course and have all the experience required to be employed on highly technical multi million pound engineering systems – Your attitude with respect to training and gaining experience prior to going offshore is refreshing, but unfortunately for the industry it is an unusual one.

nelson69

The fact that you have spent £10k ish of your own money to do the course plus given up your job to do so, without any guarantee at all of getting a start, does show a hell of a lot of commitment and determination, if not a bit reckless!

Someone who is keen, hard working, self-motivated and willing to learn can sometimes be more useful than someone who is already well qualified and experienced and thinks they are owed a job on a plate. Lack of knowledge can to some extent be made up by a willingness to learn and get stuck in.

Some of the younger guys starting as trainees/apprentices etc that I have seen in the offshore industry and in other industries (onshore) can sometimes lack much get-up and go, commitment and a work-ethic, and there can be a relatively high percentage drop out rate of trainees further down the road.

Even though your course is quite intensive and seems to cover a fair amount given the short time, as I mentioned it obviously can’t cover the same ground or depth as a 2 or 3 year course or traineeship. Whilst it may provide some useful skills for starting off with, it can only really skim the surface compared to learning a trade properly and going to technical college etc.

Anyway, good luck

temp

A sincere good luck Nelson,
Get your apprentiship in , See ya in the highways and byways of the ROV world 😀

10,000GB pounds- lot of dosh for a course mate.
How about you have a look at this one done through the West australian government technical and further education (TAFE) in fremantle Australia.
Cost is negligible ($ Aust 7000) compared to what you are currently up for and you can probably book and pay for a holiday with the mrs and accommodationfor the costs you are presently up for.

http://www.challengertafe.wa.edu.au/scripts/viewarticle.asp?NID=5012

International students
http://www.challengertafe.wa.edu.au/upload/Challenger28/EB883D2833454A3F81EB11631E5798CE.pdf

"nepotism is rife in this industry as is the buddy net work (not knocking it!) sometimes right place right time knocking on the door right time is enough…"

Very much agree with you misiuek, i happened to walk into a an old mate (after an unsuccesful interview with a Xmas tree mob) and he said ‘ Have you ever thought about ROVs".

My post may seem like an advert , but I have never done a course- just giving some food for thought. If you are going to spend hard earned money saving a bit is usefull. Pays for the stamps and shoe leather later 😛