Re-joining the industry

[John Rush]

I am a former commercial diver and ROV tech who has been out of the business for 15 years. In this time I have been employed in the drilling industry (MWD and directional drilling). I am looking to get back into the ROV industry and am looking for some wisdom with regard to training centers, certifications necessary to get back into the business, and maybe most importantly, what companies are most likely to give someone with my background an opportunity to get my hand back in it (any and all leads are appreciated). I have been working overseas for the past 10 years and prefer to keep it that way. I have spent a lot of time in the Middle East, Africa and South America and have no problem working anywhere. Thanks in advance for any advice.

John

[Scott Beveridge]

I am a former commercial diver and ROV tech who has been out of the business for 15 years. In this time I have been employed in the drilling industry (MWD and directional drilling). I am looking to get back into the ROV industry and am looking for some wisdom with regard to training centers, certifications necessary to get back into the business, and maybe most importantly, what companies are most likely to give someone with my background an opportunity to get my hand back in it (any and all leads are appreciated). I have been working overseas for the past 10 years and prefer to keep it that way. I have spent a lot of time in the Middle East, Africa and South America and have no problem working anywhere. Thanks in advance for any advice.

John

John,

You didn’t mention if you have read the FAQ’s in this forum or have read through the Rookie section yet…

[John Rush]

Thanks for the reply Scotbeve. What I have gleaned from reading through 90% of the posts is that attending a training center doesnt hurt but it may not be necessary and may be a waste of time and money. Most of the old salts also seem to advise against training as pissing in the wind, seeing as there are very few jobs out there to begin with.

At this point, I am planning to get my CV out there, I am trying to determine what companies might be the best to try, and how I can obtain the best direct contact information for HR depts, etc to send my CV to. Do you have any recommendations in that regard?

I have in the past, and am willing to again work West Africa, Middle East, CIS, really I am down for anything to get back in, although with a respectable day rate for a trainee (with experience).

I expect in the current climate, finding a job straight away may prove difficult, and if I dont find anything in the next 6 weeks or so, I will probably look for a course in Aberdeen and kill 2 birds with one stone by making the trip a job search as well. Do you have any recommendations regarding training centers? What school would be most likely to improve my job search, is level 2 certification necessary or is there something beyond that that would help. As mentioned, I dont sweat third world sh!!te holes, actually prefer them if the money is better, considering that, would I come across any Africa jobs in Aberdeen, or would Oceaneering, Sonsub etc in Aberdeen only hire for Europe? Thanks again.

Cheers,
John

[Scott Beveridge]

John,

There are a few threads on here where some of the folks that took courses at schools that required a trade PRIOR to getting in and training for an ROV career. It seems these schools were praised by the attendees and I’ve seen at least one fellow where the school may have magnified his skills. Still, my favorite is in fact, on the job training.

Re CV’s: send them out to all companies and agencies, that’s about all you can do at the moment.

[Khalil Aleker]

John, we offer ROV Pilot Training certification in Cape Town, South Africa. If you want I may email you the flyer?

For further details, I may put you in contact with the Training Instructor, Richard van de Merwe.

Keep well

[John Rush]

Scotbeve, thanks again, it seems to be a matter of getting a CV to the right person. Beyond that, I will be searching for the training center that will give me the highest probability of finding work upon completion of the course.

Khalil, sure send the info off to me if you would: ocidental.ar@gmail.com. Also if you would put me in touch with Richard that would be great. What can you tell me about the sucess rate of finding work that guys completing your course have had?

[ROV_VALLEY_COMMANDO]

juerolo, stay where you are, if you are expeirenced in your field Directional/MWD and making good money which I know you will be if your worth your salt, (I have a mate who works for Pathfinder and I know what he is on).
I left subsea completions 15 years ago to get in this "great industry" and wish I had never left, ROVing is f****d unless you are Ozzie (for obvious reasons) Flip or from SA or some other country that can supply cheap labour. the money is way below other technical trades in the subsea/drilling game and you are more likely to get f*****d over as the major subsea contractors see the ROV department as an annoying drain of funds.
I am out of ROVing come september and going back to completions for more money starting again, had ten good years ROVing and five years of saying time to get out!

Sorry for the negativity to all you wanabees but don’t believe the hype there are loads better opportunities that will not cost you £15000 to get into!

O and by the way ROV has never been or never will be a great industry!!!!!

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