Thoughts on ROV pilot/tech as a new career – good/bad idea?

[Ruairidh Mackay]

Hi Guys

I have done a fair bit of reading through this forum for answers to many of my questions about becoming an ROV pilot/tech and thanks for all that info/advice.

From the various threads, it seems that there is a big issue with those guys that attend the ‘zero to hero’ ROV Pilot/tech courses, in terms of qualifications/experience/skills etc.

If these courses are not the best way, then how would a newbie get into it – without any qualified tech experience etc – would they be best to start off at entry level jobs on rigs and try and work up or try and get some tech qualifications first (HNC/HND’s) and then start writing to the ROV companies with a CV attached?

My work experience is pretty mixed (!) what with a teaching degree, along with working for a joiner and now working in IT as a service developer – but in terms of practical skills – I carry out all maintenance and repair work on cars – so practically minded and very willing to learn but I guess that sort of non-quantifiable experience is maybe irrelevant?

I also wondered then what the current situation is with the job market, in terms of the amount of jobs versus the amount of guys looking for work? Is it always going to be a bad time to get into this type of job and will I always be up against those with more experience or are there gaps in the supply etc?

If it is best that getting into a company who would then send you on training courses, should I possibly contact the ROV companies at this stage?

Anyway – a rather typical first post and quite likely will get shot down in flames for some of it 🙂 be good to hear what the crack is though and if it’s worthwhile to pursue it.

Cheers 🙂

[deepseacon]

It would quite possible be your best career move ever.

But looking at your post a HNC in Electrical or Electronics and some hydraulic course will see you better chance.

But going to Portland global marine ROV course will not harm.

also get your survival and medicals when you think there is chance of you getting work offshore
and there is no harm in sending CV’s out. but enrol on the HNC or similar first.

Also no harm in changing career to something suited to that environment but your home location depends what industry is in your local area.

plenty of work with plenty of prospects for the next 5 years at least but the world changes fast so if you want to work in ROV start getting the required certs and documents now.

of which do cost money to keep in date and be ready by the phone many guys get a start not all have what many believe the perfect background some companies blag there way with low day rates and take any one on so its possible to do further study while working say as a trainee rov pilot.
get the medicals do the survival & mist do the rov course and enrol on some tech course min city and guilds but HNC is a better choice. maybe some other short courses to do with ROV and offshore.

once you have done the above and just studying send out CV,s. until you get an offer up dating everyone as often as required.

[Ray Shields]

If these courses are not the best way, then how would a newbie get into it – without any qualified tech experience etc – would they be best to start off at entry level jobs on rigs and try and work up or try and get some tech qualifications first (HNC/HND’s) and then start writing to the ROV companies with a CV attached?

My work experience is pretty mixed (!) what with a teaching degree, along with working for a joiner and now working in IT as a service developer – but in terms of practical skills – I carry out all maintenance and repair work on cars – so practically minded and very willing to learn but I guess that sort of non-quantifiable experience is maybe irrelevant?

I also wondered then what the current situation is with the job market, in terms of the amount of jobs versus the amount of guys looking for work? Is it always going to be a bad time to get into this type of job and will I always be up against those with more experience or are there gaps in the supply etc?

If it is best that getting into a company who would then send you on training courses, should I possibly contact the ROV companies at this stage?

Your problem is that there is a very large supply of people out there who already have good experience and qualifications. At the moment, the Armed Forces are supplying a very large supply of them. Yes, I believe it will always be a bad time to start – although generally companies do not take trainees on in the summer – they are too busy offshore to be able to deal with Trainees.

The question is, why should Companies employ you rather than them? What can you give them to offer? This is what you need to look at.

I certainly would not just limit yourself to an ROV career, there are many others offshore and probably a lot are easier to get into!

[Ruairidh Mackay]

Many thanks to you both for replying – I should have updated my location, which is Inverness-shire.

I’m wondering then if it’s maybe an idea to try and get a start off-shore at entry level and see if that opens up opportunities from the inside.

The ROV route was one that appealed due to the type of job that it is – and the options available to work outwith the oil industry – private companies/police/dive ships etc

I have a mate who works offshore that has gone through the ranks and maybe best to see what he says too about the options for other jobs

Out of interest is the ROV course at Portland pretty much the same as the ones at Fort William? or is it better?

Thanks again 🙂

[deepseacon]

The Main factor why i say Global is costs 1230 GBP Cheaper at Global Marine Portland for the 3 week course than going to FortBill.

But you have to pay other costs food and hotel and Fuel etc.

If you are able to get home every night then Fort Bill might be more suitable paying the higher price.

[Ruairidh Mackay]

Cheers deepseacom – will take a look and compare them both.

🙂

[Ray Shields]

I would add that, as I keep saying, an ROV course on its own is NOT enough to secure a job, you MUST have the appropriate technical skills, qualifications and experience FIRST.

No matter what any training school tells you, no training course is a requirement or essential (or indeed required at all in many cases). There are no formal qualifications in ROV piloting, and NO courses are certified nor approved by IMCA.

[john haslam]

Hello Macroo, I’m in the same boat as you, and not very far away, just outside inverness, I decided to do the HNC in electronics blended learning thru Banff & Buchan college, so study at home and do exams and practical in Fraserbrugh every so often. I just felt it would be a more solid approach to getting a job at the end of the day.

Cheers Jonny

[Ruairidh Mackay]

Nice one Jonny – good to hear from you mate – how did you find the HNC as a course? I’d imagine there’d be a fair bit of practical to be done through at BnB?

I’ll have a look at their course and see how it works – the blended learning style sounds like a good bet for what I need.

I take it you have now finished the HNC? If so, how are you placed for work these days? Sorry for all the questions 🙂

Cheers again 🙂

[Ruairidh Mackay]

I would add that, as I keep saying, an ROV course on its own is NOT enough to secure a job, you MUST have the appropriate technical skills, qualifications and experience FIRST.

No matter what any training school tells you, no training course is a requirement or essential (or indeed required at all in many cases). There are no formal qualifications in ROV piloting, and NO courses are certified nor approved by IMCA.

Cheers Rayshields – this was the message I had picked up on through reading the other threads right enough so deffo planning on going down the qualifications/skills base route first 🙂

[Ray Shields]

I would also speak with Inverness College and see what they can supply, closer than BnB!

[Ruairidh Mackay]

Cheers Ray – I had a wee look through their course list before but didn’t see anything that looked right – will maybe give them a bell and see what they say.

[deepseacon]

http://www.tees.ac.uk/schools/sse/tuol/courses.cfm

Take a look at this it might help you.

[john haslam]

Hello Macroo, not finished yet only just started its going good they are very flexible and you can do it as slow or quick as you want there is 12 learning outcomes to complete I’m trying to do one a month so it is still a long process each lo is £122 I have completed 2 so far after starting in march so on target, Inverness only do full time courses or a 2 or 3 year part time day a week course and the tees course ends up about £2k more expensive if not more. I did a bit of research at the start of the year into courses and the one im doing suits me and working, family etc. any questions just ask.

Cheers jonny

[Ruairidh Mackay]

Cheers Jonny – I had a look at that course (HNC Electronics) – and I wondered about Hydraulics? I have read a few threads about the types of courses that should be taken and some of the experienced guys reckoned that doing a hydraulics course was a good idea?

The only reason I’m asking is that I wondered if the HNC Engineering course is just as useful but with hydraulics added….?

I had read that the likes of the Fort William course covered everything to do with electronics but nothing to do with hydraulics and therefore limited what is taught.

However, as you can see, I’m probably needing to look into it more closely 🙂

Out of interest, do you ever plan on doing a course such as the Fort William one in the future? Do you think that would help along with the course you’re doing just now?

Cheers bud – Macroo :tup:

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