[OT]Summer Job: Offshore Oil Rig?

[jdavis]

Worked a rig off the coast of Alaska a while back (12 years ago actually), it was in no way fun or interesting or anything resembling easy. I made a lot of money but I only did it for 5 weeks, then decided to head back to school. There is a reason they pay a lot of money to these people it is hard and dangerous work. I had pull to get the job (Dad is welding engineer who got his start on the pipeline in the early 70's). If you know somebody in the industry to help get you on that's great but they normally are not too keen on just sticking any old person out there (it's skilled labor and it's dangerous work). I have never worked rigs in the gulf (although I may be soon) but I am sure it's pretty much the same as it is in Alaska, it's the kind of job that takes over your life, the three weeks on one week off sounds about right, as does the fact that they don't want you to go to far on the off week.


As far as Crab fishing in Alaska, you would be safer shooting yourself out of a cannon at the circus. Commercial fishing in Alaska is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.

 

[Piratecat]

Most oil rig jobs are 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 12 hour shifts. Typically you spent half of those 2 weeks working day shift and half working night shift, with a short turnaround that causes dangerous levels of fatigue and performance impairment. Be warned.

 

[Drawmack]

Head down south, hook up with a carnival and travel with them all summer.

You don't make much per hour but you don't have any time to spend the money either. Three of my friends did this the year we graduated and in the fall they came home with about 6 grand each. And that was 10 years ago.

 

[alsih2o]

and any advice on how to succeed at obtaining a job and advancing your career, specifically working on offshore oil platforms?

i have a friend who was doing just this last i checked, former navy man. he is an electrician on the rigs, 1 month out 1 month off, but he usually spends part of his month off on the rig for extra pay.

email me and i can hook you up with him if oyu wish, i unfortunately do not know you well enuf to reccomend you, but it may be a good start

 

[jester47]

If you want somthing thatpays well, and is a good summer job, and is outdoors and is marginally dangerous, I would suggest wildlands firefighting.

http://www.wildfirenews.com/fire/articles/jobs.html

but then again oil rigs might be your thing.

hrm. nap time.

PS>> "pays well" is always relative...

 

[MarauderX]

Dude. You can type. You can get around on a computer. Become a CAD drafter for a summer. You can lend yourself out to any design firm in the area and work as much or as little as you want, and rake in a good amount of dough in the process. Also, it's something you can do at home if the company will let you, and you can keep doing it while you are in school if you want (just scale back a bit). I got 10k in one summer that way before I graduated, and before I started I hadn't even seen the drafting program they use. Not sure how much loot you are looking to shovel in, but I know drafting isn't as dangerous, eventhough it can get deadly boring.

 

[shouit]

I have a friend who works on the boats that bring supplies and people to those rigs. I know his job pays well, but they work on a month on/two weeks off cycle. He works like a dog, but seems to enjoy it. As for on the oil rigs, no idea. He is based out of New Orleans, so Fat Tuesday is always an idea.

 

[jester47]

Dude. You can type. You can get around on a computer. Become a CAD drafter for a summer. You can lend yourself out to any design firm in the area and work as much or as little as you want, and rake in a good amount of dough in the process. Also, it's something you can do at home if the company will let you, and you can keep doing it while you are in school if you want (just scale back a bit). I got 10k in one summer that way before I graduated, and before I started I hadn't even seen the drafting program they use. Not sure how much loot you are looking to shovel in, but I know drafting isn't as dangerous, eventhough it can get deadly boring.

Wow, thats pretty good for a cat. Do you tink they are hireing disembodied skeletal heads?

In all truth this sounds interesting. Granted I am in the PNW where jobs are farts in the wind, but we do have some design firms here. I might give that a shot.

Aaron.

 

[Conaill]

Then there's teh Alaskan salmon processing plants of course... stand on a freezing concrete floor for hours on end with an extremely sharp knife and up to your elbows in fish guts.

Keep in mind that most of these jobs are SOOO boring that many people just drink away all their earnings in their off time!

 

[Wippit Guud]

I've heard working on a pipeline, rather than a rig, pays well.