Guide · Getting in
Offshore jobs with no experience
You can start an offshore career with no offshore experience. You'll begin at the bottom, with physical work and long hitches, but entry-level crews are how most rig managers, vessel officers and senior technicians started. What employers want from beginners is reliability, fitness and the basic safety paperwork already done.
Entry-level roles that hire beginners
| Role | Sector | What you do | Usually needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roustabout | Oil & gas | General labour on a platform or rig: loading, cleaning, painting and helping the crane and drill crews | BOSIET or T-BOSIET, medical |
| Deckhand / ordinary seaman | Marine | Mooring, cargo handling, maintenance and watchkeeping on supply and crew vessels | US Coast Guard MMC, TWIC, basic sea safety training |
| Steward / galley hand | All | Cleaning, laundry and kitchen work in the living quarters | Safety training, medical, food hygiene certificate |
| Scaffolder's labourer | Oil & gas, wind | Carrying and building scaffolding for maintenance crews | Safety training. Scaffolding tickets help. |
| Wind technician trainee | Wind | Assisting experienced technicians with turbine maintenance | GWO BST, a mechanical or electrical aptitude |
From roustabout, people often move up to roughneck, crane operator, or a trade role such as electrician or mechanic. From deckhand, the next steps are able seaman and then officer or engineer.
What to sort out first
- Safety training for your sector.BOSIET (or T-BOSIET in warm-water regions) for oil and gas, or GWO Basic Safety Training for wind. Without it, many applications get filtered out. See certifications explained.
- A medical and drug test.Expect a fitness-for-duty exam. Any health condition that could be a problem far from a hospital is worth checking with a doctor early.
- ID and credentials.In the US, a TWIC card and, for vessel work, a Merchant Mariner Credential. A valid passport helps if you'd take international work.
- Transferable skills on your CV.Construction, warehouse, forklift, kitchen, military and any trade experience all count. Put physical work, safety records and shift work up front.
- Flexibility.Say yes to short-notice call-outs, relief hitches and remote locations at first. Being available is how beginners get their first trip.
Where beginners get hired
- Drilling and service contractors hire most roustabouts and labourers.
- Vessel operators hire deckhands, often through their own crewing departments.
- Catering and facilities contractors staff the galleys and living quarters on platforms and vessels.
- Staffing and crewing agencies fill short-term and relief positions, which is a common first step.
- Ports and supply bases hire onshore roles that put you next to offshore crews and their hiring managers.
Avoid offshore job scams
Real offshore employers do not charge you to apply. Walk away from any "employer" that asks you to pay for a visa, a work permit, a mandatory course from their own provider, or a "processing fee", or that offers a job without an interview. Job scams that use the names of real oil companies are common. Offshore.im listings must never charge candidates a fee. Report a listing that does.
Find entry-level jobs
Search the board for "entry level", "roustabout" or "deckhand", or browse by sector.
Next read: How to become an offshore wind technician.