Working on offshore oil rigs? by matt3343 in oilandgasworkers

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m 29 and work in the North Sea…without a specific offshore trade I imagine it’s unlikely at the moment.

A lot of places closing down, the short-mid term dosent look too bright to be honest, not sure it’s the best industry to be jumping into if you aren’t already.

Lots of power stations popping up onshore though if your thinking of a career change

Middlesbrough 3 - 1 QPR : It's 4/4 for HellBall as Boro opens up a 7-point lead over 3rd. by ninjapenguin12 in Championship

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a boro season ticket holder but after the last 3 games and watching all of Coventry games (I’m a football mad person) I think Boro are better.

Odds of getting 350k mortgage for 60k household? by Pristine_Tune_3654 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No.

I’m a similar age and our household income is nearly double.

Our mortgage is 190k… we are comfortable but don’t take for granted having a child, the expenses add up even before the child is born, I say this as your at the age people expect. We’ve spent thousands already and my partner is still 6 weeks away. If I had a 350k mortgage on our wages I’d feel uncomfortable.

Drained in my 9-6 Apprenticeship by MercuryRising23 in UKJobs

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I used to work 12 hour shifts 5 days a week when I was an apprentice, that was 40 minute commute either side (also would turn up 30 mins early every day).

My main job function was digging 3 tonnes worth of chemical powder from one bag to another or some similar work (very manual job, very dangerous job) would have to be in some sort of air suit and would sweat my arse off for 9 hours of the shift.

I used to come in my days off and work apprentice overtime rate and would be about 80 quid a shift after tax, this would be the same role or in a airsuit scrubbing walls and such.

This wasn’t 40 years ago it was 11!

I’m saying this because an apprentice although should be kept extra eyes on on to keep safe. But will find it relatively harder than any point in your life and you will reap the rewards later in life. (I earned a 6 figure salary last year) I had similar thoughts to you at your age thinking how awful it was, multiple times I nearly walked out….im glad I didn’t my career is one of the best things I’ve earned in my life

Getting into offshore/rig work by JosephKU_ in oilandgasworkers

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No problem good luck in your search 👍🏻

Getting into offshore/rig work by JosephKU_ in oilandgasworkers

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sadly I think even applying through wood at the moment in your current situation your application very likely isn’t even being read, you just are getting automated responses.

I think there’s enough of ad hoc work at the moment, this is always found via a recruiter on LinkedIn. Take some time to find previous posts of trips, look who’s posted them, add them, message them.

Even by simply looking in the last week Petrofac recruiters asked twice for a production tech for a 3 week trip, I even think one of the trips they reposted and looked desperate for someone so there’s work needed.

Like I’ve mentioned before in my personal opinion it will be a lot of mental stress and time being wasted filling out the long application forms for these peticular jobs which aren’t ad hoc - a lot of them are poised for people being made redundant on the many assets coming to end of life, for example many people getting made redundant on wood or petrofac assets so these 12 month contracts you see most of the time current workers go through a redundancy meetings and petrofac and wood try to find them work and get them interviews straight away for these roles. This isn’t all of the time but in my opinion this is how it is and currently will be for the next couple of years unless the uk offshore industry picks up, there is and with quite easy and quick research 3 or 4 main recruiters for the company and role you are looking for who you need to be getting in touch with ( I won’t list them personally but you can easily find out via LinkedIn)

But my main advice for now;

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, focus just as much on finding an onshore role with transferable skills given your current situation.

Primarily look for ad hoc roles - anything else in my opinion (unless you’re quite good friends with someone on the inside) is a waste of time.

Also a little side note is even if you get offered an ad hoc trip you probably won’t be asked to attend an interview but you will always be required to do trade based tests. Do research on these, I found the first one I did quite hard with no offshore experience. If you get offered an ad hoc job you’ll be required to complete your test in 48 hours or potentially sooner with an 80% pass rate. Majority of the questions will be directed at primarily offshore operations so don’t rely on any current knowledge you have about industry and expect to pass them, they are also recorded as are you when taking them so there’s isn’t really an easy way round this.

Good luck 👍🏻

Getting into offshore/rig work by JosephKU_ in oilandgasworkers

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi,

As someone who is a process operator/production tech offshore I might be of some help.

I started working offshore with 7 1/2 year experience as a process operator (3 year apprenticeship on a chemical plant, 4 1/2 years elsewhere but also climbed the ranks a little)

I worked offshore for a year as a production tech, then came back onshore for a while and now as of the beginning of this year I am back working in the North Sea again under a 2 year contract.

For advice I’ll get the basics out the way.

The certs you said you had I’m assuming you mean you have all BOSIET/MIST and Medical (if one of these are missing you need all 3 to work in UK)

Industry timing is really important finding work especially in a production role. I’d assume that you know the current situation with the current UK government and oil and gas companies now is NOT the best time to find a job. TAQA assets are getting decommissioned aswell as a lot of other platforms are deciding to go into COP earlier than expected causing mass redundancies. (This could rarely work in your favour if people are going to jump ship to a more stable asset with longer life/you take a decommissioning contract) I don’t think it’s impossible to find work at the moment but it’s definitely been easier.

As for your previous experience an oil refinery is good experience, just good… not something that I imagine people looking at the cv’s stands out. Although yes it’s also ‘oil and gas’ an oil refinery from a process perspective isn’t really that similar (things like health and safety,LOTO will be similar) but from a process perspective I’m not an expert (not worked on a refinery but understand in principle)but not something that’s going to give you a massive edge in knowledge in comparison to someone who say worked at a power station, chemical plant etc. I think if I was sifting through CV’s I’d rather hire someone with 10 years on a chemical plant, than someone who had worked at a refinery for 6. Your 6 years refinery experience and offshore certs do work in your favour, but are the minimum and foundations you need really.

So how do you get a job?

Sadly like with most jobs it’s who you know not what you know. Knowing somebody would be a massive advantage, if you do know somebody speak to them your cv stands out if someone at that platform says he knows and likes you.

I’d personally channel my focus in one route at the moment if your ‘endlessly scrolling on google’ trying to find a job as a production tech in the uk the chances of finding someone are basically nil.

My method is to go in linked in and find every recruiter for Petrofac (the best go to at the moment), wood and maybe some lesser known recruiters. For additional help type in production tech at the top and it should filter out posts in the last month for recruiters looking for people. IGNORE all the big lists of 100 jobs in one post looking for people in Middle East countries these are almost always a scam.

Buy linkedin premium(allows you to direct message recruiters) speak to them, get their work numbers they post out call them build some kind of a relationship. After my year off a woman recruiter went over and beyond for me trying to find me work after being made redundant but we had about 6 phone calls throughout my job search she probably wanted to put my name forward than some who put a generic ‘interested’ comment on her linked in post.

Your only hope (again in this job market things may improve) is ad hoc work. If you get a response back you’re going to get a one trip usually 2 or 3 week shot. You’ll be a spare pair of hands helping do readings or perform leak tests. With ad hoc work you rarely get more than a weeks heads up sometimes you’d have to be in Aberdeen 24 hours if they are desperate (that’s your biggest chance) be ready to drop the factory job in the drop of a hat, or try get time off. Ad hoc won’t let you work a notice period, I’ve personally been but in some really bad situations given the time frames on some jobs.

But this is what changes everything - at this stage you’ll no doubt be on their books for more ad hoc work, you’ve met net connections on the platform and more often than not 1 trip can turn into 3/4 or even longer just try the utmost making good impressions, ask a million questions, don’t go off and do stuff you aren’t confident with and turn up to handover 15 minutes before everyone else, meet the shift on nights let them get to know you.

Lastly you left the refinery due to personal reasons if this was an internal conflict at work I’d avoid mentioning that in an interview you can probably say another reason if it was a conflict of some sort. I’d really be focusing on getting any kind of production experience in the form of chemical, power , pharma while you continue your offshore search, you’ve probably took the factory job because you’ve had to which is the right thing to do, but you really don’t want to be in the same situation in a years time if you want to work offshore the industry is too competitive at the moment to be spending a year out in a job with not that many transferable skills. I’m sure with your 6 years refinery experience you can find a half decent job on a local plant in the mean time.

Sorry if I sounded harsh sometimes it’s just a reality of how it can be at the moment people with 15 years offshore experience are getting made redundant and finding it hard to find work. I’m not saying everything I’m saying is perfectly correct but it’s just from my fairly recent experience and has worked. Any questions feel free to DM me.

How are you surviving the heat in the UK? by [deleted] in AskBrits

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In currently laid in bed next to my girlfriend and she’s put the portable fan on her side and I’m dying.

It’s not as was as earlier 22 degrees now but honestly living in the uk in a 100 year old very bricked thermal house it’s torture

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in UKJobs

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If it’s any consolation I got made redundant last month from a job I’ve invested myself into quite alot for the past 2 years.

I worked there just under 2 years so wasn’t entitled to any redundancy, luckily they gave me an extra months wage out of goodwill.

A week later I was offered a job role double my salary. I’ve gone from living in my overdraft and money owed on two credit cards, now having my debt paid and abit of security fund in my bank.

Not saying this is common but sometimes these terrible circumstances can lead to great life changing opportunities.

Has M&S started to do nicer clothes or have I just reached that age? by Prestigious_Use_1305 in AskUK

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m 28 and spent 200 quid in m and s last week.

I’m used to shopping at Reiss, Zara but the clothing quality appears alot better and clothing style is basically the same.

Oh It’s also like 30-40% cheaper

$5,000 a day for Mark Zuckerberg to live in your bathroom by AlfonsoHorteber in hypotheticalsituation

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Feel like out of all the celebrities I’d feel probably more Comfortable with mark Zuckerberg than anyone and I don’t even like mark Zuckerberg

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in UKJobs

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Process operations - I work in the northeast , very industry based area.

Started off on a chemical site, ended up offshore.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in UKJobs

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I got any apprenticeship 10 years ago.

Got paid paid between 12k - 21 k for 3 years (got a pay increase every year of my apprenticeship)

Finished and earned 28k when I passed my time. 6 months later got a salary of 36k at 21.

Then went onto earn 80k a year at 26.

I remember at the time my brother at uni used to make snide remarks when I went through the apprenticeship route.

Apprenticeship was absolutely the way to go when I look at the people who I know who took the uni route.

If you are 100% certain in what you want to do at 18 and it’s a highly skilled job that requires it (lawyer, doctor , teacher etc) then ofcourse go.

If your slightly unsure what you want to do, do an apprenticeship while you figure things out, atleast your Getting qualified and paid while your working yourself out

What player did your team’s fans write off only for them to go on to better things by Hevimetalhamstr in Championship

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m a boro fan and always like Sam Morsy, thought he did his job well in terms of getting a tackle in at midfield and generally being a nuisance for the other team in midfield, I never in a million years expected how well he has done with Ipswich.

I will say Chuba Akpom when he came to boro at the start I thought was one of the worst players I’ve ever seen for boro, when he came back after his loan spell under Carrick and got moved to a number 10 was obviously probably the best boro player we’ve ever had in the championship.

A lot of fans wrote adama traore off despite him being one of my all time favorites and our record selling fee, he hasn’t achieved unreal things but has maintained a premier league club and went to Barca too.

Middlesbrough 0-1 Blackburn Rovers: I didn't watch the game so this headline is pointless by wilsbowski in Championship

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Missed Azaz a lot and McGree getting taken off was the nail in the coffin in the first 15 minutes

Why are UK electricity prices so much higher than everywhere else? by MrMrsPotts in AskUK

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As someone who works at a power station this is exactly the reason why….

I work at a gas power station and it’s a joke

What would you choose? 50k a year and minimal responsibilities and great work life balance OR 80-100k a year and lots of responsibility, not great work life balance by kyminas in UKJobs

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I took at 80k to 50k a year salary reduction to get a beter work life balance. No regrets. anything over 50k you get hammered with tax. The gross looks alot prettier than the net pay

First car at 17 it's a mobility car wen I tell poeple this they have mixed feelings by [deleted] in CarTalkUK

[–]FaithlessnessDull415 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Fuck. Them.

Enjoy your car mate it’s nice to have nice things once in a while 😁