Posted By jacq I have recently put my c.v. onto an oil and gas job search website only to find myself inundated with phone calls from agencies. Do any of you have experience with oil and gas agencies? How reliable have you found them - All the jobs seem to be contract based rather than company positions. Have any of you received any genuine job offers gained from these agencies. One agency has asked me to go to Aberdeen next week for an "interview" but with absolutely no details of the job, length of contract, money on offer or details other than the company name!!!! - I am fairly sceptical Any advice would be gratefully received

Posted By Paul Oliver As a contractor, I wouldn't dream of going to a job interview / discussion without knowing the type of rate on offer, location, duration and company that I would be working for, especially if your travelling a long way. I cannot understand the secrecy surrounding vacancies anyway. Its surprising how many people you talk too who know what's on offer and also the number of agencies all vying for the same client. If your good at fishing you can normally find out a clients details without even sending in your CV. If you haven't tried contracting yet, I can strongly recommend it. :-)

Posted By David Raymond Hi Jacq, When posting your CV onto a website you lose a degree of control over your details, which means that both good and bad have access to your CV. In Hindsight my suggestion to you would be to research and choose a hand full of agencies for the sectors your interested and only send your CV to them. This way you will know where your CV is, and also gain a more personable response with your respective consultants. You can then decide which are good or bad. Remember it's against data protection and REC for any agency to send your CV to any company without your prior knowledge, so ensure you know where your details have been sent and control your applications / interviews. Hope this helps? David

Posted By jacq Hi Owen No luck as yet. I am STILL waiting for the agency to get back to me. They phoned and said that the oil company would like me to go for an interview but I am still waiting (over a week) for them to give me a time/date. I am thoroughly disillusioned with agencies Jacq

Posted By Garry Adams Owen Have you got your B.O.S.I.E.T. thats the minimum requirement for Offshore Survival Cert? . There are Exploration Companies recruiting new blood at the moment, however prioraty is given to those candidates whom have completed the Greenhand 5 Day course, which covers, Survival; Banksman slingers Certs. Unfortunatly, most Companys expect an applicant to self sponser the Greenhand course, However, one must speculate to acumulate...anyway 1 trip would re-coup your outlay. I could give you a list of Exploration Companys if you want, Iv bn in the offshore Industry since 1972,I may be able to assist...most agancys are rip-off merchants,deal with the Oil Co.z direct no probz. Regards, Garry...

Posted By jacq I am not really looking for offshore work, I would prefer onshore if possible. I am currently in the nuclear industry writing safety cases but have worked in contaminated land, radioactive particles and industrial safety areas. I have mainly been employed as a technical author on a contract basis. I have an MSc in H & S management, NEBOSH Dip 2/1/certificate, NEBOSH specialist diploma in Environmental management, IQA diploma in QA/QC and city & Guilds in Radiation safety. I am hoping my report writing skills can cross over into the oil and gas industry but I am unsure which area would be best for me. I was really dipping my toes in the water to see what is out there but I don't think I will use the agency route again. I have been the better part of a month, waiting for various people to "get back to me" from the agencies. I will probably go the direct route and put my CV to the oil companies. Thanks Jacq

Posted By Owen Hi Gary, Thanks for your reply. Was wondering if I could take you up on the offer of getting a hold of the exploration company's details.That would be really helpful. Thanks, Owen,

Posted By Garry Adams Owen...Philip, I know that it is a lot off bread to lay out for the 5 Day Greenhand R.G.I.T., However, rousties have to work on the pipe deck this involves a lot of slinging and lifting ops. That said, perhaps Drilling Co.z may sponcer, depending on how desperait they are for Crew, I have listed 3 Drilling Co.z below, hassel them untill they give you a srart...be like a dog with an old slipper and pester them. Phil...never mind with the Ps pot jerkers, just get right into it and get on the deck. Contacts... KCA Deutag Drilling Ltd Tel: 01224 299600...info@kcadeutag. Aberdeen. Global Santa Fe Tel: 01224 654400...www.gsfdrill.com Aberdeen Noble Drilling (UK) Ltd 01224 401600...www.noblecorp.com try them and see how youz get on...be presistant, let me know how youz get on, good luck. regards, Garry...

Posted By Garry Adams jacq apoligies for the breach in communication...to continue...I don't know if you have made any informal approach to the Prime movers, however I have listed contact numbers below, I hope these oiginisations can recognise talent when they see it...good luck, let me know how you get on... Contacts... BP & Corporate HR Support Suzanne Birse; SNR HR Coordinator (Corporate) Aberdeen Tel: 01224 532367 Talisman Tanya Reid; Senior Human Resourses Coordinator Aberdeen Tel: 01224 851580 Sigma 3 , Shell GPS & Exxon Mobil FEP Sacha Nicol Senior HR Coordinator Aberdeen Tel: 01224 532217 www.petrofac.com Regards, Garry...

Posted By Andrew Lochlyn Ure Jacq Remember that the oil and gas industry is split into the upstream and downstream sectors. This discussion has so far centred on upstream (exploration and production) side of the industry but post-Baker Report there is a a lot of focus on Process Safety in the Downstream sector where, I imagine, your skills as a Technical/Safety Case Author would be highly valuable. Don't forget to include those areas in your quest. And as regards the comment made by someone earlier in the thread that they hadn't encountered many technical authors in the industry - I have. Loads. It's how all the HSE Cases, Standards and Procedures get written, and not necessarily by consultants either. Cheers, Andrew

Posted By Chris744 I'm interested in joing the off shore industry. I've been reading all the posts that people have left. I've had my medical done and just about to book my bosiet course. But after reading that you need a greehand course I'm unsure as to whether or not to go ahead and pay for the bosiet course and then pay for the greenhand course. Does the Greenhand course include the certificate for the bosiet or will I need to do that separately. Thing is money is a bit tight and don't want to pay for both if only one course will be sufficient. I was up until a few years ago in the Royal Navy as a Marine engineering mechanic spending alot of my time on ships. I now am foreman of a heavy plant company. Do you think my experience will help me in this field. Have contacted numerous agencies like a lot of people on here to no joy. Can anyone advise?? Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers

Posted By Jamie Falconer I don't know were this green hand course comes in that course is for roustabouts, roughnecks slinger/banksnman people interested in starting out in the drilling side of offshore (the worst side) I work for an oil company in Nigeria but have worked the North Sea all sectors, Russia, Saudi and Angola clients are looking for people who have industry experience especially process experience guys with a degree in chemical or mechanical engineering who diversify in to safety. My experience of the Oil & gas is they don't care about CMIOSH chartered status safety degrees etc the favourite in job adverts is a "professional safety qualification" NEBOSH are to blame for this partly I think. Getting a safety job offshore is not all that easy 90% of safety jobs in oil & gas are in the office and in a supporting role in HSE or Technical HSE FEED etc. There is usually only 1 safety man on a rig and he/she is usually staff with the operator. Everybody has to start somewhere I can't list specific sites on here but type in oil jobs in google you will bring up 3 main job agencies for oil & gas careers check it out for yourselves regarding the criteria and it certainly isn't all lined with gold but money for safety is in energy I have a NEBOSH cert and make around $135,000 a year whats a CMIOSH or BSc safety professional making in say manufacturing ? Although I work on a rig and have done for 12 years Offshore has always been closed shop, a company won't start you with offshore experience but how do you get offshore experience if no one will start you ? Another thing be prepared to relocate to Aberdeen and good luck

Posted By Garry Adams F.A.O. Thomas Martin, Hi Thomas, The catch 22... I can understand your frustration in trying to secure a position within the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. Especially when you have achieved the basic credentials required to work Offshore ( no doubt at great personal expense and effort to yourself ). Thomas...I can only comment on Construction and shut-down operations, with the onset of Winter, manning levels are normally reduced due to environmental conditions, perhaps this is why you are experiencing all the knock-backs form Offshore C.o.z. What is your onshore work history ? . This may be a long shot but it maybe worth a try, view... >www.aberdeenfoyer.com and read the the information contained under the heading, Platform to Work, there are two contact names listed there, contact either of them and make an informal enquire...these people are very approachable...so give it a go and remember Robert the Bruce and the wee spider...try, try and try again... tell me how you got on... Good luck...Garry

Posted By Garry Adams Hi Thomas, Have you tried Atlantic Resourcing they recruit for Petrofac, might be worth a try to give them a bell...soz cant remember the phone number off hand , but either phone Petrofac, ask for the Atlantic Phone number H.R. Department and ask to speak to Leanne Caird. What is your work history ? ... Discipline ... Training ..ect... Regards Garry...

Posted By Carl Gryniewicz FAO Simon. I'm currently speaking with a few people in the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen who have HSE positions both onshore and offshore. If you're still looking feel free to email me at carl@emprocom.co.uk. Cheers.

Posted By John Roberts Hi all, I thought I'd try to help out here.... Oilandgasjobsearch is a job site specialising in the oil and gas industry, both upstream and downstream. As well as reputable recruitment agencies, direct companies also post jobs. If you are looking for oil and gas jobs, it is a good place to start. When you register, you can decide to receive details of available jobs and you can specify which sectors you are interested in. You can also leave a CV which you can choose to be viewable by potential employers. http://www.oilandgasjobsearch.com