How Many Doors Lead to Offshore?
How Many Doors Lead to Offshore?
There’s no single route into the offshore sector, and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting.
We recently asked our LinkedIn network: “How did you get into the offshore sector?”
The responses highlighted just how varied offshore careers can be:
- 38% started in an entry level role
- 30% transitioned from another sector
- 21% entered through a degree or specialist training
- 11% got their start through a family, friend or industry contact
We spoke to four of the contractors we’ve worked with about their own journeys. Their experiences show that there isn’t one formula for getting into offshore, and sometimes the route you take is not the one you might expect.
Starting from the ground up
Bill, one of our Client Representatives, started his offshore career in 1990 as a trainee Pilot Technician in ROVs. By 1994, he had progressed to Supervisor and decided to go freelance. His career continued to develop through cable trenching projects, followed by roles as Superintendent and Bridge Supervisor, eventually leading to a Client Representative role with TenneT in Germany.
Even after building years of offshore experience, it was a previous colleague who helped open the door to that next opportunity, recognising Bill’s CV when a nightshift Client Representative was required. His story shows how an entry level role can become the starting point for a long and varied career, and how the relationships built along the way can continue to create opportunities.
Bringing experience from another sector
Paul took a very different route into offshore. He spent 12 years in the Royal Air Force as an Avionics Engineer, supervising corrective and preventative maintenance of Tornado aircraft. When he was preparing to leave the RAF, a former colleague who had moved into offshore survey work contacted him for advice about GPS and Inertial Navigation systems. That conversation led to his colleague recommending him to NCS Survey, who were looking for engineers.
Paul interviewed for a Survey Engineer position in December 2008 and started work in Westhill, Aberdeen, the following month. The transition from military aviation to offshore survey wasn’t completely straightforward, but the technical knowledge, discipline, problem solving skills and operational experience he had developed in the RAF gave him a strong foundation. His experience shows that the skills you build in one industry can often be more transferable than you realise.
Education and specialist training
Sonia, a Geotechnical Engineer, shows that there is no set timeline for changing direction. As a single parent of three children, she had previously tried to complete an engineering degree but found that balancing three children under six, work and university simply wasn’t possible. When her children were older and all in secondary school, she reapplied to university.
In 2011, Sonia returned to the University of Portsmouth to study Engineering Geology and Geotechnics, graduating three years later with First Class Honours. Her children proudly watched her graduate from the balcony. She went on to join Ramboll as a Geotechnical Engineer, working on major projects in the UK and internationally. Her journey is a reminder that sometimes the right route into a new career is simply waiting until the time is right to take it.
It’s not always what you know…
For Tom, the route into offshore started with a family friend. As a newly graduated engineer, that introduction gave him an insight into the industry and sparked his interest in offshore wind. He was attracted by the opportunity to work on innovative, large scale projects around the world while developing a broad range of skills.
Tom’s experience also highlights one of the biggest challenges for people trying to enter offshore: getting that first opportunity. With many roles requiring previous experience, graduates and newcomers can find themselves caught in a cycle where they need experience to get the job, but need the job to get the experience. That’s where relationships, networking and industry connections can make a real difference.
So, what’s the best route into offshore?
Looking at our poll and the experiences of Bill, Paul, Sonia and Tom, one thing is clear: there are many ways into offshore.
An entry-level position can open the door to experience and progression. A degree or specialist qualification can open the door to specific roles. Previous experience in another industry can open the door to a new career direction. And the people you meet along the way can open doors to opportunities you may never have considered.
The key is finding the door that’s right for you and having the confidence to open it.