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re: I'm trying to get into the Oilfield industry with no field experience.
Posted on 1/29/14 at 5:12 pm to supatigah
Posted on 1/29/14 at 5:12 pm to supatigah
Its much different from long ago. My uncle got out of the army in WWII and worked his way up through the ranks of the oil field business to where he supervised the first rigs put into the gulf off of Iran. Only grad. High school. He was what the people on the rigs called "the company man". He got a lot of people started in the rig business around Leesville and got them really good opportunities. I guess it doesnt work that way anymore.. you really have to have a degree I guess to get that high. People in that area speak real high of him.
Posted on 1/29/14 at 5:17 pm to jeffsdad
the problem for midcareer job change types is large service companies are the only companies that invest in training programs. You have to know someone at a medium or small service company to get hired because they usually hire people away from major service companies that are already trained. Big service companies recruit new hires from the street and prefer younger candidates because they dont have to pay them much. So if you are a mid-career looking for a new line of work O&G can be tough to get in.
having a degree is a new hire filtration tool, you can still get pretty far without a degree if you are a performer
having a degree is a new hire filtration tool, you can still get pretty far without a degree if you are a performer
Posted on 1/29/14 at 5:23 pm to supatigah
You mean mid-career as in sometime trying to make a lateral move, but from one particular sector (outside of O&G) into O&G?
Posted on 1/29/14 at 5:39 pm to 23rdpsalm
quote:
14+ years in IT
I was looking through union Pacific's website and they are hiring IT PERSONNEL.. If that is something you are interested in.. Go to uprr.com and click on careers.. Pretty sure several positions were open..
Posted on 1/29/14 at 5:50 pm to supatigah
Yeah that's tough. I think that's why everyone here is saying that you have to know someone. You pegged the young newcomers nicely. A degree is a check box for the app and they can pay them a lot less, but experienced people outside of O&G have a tough time breaking in. I've never heard of those training programs.
Posted on 1/29/14 at 6:01 pm to Powerman
Thanks I'll look into that... My first objective is to get hired on
Posted on 1/29/14 at 6:01 pm to CENLALSUFAN
Thanks brother... it's appreciated
Posted on 1/29/14 at 6:33 pm to 23rdpsalm
Honest question: what if you're moving to the area and are unfamiliar with the area and need work? Would O&G be a good place to look if you have no previous experience but are willing to work your way up? Laugh away at my expense if you must. 

This post was edited on 1/29/14 at 6:40 pm
Posted on 1/30/14 at 4:23 pm to voinovich
I know a lot of folks say to look on rigzone.com for oilfield jobs but when you go to a place like rigzone you really need to know exactly what position you are looking for. For someone with no prior experience in the oilfield, most are gonna be clueless as to what most of the positions are.
Knowing someone is always a good way to get your foot in the door with an entry level type position depending on the job requirements.
Knowing someone is always a good way to get your foot in the door with an entry level type position depending on the job requirements.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 9:48 pm to Prominentwon
Join the club.
This post was edited on 2/19/14 at 9:30 pm
Posted on 2/3/14 at 11:55 am to jsmoke222000
Appreciate the reply. Yeah, I know two (2) people in Louisiana and both of them are transplants who don't work in O&G
Just trying to keep my options open. Would love to get in somehow obviously.

Just trying to keep my options open. Would love to get in somehow obviously.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:18 pm to 23rdpsalm
CETCO Oilfield Srevices in Lafayette hires all kinds of people with no experience.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:21 pm to tgrbaitn08
quote:
tgrbaitn08
I sent u a copy of my resume on Friday...
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:26 pm to voinovich
You have a much better chance of getting on doing onshore work as opposed to offshore. Problem is, you have to move to West TX, N. Dakota, etc.
If you're younger, I'd suggest going to work as a hand somewhere like WTX and get some experience and make some connections.
Here's how I broke out... Went to work as a water transfer hand in Midland, TX at a company with a total of 6 field guys. 6 guys became 60 in a matter of months and I made supervisor after 3. Did that for almost a year and then went to South TX and ran completion fluids with a coiled tubing unit for a little while (got that gig from someone I met working in water transfer). While I was doing that I went and got my offshore certs (RigPass, HUET, etc.) and started applying on RigZone. Wound up getting a pretty sweet office job, traveling internationally. All in less than a year and a half.
If you're younger, I'd suggest going to work as a hand somewhere like WTX and get some experience and make some connections.
Here's how I broke out... Went to work as a water transfer hand in Midland, TX at a company with a total of 6 field guys. 6 guys became 60 in a matter of months and I made supervisor after 3. Did that for almost a year and then went to South TX and ran completion fluids with a coiled tubing unit for a little while (got that gig from someone I met working in water transfer). While I was doing that I went and got my offshore certs (RigPass, HUET, etc.) and started applying on RigZone. Wound up getting a pretty sweet office job, traveling internationally. All in less than a year and a half.
This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:30 pm to Corkfather
Go pressure wash rigs in NoDak
You'll work your way up fast from there
You'll work your way up fast from there
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:32 pm to Corkfather
quote:
You have a much better chance of getting on doing onshore work as opposed to offshore. Problem is, you have to move to West TX, N. Dakota, etc.
Unless I was 100% single (pretty much no attachments), I think is much rather onshore anyway. If I were a young guy just starting out, offshore hands down. Imagine the money you could save.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:34 pm to jimbeam
quote:
Go pressure wash rigs in NoDak
You'll work your way up fast from there
Pretty much. You prove yourself as a hand and people notice. Jobs pretty much present themselves from there, you'll meet so many people that will move on to different companies, etc. and when they need a hand they call the people they know are legit. I still get a call once at least once a month asking if I want to go to work.
Posted on 2/3/14 at 12:36 pm to Mr. Tom Morrow
quote:
Unless I was 100% single (pretty much no attachments), I think is much rather onshore anyway. If I were a young guy just starting out, offshore hands down. Imagine the money you could save.
I worked a 21/7 onshore. Working 14/14 or something like that offshore you'll blow more on your two weeks off than you make on your two on.
Two weeks is way too much time to sit around the house IMO.
This post was edited on 2/3/14 at 12:37 pm
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