If you find yourself considering seeking employment as a roustabout on an offshore oil rig, have you stopped to ask “why?” These jobs require working long hours in extreme weather conditions while performing unskilled but highly strenuous tasks. They define manual labor.
Not only is the life of a roustabout physically demanding, it is also out of sync with the rest of society. Although schedules vary from one company to another, as well as one rig to the next, a common shift is 12 hours on and 12 hours off for two to three weeks at a time and then off the rig for at least two weeks. This is not a lifestyle for a parent who wants to be there when the kids get home from school, and it is notorious for playing havoc with marriages.
So, what is the appeal? Why do some not only seek out roustabout oil rig jobs but stay with this type of work for as long as they are physically able?
For some, no doubt, the lure is the money available for even entry level roustabout jobs. With experience, of course, the pay goes up, but it’s possible to earn in excess of $40,000 even as a beginner. Open positions are not as easy to find as they once were and it does make a difference if an applicant has comparable experience. Military service is a good way to get your foot in the door, especially because of the similarity of duty schedule and life away from home. Construction work is also a valuable asset for your resume.
Money doesn’t tell the whole story, though. Despite what people may believe, study after study has shown that money ranks down on the list of those things that contribute to job satisfaction. This is just as true in roustabout employment as it is anywhere else. During times of serious economic turmoil, money does tend to take on a more dominant role but only temporarily.
Steady work and a good paycheck may be the motivator for a certain type of offshore roustabout, but, for a large percentage, it’s the lifestyle itself which is the draw. Some people just aren’t made to live in a “9 to 5″ world. The thought of fighting traffic on the same freeways and punching a time clock at the same time every morning to do the same thing day after day is simply not acceptable. It’s similar to the force that draws soldiers back to combat and, in the past, had youngsters dreaming of running off to join the circus. It’s the dream of living a larger life; a life that is not just like everyone else’s.
It may be hard to imagine any such glamour in roustabout jobs. It’s true that they are the ones who do the grunt work. They are responsible for the general upkeep and cleaning of the deck, painting, moving supplies, guiding the crane and any other physical type task that needs to be done. All of this is done outside in temperatures ranging from scorching highs to frigid lows.
Why would such a job attract anyone? Roustabout wages are decent, but are they really enough compensation for long, demanding hours in blistering heat or frigid cold? Injuries are an ever-present possibility. Everyone who steps foot on an offshore rig is indoctrinated about the importance of safety, and this is stressed in roustabout training. Oil companies like to publish their stellar safety records and often add a bonus to the roustabout salary when there are no incidents. What is rarely documented, however, are the number of injuries that go unreported so that those bonuses can be earned. Without a doubt, adherence to safety guidelines helps, but these individuals work in an environment that will always present a high risk of injury and, unfortunately, even death.
With everything taken into consideration, one might think that it would be difficult to fill roustabout vacancies. As counter-intuitive as this might seem, roustabout jobs are actually in high demand. The truth is that there is a particular kind of person who finds satisfaction in doing those things that others shy away from. It’s the same character trait that the Marines tap into when they challenge young people to “be all that they can be”. For those not cut out for the discipline of the armed forces, the next best thing can be to become a roustabout.
It takes someone with somewhat of an adventurous spirit to sign on as an oil rig roustabout and not only work but also live on a floating platform that may be hundreds of miles out in the ocean. Instead of sitting in rush-hour traffic, these folks are ferried out at the beginning of their first shift and not returned to land until the end of their two or three week stint. Sometimes the mode of transportation is a crew boat, but, for those rigs located far off shore, the trip is likely to be by helicopter. This can prove problematic during hurricane season when rigs have to be evacuated. It can take quite a few trips to get everyone safely back on land.
Leaving behind more traditional types of employment and going off to work on an oil rig might give the impression of someone who doesn’t like to work with people. In reality, it takes an individual who does possess the social skills that enable him to work well with others. These crew members work and live in very close quarters with little opportunity for privacy or time alone. True loners are not particularly cut out for roustabout work or any other position aboard an offshore rig.
Just as in the military, those who do the work of a roustabout, as well as the other positions on an oil rig, develop a sense of camaraderie. These are challenging and often dangerous jobs, and crew members rely on each other. Those who do not pull their share of the load or who ignore safety procedures and put others at risk become unpopular very quickly and rarely last long.
As computers and technology take over functions that were previously done manually, many of the positions in the oil industry have gotten easier. These jobs may require more education and training but few would argue that working conditions have not improved. When it comes to the roustabout job description, however, the work is nearly as grueling as it ever was, and there is little likelihood of that changing much in the foreseeable future.
However, when off duty, life aboard the oil rig has improved for everyone, including the roustabout. Some of the older and smaller rigs may not have changed much, but most companies nowadays do as much with the limited space they have to make it as comfortable for the crews as possible.
When it came to mealtime, rig crews have traditionally been well-fed. The number one priority of oil companies has always been to pump as much as possible with as little down time as possible. It simply made good business sense to make sure the crews ate well so that they could keep their energy levels high. Today, however, it often comes as a welcome surprise to the entry level roustabout that not only is there sufficient quantity of good food available, but the choices have been expanded so that there is variety and more healthy options for those that prefer them.
Crew quarters are small and shared. Since roustabout positions are at the bottom of the totem pole as far as seniority and perks, their room assignments are certainly not luxurious. Nonetheless, most consist of built-in bunk beds, closet, television, sink and a tiny bathroom with a toilet and shower. The good news is that there is usually daily laundry and maid service. There will be some sort of recreation center. Amenities vary but may include large screen TV’s with satellite reception, movies, computers with internet access, ping pong tables and other games. Often there is also a small gym or workout room and, perhaps, a sauna.
Not everyone takes advantage of the provided activities and prefer, instead, to spend a large portion of their off time sleeping. Roustabout jobs, as well as most of the others aboard a drilling rig consume a tremendous amount of energy so this certainly makes sense. There is another reason, however. One of the major attractions of this type of life is that once a tour, whether two or three weeks, is completed, the workers then have at least two weeks off. They are returned to shore and free to go do whatever they want.
Some of the older crew members who have been around for awhile take their paychecks and go home. Not so with the younger ones, which almost always includes the roustabouts. It’s not unusual for them to embark on a two-week party and drag themselves back with empty pockets. Unwise as this might appear, it is the freedom to live this sort of lifestyle that is exactly what attracts so many. For someone who is young and without responsibilities, the chance to work hard and play harder is very enticing.
Roustabout jobs are certainly not for everyone. In the past, it was entirely a man’s world and is still largely so. There are women filling roustabout vacancies offshore these days but most of the women working on oil rigs do so as owner liaisons, engineers, radio operators, cooks or in housekeeping.
When it comes to promotion possibilities, maintenance roustabout jobs are the first step up, and then there is the potential to become a roughneck, which is more of a drilling roustabout or junior driller. With experience and training, someone who originally started as an entry level roustabout can become a driller, scaffolding operator or other more skilled position. No matter what level is achieved, however, hardly anyone lasts on an offshore rig past their 40’s. The work is simply too demanding, and the lifestyle eventually takes its toll.
So, is a roustabout job in your future? If you’re young, free of the responsibilities that tie you down and don’t believe you’re cut out for the discipline demanded of those in the military, then it might be an excellent choice. Quiz veteran rig workers about what life was like and they will regale you with stories of hardship and near disaster, but if you ask them if they would do it again, you will nearly always get a resounding “yes!”
Do your research. Learn as much as you can about the various oil companies and rig operators. There are roustabout recruitment websites on the internet, but make sure you check out their validity. Some are scams and will, at the least, waste your time and others will take your money and provide nothing worthwhile in return. One thing that will be helpful, even if you feel you have little to no relevant experience, is to document your work history. Employment agencies, including some that are online, will guide you in completing what is called a roustabout resume. This will not only be helpful to those where you apply, but it will definitely speed up the process for you.
You will find differing forms of advice for searching for roustabout job openings. Some recommend, if you do not already live in a coastal area where offshore drilling operations are based, that you relocate. This may seem like an extreme measure to take for a job that you have no guarantee of being able to obtain. While that may be true, this level of commitment in your roustabout job search will send a signal to prospective employers about your seriousness and level of determination to work in their industry. It will also make life quite a bit easier to manage once you do gain employment. Although it is possible to work in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico and maintain a residence in Montana, it does present obvious difficulties.
In a tough economy, as we find ourselves these days, looking for any type of employment can be discouraging. Whether you are searching for construction work in Minnesota or roustabout jobs in Louisiana, the key steps are always the same. Learn as much as possible about your target industry, make a plan detailing what it will take to secure the position you want and then, most important of all, follow through on that plan.