How to start an offshore career with no experience

The real entry barrier — it's not experience

Most people assume you need years of offshore experience before anyone will look at you. That's wrong. The offshore industry has a well-defined entry path built around safety — not work history.

Offshore employers don't expect you to have worked on a platform before your first job. What they require is proof that you can survive an emergency at sea and that you're medically fit for the environment. Once you have those two things — certified and medically cleared — you're a legitimate candidate for entry-level roles.

Step 1: Get your offshore medical first

Before spending any money on training, book an OGUK offshore medical. This is the standard medical assessment required to work offshore in the UK and on many international projects.

• Cost: €170–€300 depending on the clinic
• What's checked: blood pressure, vision, hearing, cardiovascular fitness, BMI, urine and blood tests
• Valid for 2 years (annual review required after age 40)
• Most fit adults pass without issue

Step 2: Build the right certificate stack

Don't buy every certificate you've seen listed on job boards. Different roles and regions require different combinations. For a first UK/North Sea offshore role, this is what you actually need:

• BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training) — the core cert. Covers helicopter escape (HUET), sea survival, fire response. Cost: €600–€850. Valid 4 years.
• MIST (Minimum Industry Safety Training) — a 1-day online course accepted by most UK operators. Cost: €45–€70.
• STCW Basic Safety — only required if you're targeting vessel-based roles such as crew transfer vessels or supply ships. Cost: €350–€580.

Step 3: Target roles that actually hire without experience

Applying for the wrong roles wastes your time and damages your credibility with recruiters. These are the positions where 'no offshore experience' is an expected and acceptable starting point:

• Roustabout — the most common entry point in oil and gas. General maintenance and manual labour on deck. No prior qualifications beyond safety certs required.
• Catering assistant / steward — often overlooked but a genuine entry route. Food service, cleaning, and accommodation support. Hospitality experience is a bonus but not required.
• Trainee deck hand (CTV/SOV) — crew transfer vessels in offshore wind. Some operators hire trainees with basic maritime certs and train on the job.
• Trainee scaffolder or painter — industrial contractors working offshore. Trade background helps but isn't always required.

Step 4: Write a CV that offshore recruiters actually read

Offshore CVs are different from standard job applications. Recruiters scan them in under 30 seconds looking for a specific structure. If your certificates aren't visible in the first half of the page, your CV goes to the bottom of the pile.

Structure that works:

• Name and contact details — keep it concise
• Offshore certifications — certificate name, issuing body, expiry date (not just the name)
• Medical status — 'OGUK Medical valid to [month/year]'
• Work experience — even if unrelated, emphasise reliability, physical work, and safety awareness
• Education — brief, at the bottom

Step 5: Apply through the right channels

Most entry offshore jobs are never publicly advertised. They're filled through recruitment agencies before they reach job boards. Your strategy should reflect this:

• Register with 3–5 specialist offshore recruitment agencies — not general job sites. Look for agencies that explicitly mention oil and gas, offshore wind, or marine.
• Call after registering — a short follow-up call puts a name to your CV and moves you up the candidate list.
• Apply to CTV/SOV operators directly for offshore wind roles — companies like Vroon Offshore, Bibby Marine, and Seaway7 list trainee positions on their own websites.
• Check operator career pages — Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies occasionally run entry-level or graduate offshore programmes.

Realistic timeline from zero to first job

• Week 1–2: Book and complete OGUK offshore medical (€170–€300)
• Week 2–4: Complete BOSIET + MIST (€650–€920 combined)
• Week 4: Start registering with agencies and sending targeted applications
• Month 1–6: First job offer — timelines vary by region and sector
• Total upfront cost: approximately €820–€1,200

Common mistakes that cost money and delay your start

• Buying certificates before passing your offshore medical
• Spending money on GWO, OPITO Helideck, or specialist certs you don't yet need
• Registering only with general recruitment agencies who rarely handle offshore
• Sending a generic CV that doesn't list certificates and medical status prominently
• Applying only to job boards and waiting — most positions are filled through agencies before they're posted
• Waiting until you feel 'ready' — the time to apply is as soon as your certs are in hand