2 Reasons Why Veterans Are A Perfect Match For Offshore Oil Platform Jobs

Veterans are in a bad fix: they've got the skills and training every boss dreams of, but somehow civilians are wary of them. It might be an image issue, or perhaps it's because nobody likes to hire someone who's obviously more capable and, well, bigger, than himself.

There's one very lucrative industry that actually cherishes these qualities though, and that is the offshore oil platform. It doesn't matter whether you were in the Army, Air Force, or the Navy, your service record is the best possible proof for the qualities that these employers yearn for.

*It's not that different, isn't it? Whether in combat or not, a soldier has always got to be vigilant about everything, and the same goes for oil rig workers. You will be working with equipment that's got an astounding safety record - so long as you follow the instructions and know what you're really doing to boot. And if you don't, then you'll be putting other peoples' well-being at risk in addition to your own.

The irregular work schedule and unrelenting demand for physical and mental finesse you'll doubtlessly be familiar with. What might surprise you is the financial compensation: for once, people are paying money that is commensurate with the effort and skill that were contributed. You'll be looking at 40 to 50 grand, roughly, for six months' work out of a year, and both the length of the commute and risk exposure is factored into pay scales. Never mind the military - few civilians jobs would go out of the way to take these things into account.

*The Game Of It All: Of course, while people might serve the country for any number of reasons, the same list tends to shrink quite a bit when it comes to offshore drilling. Your employers naturally recognise this, so they've thrown in quite a few incentives to sweeten the deal for you.

You'll be in a privileged position, if you really think about it: unlike newbies, you're already accustomed to the environment and the accommodation arrangements. You might even go as far as to say that an offshore platform is about as military a setting a civilian is going to get, which is to say, not that Spartan at all. When was the last time your station had a full Jacuzzi pool and certified Chefs instead of Mess Officers?

The point is straightforward: an offshore oil platform is just a battlefield against Mother Nature, albeit one where we win most of the time. There are always going to be inherent risks, hectic schedules, and ruffled feathers with your colleagues, but then as transitional careers go, there's not going to be a better match short of applying for a private contractor job at Black Water. And why bother going on that hamster ride when this industry actually offers a ladder up for those who's got it in them - the very qualities that got you through those years in the first place?