Tip 2- Do some research by talking to people that work in the industry or use the internet, and find out what the training requirements are to get a rig job. This way you can get that training done before you meet up with the HR manager, they will be impressed… you can also ask the HR manager ‘what do I need to do for you to give me a job’? List what they say, go and do it, learn it, whatever it is, then come back and tell them that you have done everything they said!

Tip 3- Be persistent, don’t give up if you don’t have much success with hr managers, they may have no opening right then, keep contacting others, then come back to the first one once you have contacted them all, and contact them again… keep this up and eventually they will get to see how keen you are. Contact them on a regular basis, every week if necessary until you are on a first name basis with them.

If you are looking for an Offshore Rig Job then the training requirements can become expensive for you to do, and run into the thousands of dollars, but it is an investment and you will soon recover that money once you start working on an Offshore Rig.

Good luck with your job hunting and remember be persistent and don’t give up!

Cold Calling Tips

* Identify your intended target.
* Research your intended target.
* Research the organization – fully.
* Understand how what you do fits in with the organization.
* Be prepared to sell yourself, what you do, what results you have achieved, and how you can make an immediate contribution (e.g.: “value add”).
* Ask GREAT, well-thought out questions of your target. The more talking they do, the more you learn, and the less you’re on the spot. With your newfound knowledge, you can even refocus the conversation to highlight how your background fits nicely with this new knowledge of their needs.
* You can use a script to rehearse, but don’t read from it. Be prepared, but go with the flow.
* Understand that your target may not welcome your call; if not, ask if you can follow-up in email or regular mail (if you sense that you can follow-up and that the target is open to that).
* If you can be referred by someone in your network to your target, that will often open the door to your cold call – it would in fact make it a warmer call.
* Remember that if you’re cold calling to network, you should never ask for a job. Your role here is to get inside information and insight on the organization, other potential contacts who may actually have an opening, and to reciprocate with knowledge and contacts. Asking for a job (even having a resume with you) kills the overall value of the networking contact.

Resist the temptation to use your current company’s resources to look for a job. This includes your work computer, your work email address, fax machines, telephones and even stationery, envelopes and the postage meter (yes, some people do help themselves to this company owned property). Even spending time for which you are being paid to research, write or even think about your job search takes you away from the obligation you have made to your current employer — to some it is considered a form of stealing. If you absolutely must attend to phone calls or emails regarding your job search, follow up using your own cell phone or laptop when on your lunch break away from the office.

Network with discretion.

If you are planning to keep your job search undercover, you need to use discretion when speaking to others about your plans. Only share details with personal contacts whom you know will maintain your privacy and network with those outside your company who may help you gain entry into their business. Distributing your resume should also follow this guideline of discretion. You may not want to do a mass mailing of your resume, especially if you are in an industry where everyone knows everyone – the word could get back to your current boss. On job boards, you also often have the option to create confidential resumes that keep your name and contact information under wraps. You will want to swap out your name with the phrase “confidential candidate” and secure a non-identifying email address through a free service such as Yahoo!mail or Gmail. Taking additional precautions may also be necessary to keep your resume confidential such as describing your employer in general terms such as “leading apparel retailer” “or large advertising agency”.

Choose references carefully.

Obviously, if you are flying under the radar on your job search, you cannot list your current supervisor as a reference. If you have close contacts in the company with whom you have confided, they may be used as references. Other people outside your organization who are willing to vouch for your credentials, character and skill set include professors, clients, contacts from volunteer activities you are involved with and past employers.