The Benefits of Offshore Working
Working offshore is challenging and highly rewarding. From marine construction to research and development, an offshore career can take you around the globe from India and China to South America and the North Sea.
These industries are always evolving, fast-paced and challenging. They offer the opportunity to build a career that is always interesting, where innovation and problem-solving are the order of the day. The boom in offshore wind farming has even helped unemployed people in Great Yarmouth to get off benefits and work in jobs earning up to £40,000.
But what are the benefits of offshore working? If you choose to go freelance you can expect to enjoy a varied career and high rates of remuneration. Even in the global drive for carbon neutrality, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy the offshore life.
Job flexibility
Most offshore jobs offer a flexible working pattern and are not governed by the working time directive. Unless you're in an office-based job, there's no 9 to 5 and you'll possibly find yourself commuting by helicopter. For example, you could find yourself working for 14 or 28 days and then returning to shore for the same length of time.
Offshore working can involve some of the harshest environments on earth combined with the physical and psychological challenges of working an arduous shift pattern. The flexible working pattern and the opportunity to pick and choose contracts helps to maintain the work-life balance but working away for long periods of time is inevitable.
Increased remuneration
One of the biggest benefits for offshore workers are the higher rates of pay. If you work as a contractor, you can expect to be paid gross as the usual deductions for tax and NIC won’t be made at source. Using freelancers saves offshore construction projects on costs, allowing them to pay higher rates to attract top talent.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for offshore workers is currently £31,694. A fully qualified drilling consultant can earn upwards of £150,000 depending on location. That gives you plenty of scope to handle your finances to suit your future plans.
Work at the cutting edge
If you want to engage with modern technology, working offshore puts you right at the bleeding edge of technological innovation. You may not enjoy specific training benefits but there are invaluable opportunities for learning on the job, working with the new methods and implementation of the latest technology.
Choose your work environment
If ‘oil rig’ is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of offshore working, you’ll be surprised at the number of different work environments an oil rig offers. From kitchen staff to helicopter pilots, offshore working in the gas and oil industry offers plenty of diverse opportunities.
While work on the offshore rigs can be tough but rewarding [6], there are other offshore contracting opportunities that are just as diverse in a global industry that is constantly diversifying. Petroleum geologists travel the world researching viable drilling sites, while subsea engineers will assess the work taking place beneath the surface. If you enjoy hard work, great rewards and the opportunity to innovate and troubleshoot, a life working offshore could deliver the challenges you crave.
Enhance your CV
If your current sector is facing job losses or it’s time for a career pivot, working offshore offers routes into highly paid freelancing work thanks to the transferability of your existing qualifications and skills.
You’ll have the chance to put into practice skills such as physical coordination and dexterity and test your mettle under high-pressure situations. If you’re an excellent communicator with a high degree of emotional intelligence, then working offshore will suit you. It’s a chance to enhance your CV by demonstrating your resilience and ability to work in a team.
Be your own boss
Choosing to work as a contractor in the offshore industry delivers higher income and greater flexibility and the opportunity to shape your own career. By dealing with different cultures and environments you’ll broaden your skillset, gain invaluable experience of specialist areas and extend your networking base.
Working offshore gives you unparalleled opportunities to choose where and when you work, and to save towards holidays, property and a secure financial future. Being your own boss allows you to test your capabilities in different environments and enjoy the kind of dynamic career that may not be available onshore.