Moving away from Standby when qualified

[Unregistered]

Hi all. I'm about halfway through Phase 4 at the moment, sponsored by a standby company. I'm enjoying everything so far, and I'd really like to stay in the Offshore sector when I qualify, but the thing that's bothering me is that everyone from the deck crew to pilots to the frigging MCA during an audit have said that having experience in nothing other than Standby pretty much means getting onto another type of vessel is extremely difficult.

Standby has a really bad reputation because of how I hear things were 10 years ago, and while some of the people there today may not be the best at their jobs, from what I've heard it's no worse than some of the officers in other sectors, so this reputation that still dogs it seems slightly unfair.

Has anyone else come up this way? How hard would it be for a newly qualified officer to find a job outside of standby? It's not like I expect to get plonked on a DSV off the bat, but supply vessels look interesting. Is it really nigh on impossible to move out if Standby if it's all you have experience in? I've even had one bosun suggest "losing" my discharge book and getting a fresh, blank one when I qualify so prospective employers can't see it's the only thing I've done (although this seems like a singularly bad idea).

Judging from the distinct lack of officers who have come from cadetships that I've met in the company given the amount they train it sounds like it may not be impossible to get out, but most of the people I've heard who have got jobs elsewhere have been with other standby companies. I realise it would be handy if I could get on another type of ship during my cadetship, but my sponsor has pretty much guaranteed to myself and anybody else who's asked (everybody) that that's not going to happen.

Makes me a tad concerned for the future. Not that standby is too bad or anything, but floating alongside a rig doing nothing for an entire month at a time is a bit, well, soul destroying.

[YoungMariner]

If you are motivated and determined you will of course find yourself work elsewhere. I'd suggest registering with all the agencies that specialise in temping such as Genesis, Seamariner, Clyde etc and take some temp jobs initially.
You could transfer to one of the companies which has both Standby Vessels and PSVs or multi purpose ERRV's and push to get yourself put onto those vessels.

You will have an OOW license and with the right attitude the sky is the limit, you just have to pitch yourself with a good CV and the right attitude.

[Unregistered]

I should probably clarify a bit. All the boats I've been on have been capable of doing cargo (containers, fuel and water, not any of the specialised PSV stuff) and don't have DP but I have had a few hours experience using the Masterstick which is like semi-DP (you don't need a DPO certificate to use it and it doesn't count towards DP training), although from what I can gather, it's the preffered method most supply ships use anyway, some older ones occasionally aren't even fitted to DP-2.

I'm hoping this can be a sort of hook to use to get into PSVs, but although they are technically multi role vessels, the stuff we do is 99.9% standby.

[YoungMariner]

Well pitch your CV to identify that kind of work (without lying) then prove yourself as the kind of person they want to employ once you get in the door.

[bobofinga]

I spent 6 months of my cadetship on Standby and know a good few others who did also and none of them are still there.

As long as you tailor your CV , and like Youngmariner said , are motivated and have the right attitude you WILL get a job elsewhere.

[Clanky]

If you were employed on supply vessels then for anything other than applications to offshore companies that is all you have to say.

i.e. on your employment history just put deck cadet on offshore supply vessels.

If you are applying to other offshore companies then they will know the kind of work that your sponsor's vessels usually carry out and you would best to be straight with them, although you can highlight the fact that you did some supply work and that you handled the vessel using pos con or masterstck or whatever you had.

[gadget123]

You want to be getting in touch with companies you want to work for now. Don't wait until you are qualified start looking into who you want to work for when qualified, and get in touch get your foot in the door and see if you can get something lined up early.

Also if you don't manage to find something else and your sponsering company offer you a job take it. Even if it is an awful job with poor pay just take it. A **** job is better than no job.

[Lewis]

What is the alternative. Experience that is the most useful is better than no experience which is of course absolutely useless.

[Dosedmonkey]

Are we all presuming your a decky? I don't actually see that written down anywhere, deck or engine?

If you really want to do something in life, you'll do it, it's more of a question of what is the bet way to go I guess. Key thing here is to start talking to other companies in other sectors NOW, before you complete your cadetship, they look upon that well.