QUOTE(blo0dLuSt @ Nov 21 2012, 10:25 AM)
Let me share some of experiences of getting job. I admit, it is hard to get into oil n gas industry but it is not impossible. If you try hard enough you will get it eventually. Have you heard of pareto law, law of 80-20. This law is quite applicable to most situation where out 100 applications you apply, only 20 applications respond back to you and so on for later stage (interview). So you have to keep applying and also keep track of what you have applied. Make a list and update it from time to time. When I was unemployed, I read the Star almost everyday to find employment.
Until one day, my efforts were paid off when I was offered to work as trainee mudlogger with Geoservices (not a tambi company). The pay was low but with offshore allowances it is not so bad comparing with land job. Do not compare with other offshore jobs like cementer, wireline, completion , mwd, mud engineer, geologist, directional driller and etc. It will demotivate you. Working in mudlogging is a good place to learn about operation especially drilling. You will learn to monitor every single drilling parameter and it is your responsibility to report any changes. So it is easy for people to blame you if you miss something. For example if the mud loss during drilling and you missed it. There is high changes to be run off from the rig.
After few months becoming a trainee mudlogger, I was promoted to mudlogger. During that period, I only did was collecting drilling samples. When not drilling, I used that time to learn how to monitor the operation. Depending on the sampling interval and rate of penetration, you will collect certain amount of samples in an hour. It is tiring when you have to take more than two samples per hour for 12 hours shift. I was lucky, I had to do this for 4 hitches before becoming mudlogger. When you are mudlogger, you don't have to do sampling anymore. Sampling is done by sample catcher or trainee mudlogger.
This job may not look lucrative as other job, but you learn a lot about operation. Many people work here as stepping stone for other job. There are many ex-mudloggers are now working somewhere else as completion, mwd engineer, wellsite geologist, drilling engineer and many more. So it opens to many other opportunities but you have to keep your eye open and build your own networking. Don't worry, on the rig, you will meet many kind of people. That's the change to network.
Set your target, how long you want to work as mudlogger and work for it. My 2 cent advice, don't stay there for too long (1-2 years is ok), or else you are stuck. Once you stuck, it is very hard to move. That is the case for most people in mudlogging. Everybody want to quit. Learn, get promoted and leave quickly. Now I am no longer with Geoservices, currently working with the custodian of petroleum resources in m'sia. Many of my friends in mudlogging are leaving for better opportunities.
Good luck!
Added on November 21, 2012, 11:22 pmQUOTE(azraeil @ Nov 21 2012, 05:01 PM)
I did my degree in th US.
Wisconsin-Madison?
This post has been edited by alhakam88: Nov 21 2012, 11:22 PM