All You Need to Know about Roustabout Jobs

Garima Gayatri
Energy Clique
Published in
4 min readJan 29, 2020

The oil and gas industry, due to its diversity of operations, offers a wide range of career opportunities. Everyone can have a place in this sector — with or without experience, with basic level education or advanced qualifications. There’s so much that you get to learn on the job, even when you enter the industry with minimum eligibility requirements. One of the many diverse career opportunities in the oil and gas industry is Roustabout jobs.

What it is like working on an Oil Rig?

From unskilled manual laborers to highly specialized professionals, you will meet them all on the rig. Similarly, the oil rigs also differ from small grease-ridden land sites to high-tech comfortable offshore platforms. This goes without saying that oil rigs are dangerous environments, onshore or offshore. Work there is physically and mentally demanding. You are not only expected to be strong in health but also mentally prepared to work in extremely challenging and harsh conditions.

What does a Roustabout do?

Roustabouts are responsible for basic unskilled and semi-skilled laboring jobs, including maintenance and laboring tasks. Roustabouts learn a lot of skills during the job and learn to handle equipment such as pumps, generators, power tools, and so on. No special training is required for this job. With just a standard high school education, you can apply for this job role.

What does it take to be a Roustabout?

  • You must pay close attention to the details. A Roustabout is expected to be alert and vigilant on the rig.
  • The ability to work well with others and team effort is highly appreciated.
  • You need to be sensitive and understanding.
  • Criticism must be taken positively and you should be able to handle pressure at work.
  • How you keep calm and be patient in stressful situations will impact your work to a great extent.
  • Undoubtedly, you need to be physically strong. Movement, coordination, dexterity and grace, everything is important.
  • The ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools, is crucial.
  • You must be able to work well with your hands.
  • Be prepared to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device.

What does a typical day at work look like?

A typical day at work would involve cleaning and maintaining the deck and the equipment, using lifting gear to unload supplies from boats, moving supplies and equipment to storage and work areas, repairing pumping equipment, and preparing the drilling equipment.

The weather may not be favorable always and the working environment would be physically demanding at times. Sometimes, long hours outdoors in all kinds of weather and in remote locations. Also, you may need to wear protective clothing and use safety equipment.

What to expect?

12-hour shifts and work for 21 days straight in a row. In all weather conditions.

This requires mental toughness, perseverance, and physical strength. While at work, also adhering to the safety procedures. It is important to be versatile and quick in movement. You are not only expected to learn things quickly but also be good at taking orders well and have a positive approach. Further, it goes without saying that if you are assigned to offshore rigs, you need to be comfortable living away from family and friends, for a long time.

Where to look for Roustabout Jobs?

There are thousands of oil and gas jobs updated daily and too much information on the internet. The process of finding the right opportunity can get a bit overwhelming and confusing. With Energy Dais’ Job Portal, an exclusive platform dedicated to oil and gas career opportunities, it won’t be difficult. You can easily search and apply for jobs here. Adding to your delight, the portal also empowers you to create a Digital Resume. And the perks don’t stop here. Throughout your journey, the Energy Dais team can guide you. Isn’t that amazing?

Here are the links you need to check out now!

Search & Apply for Roustabout jobs

Create a Digital Resume

Learn some Skills that help you stand out

All the Career Inspiration you ever need

(Explore the exclusive Oil and Gas Job portal by Energy Dais for more information and feel free to get in touch for any support at contact@energydais.com)

Originally published at https://insights.energydais.com on January 29, 2020.

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Garima Gayatri
Energy Clique

A writer inspired by stories of smithereens. I write to make some sense of the nothingness, we all call life.