I am one of those who decided it was worth attending a 3-week ROV Induction Course.
I have now been very fortunate in that I have been offered a start as a trainee.
In a nutshell - for me looking back - i'd have to say luck was as valuable a friend to me as the course. I have a BEng in mechanical engineering and am familiar with hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems through education and work. However I was never employed with as a technician or with a directly hands-on role. To me - this was a huge negative on my CV as I was aware that operators value the practical, competent, hands on ability of pilot techs as well as their analytic ability to solve problems.
I am a hands on person but how could I show this? I wasnt going to strip an engine block during the interview. The course allowed me to better prove this type of competence as opposed to me simply turning up and saying in an interview - "I'm happy to get stuck in and I know what im doing, honest I do."
Naturally, it also showed my direct commitment to the ROV industry. And there's something to be said for simply putting myself in a position where going into the interviews - i could speak with that little extra confidence because I was pre-armed with this course. For me - this was a good help.
However - although the course was valuable for me - looking back I would conclude that luck played an equally valuable part of my application and I would be unlikely to recommend that someone else follow me - unless they had my particular type of background. No course or qualification can take away the fact that there are many hundreds (thousands?) of applicants seeking the same post. So even when you deduct the no-hopers, this means there are still significantly more suitable applicants for any one post - and so if your CV is not top of the pile on that day, when the HR person decides to select people for interview etc. (after already passing one or two of their mates CV's into the fastlane) the chances of selection are slim.
I have a solid basis in hydraulics and electronics and so doing courses in these subjects didnt appeal to me. The impression I have today is that the interviewers are simply looking for the following two things in a trainee:
1. Someone who gets on well with other people (and within the offshore environment) PRIMARY
2. Someone who demonstrates an
aptitude for performing practical technical work.
The technical assessments I took and the interviews were all geared towards gauging these two areas. The technical tests were of a very fundamental level - because at the end of the day - as a trainee - they dont expect you to know everything. In fact, the company I am starting with are putting all the trainees through 'basic' hydraulics and electrical courses!
Should you do an ROV course?
In most cases - No. Without the luck (that you can do nothing about) you're better off making calls, making contacts, keeping your spirits up and staying polite but determined. The only way your chances are going to improve, is by sticking in the hunt and allowing father time to give you another throw of the dice.
My large nutshell
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T1000
