# Getting Started
**URL:** https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956
**Category:** Professional Mariner Forum
**Created:** [March 7, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956 "2016-03-07T17:47:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Baynative415](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Baynative415)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/1 "2016-03-07T17:47:42Z")
I’m having a little trouble breaking my way into the industry, and was wondering if anyone on here could offer some advice. I was registered with a sailors union in San Francisco,but after many fruitless trips to the union hall i could no longer afford to stay in the area. I’m pretty desperate for the work, but wherever i look all the openings for an O.S. are offered at rates substantially less than those with the union. Does anyone have any good leads, particularly on the west coast? Not to be picky, but with my situation i cant afford to travel very far without the promise of work. Any help would be much appreciated, God bless.
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### Author:  [@z-drive](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/z-drive)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/2 "2016-03-07T18:28:22Z")
Just take any job to get experience. You can upgrade to union, non-Union whatever after you get some time under your belt. Nobody here will say otherwise.
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### Author:  [@Geordie](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Geordie)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/3 "2016-03-07T18:59:32Z")
Getting an entry level job with SUP is tough, unless you have an in. Go next door to the IBU and work occasionally on ferries as a D card. Entry classes are starting soon at the IBU, apply soon. Pay for your STCW classes and try with MSRC in Richmond or Westar. Once you get an A/B things will open up
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### Author:  [@Yo\_Soy\_Marinero](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Yo_Soy_Marinero)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/4 "2016-03-10T20:14:55Z")
Conocco (Polar) is hiring for mess persons. It closes March 31. I think that is an excellent way to get in the door. If you are trying for OS jobs, get in there (or any company), bide your time, and you may be able get hired within. Cheers and happy hunting.
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### Author:  [@DeepSeaDiver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeepSeaDiver)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2016, 10:10am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/5 "2016-08-09T10:10:46Z")
[QUOTE=Baynative415;180587]I’m having a little trouble breaking my way into the industry, and was wondering if anyone on here could offer some advice. I was registered with a sailors union in San Francisco,but after many fruitless trips to the union hall i could no longer afford to stay in the area. I’m pretty desperate for the work, but wherever i look all the openings for an O.S. are offered at rates substantially less than those with the union. Does anyone have any good leads, particularly on the west coast? Not to be picky, but with my situation i cant afford to travel very far without the promise of work. Any help would be much appreciated, God bless.[/QUOTE]
Hi Baynative415
Hows it going since you asked these questions? Hope all is well. Have you been able to find employment like z-drive and Geordie suggests? Hope to hear back from you.
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### Author:  [@Flyer69](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Flyer69)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2016, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/6 "2016-08-09T10:13:45Z")
> [@"DeepSeaDiver"](#):
>
> Hi Baynative415 Hows it going since you asked these questions? Hope all is well. Have you been able to find employment like z-drive and Geordie suggests? Hope to hear back from you.
Why are you resurrecting threads from six months ago?
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### Author:  [@DeepSeaDiver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeepSeaDiver)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2016, 10:32am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/7 "2016-08-09T10:32:32Z")
[QUOTE=Flyer69;188653]Why are you resurrecting threads from six months ago?[/QUOTE]
I wonder what is going on with this guy? Is he still in the industry or still trying to break into the industry or what? I am hoping he has a success story for us I guess. Most likely not since he has only posted once, but you never know? This forum has 31,806 members as of now and we dont hear from most of them? just sayin 🙂
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### Author:  [@Flyer69](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Flyer69)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2016, 10:53am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/8 "2016-08-09T10:53:20Z")
> [@"DeepSeaDiver"](#):
>
> I wonder what is going on with this guy? Is he still in the industry or still trying to break into the industry or what? I am hoping he has a success story for us I guess. Most likely not since he has only posted once, but you never know? This forum has 31,806 members as of now and we dont hear from most of them? just sayin 🙂
we don’t hear from most of them, and others seem to need to make up for that.
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### Author:  [@Baynative415](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Baynative415)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/9 "2016-08-15T16:53:41Z")
No luck finding employment on the water at all, had to settle for retail to avoid homelessness. Thanks for checking in. Will be back to the job hunt as soon as I stabilize.
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### Author:  [@Baynative415](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Baynative415)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/10 "2016-08-15T17:16:13Z")
[QUOTE=DeepSeaDiver;188652]Hi Baynative415
Hows it going since you asked these questions? Hope all is well. Have you been able to find employment like z-drive and Geordie suggests? Hope to hear back from you.[/QUOTE]
Hey, thanks for checking back with me after all this time. Although unfortunately I had to bite the bullet and get a job in retail to avoid homelessness. Having paid my way through bst/stcw the payoff for my efforts has been disappointing to say the least. My current job presents plenty networking opportunities though, hoping to get lucky.
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### Author:  [@Mjordan22](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Mjordan22)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/11 "2016-08-25T17:55:53Z")
[QUOTE=Baynative415;189129]No luck finding employment on the water at all, had to settle for retail to avoid homelessness. Thanks for checking in. Will be back to the job hunt as soon as I stabilize.[/QUOTE]
Apply at Marquette transportation. A lot of people either quitting because of pay or or they can’t deal with the bs. Not the best company, but they hire green horns all the time.
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### Author:  [@DeepSeaDiver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeepSeaDiver)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/12 "2016-08-25T19:24:14Z")
[QUOTE=Baynative415;189129]No luck finding employment on the water at all, had to settle for retail to avoid homelessness. Thanks for checking in. Will be back to the job hunt as soon as I stabilize.[/QUOTE]
Hi, Baynative415 Have you had a resume critique? That might be a possible help. I am confident you will score in the near future. Keep your head up and don’t give up, you got this. Turn it into a game, one that you intend to win.
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### Author:  [@PineappleOranges](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/PineappleOranges)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/13 "2016-08-25T19:52:42Z")
[QUOTE=Baynative415;189129]No luck finding employment on the water at all, had to settle for retail to avoid homelessness. Thanks for checking in. Will be back to the job hunt as soon as I stabilize.[/QUOTE]
That might be the route I’ll have to go. I was finally given employment of what would have been my first maritime job, only to have my starting/training date suspended, the Friday before flying out, until further notice.
Perhaps, it is my first real taste of the bitterness of the industry. Bummer.
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### Author:  [@Colt\_Winchester](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Colt_Winchester)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2016, 4:33pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/14 "2016-08-27T16:33:49Z")
[QUOTE=Yo\_Soy\_Marinero;180802]Conocco (Polar) is hiring for mess persons. It closes March 31. I think that is an excellent way to get in the door. If you are trying for OS jobs, get in there (or any company), bide your time, and you may be able get hired within. Cheers and happy hunting.[/QUOTE]
Polar doesn’t hire any green mariners these days. Even a messperson has to have a culinary degree or maritime cooking experience. The mess person must be able to fill in for the Cook-Baker if necessary. Essentially, there are no ratings at Polar with no experience. The Utilities are even rated as oiler or AB. And some stay as Utilities because the job is good and pays well, with OT. The 3rd’s have to do an interview, then be accepted as an intern cadet, and then upon completion have to be recommendaed for hire. Polar gets to pick from the best these days because of the massive gulf decline. I would recommend the newbie get a deckhand job on a coastal tug if they can, to set themselves up for the future, good luck.
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### Author:  [@Tugslasthitch](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tugslasthitch)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/15 "2016-08-28T16:38:26Z")
I heard mac Norfolk just laid off some full crews and tied a boat up and did some house keeping ,
Always shitty hearing of people being sent home
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### Author:  [@farmerfalconer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/farmerfalconer)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/16 "2016-08-28T18:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=Tugslasthitch;189632]I heard mac Norfolk just laid off some full crews and tied a boat up and did some house keeping ,
Always shitty hearing of people being sent home[/QUOTE]
McAllister of Norfolk? I was just there last week turning in a resume in person and the guy seemed slightly optimistic about my prospects.
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### Author:  [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/17 "2016-08-28T18:51:19Z")
> [@"farmerfalconer"](#):
>
> McAllister of Norfolk? I was just there last week turning in a resume in person and the guy seemed slightly optimistic about my prospects.
Lol yeah about that…
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### Author:  [@Tugslasthitch](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tugslasthitch)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/18 "2016-08-28T19:15:52Z")
> [@"farmerfalconer"](#):
>
> McAllister of Norfolk? I was just there last week turning in a resume in person and the guy seemed slightly optimistic about my prospects.
yeah mac Norfolk , look elsewhere prolly better luck next door at Vulcan or Robbins
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### Author:  [@farmerfalconer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/farmerfalconer)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2016, 6:06am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/19 "2016-08-29T06:06:52Z")
[QUOTE=Tugslasthitch;189635]yeah mac Norfolk , look elsewhere prolly better luck next door at Vulcan or Robbins[/QUOTE]
I did visit Robbins. I’ve been taking BT classes at MAMA in hopes of padding the resume a bit and job hunting in my off time. Not so bad, I have an interview in a few hours actually.
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### Author:  [@Tugslasthitch](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tugslasthitch)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2016, 8:31am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/getting-started/15956/20 "2016-08-29T08:31:50Z")
> [@"farmerfalconer"](#):
>
> I did visit Robbins. I’ve been taking BT classes at MAMA in hopes of padding the resume a bit and job hunting in my off time. Not so bad, I have an interview in a few hours actually.
with robbins
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