It is definitely slow out there. I was a re-hire at a crewboat company in the oil patch last March, but the bottom fell out of the market in early November, and I was sent home after only two weeks of a four week hitch.
It has been a welcome break to study for the test to upgrade my license. Hope to to that in January, then start knocking on doors up and down the bayou. At least a number of HR types now recognize me when I walk in.
I’ve been fortunate enought to find work three times since '08. Hopefully the next gig will be longer.