Greetings maxpwr48, welcome to the board…
- I know of people who transition into the career from other careers. Some like it, some don’t. It can be a tough industry in many ways; long time spent away from family, can be physically demanding, you could get stuck with a group of people that you may not get along with for extended periods of time with fewer opportunities for privacy than you may be used to. On the other hand, it can offer great opportunities for advancement, you could end up working with a great crew that becomes like a second family. I don’t know about people who switch in to the field as a career change, but I’ve heard it said that there’s about a 50-60 percent attrition rate after about 2 years for new guys coming in.
-I can’t speak from the HR side, but generally you’d expect that people would appreciate someone with a degree, even if it’s not related to the field. On the other hand, this is an industry that has a tradition of learning everything from the bottom up. Guys come in as an OS, and they learn from there. It’s still certainly possible to start with no college education as an OS and progress up to one of the various levels of Master, although that gets tougher as the years go by. Not all work their way up to the top. There are guys who are content being OS’s, AB’s, Wiper’s and Oiler’s (or whatever), and have no desire with being the Mate, Chief Engineer or Master (or whatever). The best Tankerman I ever worked with didn’t have a degree, and sometimes I questioned the safety of the vessel when some of the lettered mates were in charge.
-As Richard says, companies have different policies about sickness, and when he says “…work till you can’t safely perform” he’s dropping some serious knowledge on you there. Safety is taken very seriously onboard vessels, as it should be. If you feel like you need help, ask. If you don’t understand what’s expected of you, ask. If you don’t think you can do something, let someone know. If you’re getting sick, let your team know.
-As an OS, you’ll be supervised closely, working with other OS’s and AB’s (and mates, engineers or masters from time to time). Sometimes you may be tasked to do something and be left alone. This will vary depending on the task, the work that needs to be done and the aptitude/attitude of the individual sailor. When you’ve finished the tasks or whatever, and you’re still on duty, it’s best if you find yourself some project or new task. There’s always something to do. Everyone likes a self starter. If you can’t figure out something to do, ask. Don’t hide, though, not cool…
As for classes and certs, you should have your OS, TWIC, Passport and Basic Safety Training certificate. (BTW, you’ll hear some people say shit like “I’ve got my STCW” when they mean BST. Don’t do that.) That’s a solid start…
A word about upgrading. With as little as 6 months of sea time, it’s possible to make your first upgrade. An AB - OSV requires 180 days, as does QMED. If you are working on a vessel that gives you 1 1/2 days for every day worked, it’s possible to advance after 4 months. A Tankerman (Barge) only requires 60 days (well, that, and a lot of documentation of loads and discharges). If you get your first job, say, on a tug that delivers fuel, and are attentive to the details, you could move up the “ladder” quite quickly.
Again, welcome. You can make it if you want to. Now’s a tough time, jobs are tight, but it’s certainly possible to get work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions here (but please make abundant use of the search feature!) and let us know how you’re doing.