Best place to move to look for work? (Entry-level)

**heehaw** · May 25th, 2011, 09:08 AM

I'm a hawsepiper looking for my first sea time. I'm inland and need to move where the work is, I assume.

I'm interested in San Diego or Hawaii, not necessarily because I know the most opportunities will be there compared to other places, just because I think I'll be happier there than other places (climate/culture). What do you know about the job scenes there? Where would you go if you were in my situation? Somewhere else? I am closer to Houston/Louisiana where I am now, but I don't like it there. I'd suck it up though if it meant getting work.

The unions (SIU/SUP) were not at all encouraging when I called them and the MSC is not hiring entry-level right now. So I plan on going into every company I can find, dockwalking for fishing boats/yachts, trying the cruise companies, etc. I've applied online but either haven't gotten responses or else there's no way to even apply if you aren't licensed.

Are there any other certs that I should get at my level that will increase my chances of finding a job? I have Basic Safety, but I am unclear of what else is available to me without sea time.

I appreciate your advice, even though it will be harsh and demoralizing.

**kfj** · May 25th, 2011, 11:22 AM

Don't limit your self to one location and apply to everyone

**heehaw** · May 25th, 2011, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by kfj

Don't limit your self to one location and apply to everyone

I am applying everywhere and it hasn't gotten me anywhere. Also, I find that some people aren't interested or won't take an application unless I'm local. A few union halls wouldn't even answer my questions unless I came in person. And I can't walk the docks on the internet.

**water** · May 25th, 2011, 12:39 PM

Louisiana is a good place to start checking, or will be, once they get the oil permits flowing again. There is a lot going on down there when it is busy, but the opposite is true during slow times. Hopefully we should be slowly getting out of the current slow time. It would be a good place to get your foot in the door to get experience.

A lot of people live out of the area, and drive back and forth. One person had a 25 hour dirve each way. 12 to 14 hours is not uncommon.

You aren't necessary making a long term decision - just get the work and experience under your belt, and once you have proven yourself, you should be a bit more selective as to where you want to work.

Head down to the oil patch and start knocking on doors, resume in hand. Over dress for the occasion - even a sport coat and tie - you have to set yourself apart from the herd.

Do a search here about job hunting. Anchorman had a very good post in the fall of 2008 about the best way to go about it. If you aren't successful the first time, plan on going back again a month later and do it again. Collect a business card from each HR person, and keep it in a plastic page for buisiness cards in a three ring binder. That way when you go back a second time, you can have the business card in hand, and the receptionist will sit up and take note.

Do you have your TWIK and OS?

Good luck!

**cappy208** · May 25th, 2011, 12:52 PM

You said you're from Houston, LA. how far? If you are that close, then you don't necessarily have to MOVE, but you may want to consider a drive from Galveston to Tampa. It would cost you some cash to do it, but showing up at the door sometimes is coincidentally exactly when the last guy gets fired! It is amazing how that works!

I'm not going to be harsh and demoralizing, since the economy is harsh enough. You do need to realize that there are hundreds and hundreds of experienced seamen on the beach trying to figure out how to get a job (back) that you are competing with.

Water asked if you have your TWIC and MMC. Do you? If you don't have them you aren't getting in the door anywhere!

**heehaw** · May 25th, 2011, 03:48 PM

I'm about equidistant from Houston and New Orleans a good 5 or 6 hours. I just want to get out of the South really bad (I grew up down here). So, I was wondering what the job market was like out West. It would be worth the move simply for a morale boost.

I have my MMD, TWIC, and STCW Basic Safety.

**DeckApe** · May 25th, 2011, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by cappy208

You do need to realize that there are hundreds and hundreds of experienced seamen on the beach trying to figure out how to get a job (back) that you are competing with.

Bah! These days its all about the right place at the right time. If you knock on doors with your steel toe boots on and a seabag in the trunk your odds could go way up. Be ready to pass an on-the-spot drug test and breathalyzer.

A buddy just got hired down in the GoM. They told him on the phone they were not hiring, then he then walked in their office and was hired in the spot (after the piss and breath test). Right place right time.

The lesson here: Be ready to rock when you knock.

Originally Posted by water

You aren't necessary making a long term decision - just get the work and experience under your belt, and once you have proven yourself, you should be a bit more selective as to where you want to work.

Very true!

**Cal** · May 25th, 2011, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by heehaw

I'm interested in San Diego or Hawaii, not necessarily because I know the most opportunities will be there compared to other places, just because I think I'll be happier there than other places (climate/culture).

The unions (SIU/SUP) were not at all encouraging when I called them and the MSC is not hiring entry-level right now.

Sounds like you want to move and you're using the availability of work as the excuse. In most industries, that's a valid excuse. In our industry, it isn't, but you already knew that.

If you want to move out of LA, then move out of LA, but don't attribute it to work. It's okay.

The impression I have of MOST, not all, west coast companies is that they are union. While you may get hired without going through the union, one would expect that they are at least somewhat familiar with what is going on with the companies. Others may be able to attest to it personally, but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone getting hired by dock walking on the west coast. Not to say that it hasn't happened, just that I haven't heard of it. Which to me seems a bit odd, have heard it about every other market.

**chgonyer** · May 25th, 2011, 09:02 PM

Cal is right, thats not really the way the west coast works. i worked and lived out there for a lot of years and its a hard area to just walk into, not to say it doesnt happen just very very rare. I would say, on the tow boat side, the big three are union (foss, crowley, sause bros) and they seem pretty hard to get into, in fact if you figure out an easy in with them let me know, but you have other outfits that are good,( harley seems to be), and some that are, well the rats are fleeing the ship,( ksea west coast comes to mind). it used to be, maybe it has changed, that most of the hiring goes on in spring/early summer, as a lot of the work revolves around alaska, especially the farther north up the coast you go (seattle, portland etc).
you dont have to move some place special just for work (unless you want to work a shore side type job), thats the beauty of this industry. shit live in iowa and work in cali. pepper places with your resume and call them every two weeks or so, youll get picked up by someone. if you just have to walk the docks to find a job, i would guess going to louisiana is the place.

good luck brother

**SaltySailor** · May 30th, 2011, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by heehaw

I'm a hawsepiper looking for my first sea time. I'm inland and need to move where the work is, I assume.

I'm interested in San Diego or Hawaii, not necessarily because I know the most opportunities will be there compared to other places, just because I think I'll be happier there than other places (climate/culture). What do you know about the job scenes there? Where would you go if you were in my situation? Somewhere else? I am closer to Houston/Louisiana where I am now, but I don't like it there. I'd suck it up though if it meant getting work.

The unions (SIU/SUP) were not at all encouraging when I called them and the MSC is not hiring entry-level right now. So I plan on going into every company I can find, dockwalking for fishing boats/yachts, trying the cruise companies, etc. I've applied online but either haven't gotten responses or else there's no way to even apply if you aren't licensed.

Are there any other certs that I should get at my level that will increase my chances of finding a job? I have Basic Safety, but I am unclear of what else is available to me without sea time.

I appreciate your advice, even though it will be harsh and demoralizing.

If you are under 25, take a good, hard look at Tongue Point Job Corps and it's program which is run by/with the Inland Boatman's Union (West Coast Tug and ferry union) which is a good program. Free room, board, basic healthcare and I assume a gig with the IBU after you come out.

There is some info on the fourm about it and on the internet.

**sfmariner** · May 31st, 2011, 01:24 PM

Can you cook? Sause Bros. is hiring for a cook/steward position. Sause Bros. covers the west coast and Hawaii. Cook may not be what you are looking for,but it may get you hired by the company and you can build a reputation as a good shipmate and worker,then be able to transition into a deckhand position when one comes open.

Here is the link to the job: http://www.sause.com/id30.html

Good luck