longstreath.com: So you wanna be an ALST? - longstreath.com

I like many others thought I could do that! So having been made redundant I looked into starting a career as an Assistant life Support Technician.

1st I went on the internet and looked up as much as I could, did some research, looked up the names of the companies that could provide the training and thought to myself, this sounds like a wise career move. Now the training schools don’t promise you a job but they do give you the feeling there is lots of work around.

So I decide to ring the training providers, I found 3, some were cheaper than others and the more expensive ones gave me reasons on why I should choose them. They had all the patter, how they’re training would make the difference between getting a job or not. Some said they would provide a list of contact information and the use of their onsite job search equipment. By now I’m thinking this all sounds great, its just a matter of who shall I pick to do my training and when.

I opted to pay a bit more and get the course done straight away as the other courses were cheaper but they were months away and because I was told there would be more chance of being employed earlier in the year.

Off to bonny Scotland I go…

So I arrive for my 2 week course, everything looks very professional, very busy, lots of students buzzing around everywhere all with nice boiler suits and logos on the back and key cards round their necks. I’ll skip the boring bit…

There are only 6 of us on the course, and everyone seems nice. Like myself nobody else has any previous offshore experience, 2 have previous air diving experience and the others nothing relevant.

The classrooms are basic but very clean, the tutors very polite with what seems to be a long and established career. You get breaks every few hours with tea/coffee provided.

Over the week there is a fair amount of stuff to take in, everyone seemed to struggle with the maths. There was homework most nights and small mini tests most mornings. Some people chose to go out on nights, I stayed in to study. Don’t get me wrong if it wasn’t me paying for the course I’d have been out getting drunk but for me I was going to get this right.

At the end of the course I passed my exam and was over the moon, got my certificate logbook and T-shirt and drove home ready to do my offshore survival course. I had already done my medicals, as I didn’t want to do the course and then fail a medical.

I fast-forward 2 weeks… Survival is now done, I have everything I think I need to get my job as an ALST.

I contact as many companies as I can using my friends who are divers for contacts, everyone says they will add your CV to their list. Great, everything done, let’s pest the offices every now and again and can’t be long before they get back to me with a job. After all how many other people out there could possible know about the role of an ALST?

Conclusion:

So its now 4 months later…

I have spoken to every man and his dog, I’ve been on every forum in the world, spoken to dozens of LST/LSS’s, people in HR, project managers, personnel managers… You name it, I’ve spoken to them.

I still don’t have work, I’m on good 1st name terms with the companies but that job offer still has not arrived.

What do I say about anyone wanting a job as an ALST?

Do your homework, don’t believe what the schools tell you, all they want is your money. Don’t ring the dive schools asking what works like, ring the companies that will be employing you. Ask them what the prospects are of getting a job! I now know there are thousands of CV’s registered on databases of people with the certificate that says they have completed their courses. Think of it this way, there are only so many dive boats out there, each boat say 4 ALST's? (including back to back's). I'm no whizz at maths but I know thats not many when you consider how many people are already doing the job and how many are waiting.

Seriously if you don’t have a contact very high up working for one of the big contractors then your chances of being employed are very slim, even if you are persistent (like me).

If you are thinking about going down this route I wish you the very best of luck, just don’t hold your breath. Most people that get all the certificates end up with a shoddy bit of paper they will never need and a very expensive t-shirt.

Happy hunting,

Fabz

For those that are wondering, I’m not giving up... I will never give up, its what I want to do, and I’m to stubborn to turn back