Many of these positions require personnel who are prepared and able to spend long periods of time offshore and away from home. Offshore trips can vary from a few days in the case of a rig move or inshore survey to four to six weeks for long term geophysical or construction activities.

Personnel considering this type of employment need to be good team players and able to get on with people of different backgrounds and cultures, be capable of working unsupervised and on their own initiative on occasions, be capable of making good judgement decisions, be reliable and have a positive attitude to work and have an attention to detail and quality of work performed.

Offshore work requires a strong commitment to personal safety and the safety of others. Regular completion of safety training courses and medical assessments is a mandatory requirement in most areas.