CV Example

Offshore CV Example: The Layout North Sea Agencies Actually Score Well

Below is the structure we use on every offshore CV we write, section by section, with the wording that gets matched by applicant tracking systems.

Quick answer

A strong offshore CV runs two to three pages in a single column: short profile, certifications with expiry dates, then each role with installation, operator, rotation and results. No photos, tables or columns, because applicant tracking systems drop them. The full worked example below shows the exact structure.

Short answer

A good offshore CV runs in this order: contact details, a four-line profile, certifications and medical with expiry dates, offshore experience by installation, then onshore or trade background and education. Two pages, single column, no tables or graphics. The ticket block sits above your work history because that is the first thing a recruiter checks.

Offshore CV example, section by section

1. Header

JAMES MCLEAN — Offshore Mechanical Technician

Aberdeen, UK · 07xxx xxxxxx · james.mclean@email.com · Full UK right to work

Plain text, in the body of the document. Never inside a header element.

2. Profile (4 lines maximum)

Time-served offshore mechanical technician with 9 years on UKCS fixed installations and semi-submersibles. Experience across rotating equipment, hydraulic power units and planned maintenance in Maximo. Currently working 2 on 2 off and available at 2 weeks notice. All tickets current: BOSIET with CA-EBS, MIST, OGUK medical valid to 03/2028.

3. Certifications & medical (with expiry dates)

BOSIET with CA-EBS (OPITO) — valid to 06/2027

MIST (OPITO) — valid to 09/2027

OGUK Offshore Medical — valid to 03/2028

Chester Step Test — passed 02/2026

Confined Space Entry (City & Guilds), Working at Height, Manual Handling

Full name plus the acronym, because different systems search for different strings.

4. Offshore experience (by installation)

Mechanical Technician — Wood Group (client: Harbour Energy) · 2021 to present

Installations: Judy, Elgin PUQ · Rotation: 2 on 2 off · Fixed platform, manned

Maintained centrifugal pumps, gas compressors and hydraulic power units under a permit-to-work system. Delivered planned maintenance in Maximo with 98 percent compliance across two shutdown campaigns. Nominated for two STOP card safety observations in 2024.

Every entry names the installation, the operator, the rotation and the platform type. That is what the ATS matches on.

5. Onshore / trade background

Mechanical Fitter — Bilfinger, Grangemouth · 2016 to 2021. Time-served apprenticeship, rotating equipment and pipework.

6. Education

HNC Mechanical Engineering — North East Scotland College, 2016

SVQ Level 3 Mechanical Engineering — 2015

Six formatting mistakes that get offshore CVs rejected

Two-column layouts and sidebars. The ATS reads left to right across the whole page and your dates end up glued to your job titles.
Tickets buried on page two. Recruiters check mobilisation readiness first. If BOSIET and your medical are not visible immediately, you look unavailable.
No expiry dates on certificates. A ticket with no date is treated as expired by most screeners.
Vague employers. 'Worked offshore for a drilling contractor' scores nothing. Rig name plus operator name is what matches the search.
Rotation missing. Agencies filter on 2/2, 3/3 and 28/28. If it is not stated, you get skipped for the person who stated it.
Headers, footers and text boxes. Anything in a header or a text box frequently does not get extracted at all, including phone numbers.

What to do with this example

Rebuild your own CV in this order, single column, in Word rather than a design tool.
Run it through our free ATS CV checker to see what a screening system actually extracts.
If the score comes back low, get it rewritten properly rather than patching it.

Related: offshore CV writing service, free ATS CV checker and the UK oil rig salary guide.

Want this done for you instead?

We will rebuild your CV in this exact format around your tickets and installations in 48 hours. No payment until it is ready.

Submit Request

Offshore CV example: common questions

What does a good offshore CV look like?

A good offshore CV is two to three pages, single column, with a short profile, a certifications block showing every ticket and its expiry, then roles listed with installation name, operator, rotation and measurable results. No photos, no tables, no columns, and no skills bar charts.

How do I write an offshore CV with no offshore experience?

Lead with your valid BOSIET, MIST and OGUK medical, then translate existing work into offshore terms: confined space, working at height, permit-to-work, manual handling, shift patterns and safety observations. State clearly that you are available for immediate mobilisation on any rotation.

Should an offshore CV have a photo?

No. UK and North Sea recruiters do not expect one, and images sit inside blocks that applicant tracking systems often fail to parse, which can corrupt the surrounding text. Use the space for your certifications instead.

What file format should I send my offshore CV in?

Send a text-based Word document unless the agency asks for PDF. Word parses most reliably across Bullhorn, Taleo and Workday. If you must use PDF, export it from Word rather than a design tool so the text layer stays readable.