Oilfield job directory for $6.99 or $4.99

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 26

Oilfield job directory for $6.99 or $4.99

A list of contacts and information on South-East Asian oilfields has been compiled to help people looking for jobs, overseas, but its price depends on what newspaper you read. The 30-page directory is based on Mr Peter McKaskell’s eight years experience in working on oil rigs. He advertised the directory in “The Press” on Saturday for $6.99, but on the same, day offered it for $4.99 in the “Star.” “I want to know what people are prepared to pay for it. It is a marketing technique I picked up,” he said. Mr McKaskell offers a money-back guarantee if the directory is. returned within five days. “If people are happy to send $6.99 for it, that is fine. If they get • it for $6.99, hear that it is avail-, able for $4.99 and feel that $6.99 is not worth it then they can return it.” Those returning, their copy- bought for $6.99 cbuld buy it again for $4.99. Mr. McKaskell spent four months compiling the directory which .mentions . shifts, salaries, accommodation and other aspects

of work for 88 companies.He decided to write the directory as his way of helping others who were looking-for jobs overseas. “I know a lot of New Zealanders who are looking for jobs overseas and wanting to know how to go about it. I thought that my. experience cbuld help others and at the same time I felt that it was a marketable item,” he said. It was too early to judge the response to the advertisements because the directory was a mailorder item. Mr McKaskell had worked as a surveyor for a seismic company, but decided to work on oilrigs, when he found it offered better money. He. took a six-month course with a company and worked as a cementer. •

“Everything is . so. specialised, all the companies have to run courses. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time for that particular company,” he said.

After spending 10 years overseas Mr.-. 1 McKaskell decided to return to New Zealand to settle down. It was then that he thought of producing the directory.