(11-20-2012 11:17 PM)Zeus Wrote:  

(11-20-2012 09:41 PM)Nima Wrote:  I had a level 3 Occupational First Aid certificate (highest level). It's now expired. ...I want to have a first aid ticket of some sort before going to Alberta, do you think this is overkill? This is equivalent to something similar in Alberta, but I don't know what exactly. I believe in Alberta you have "advanced first aid." Do you have any idea about this?

I wouldn't mind getting recertified if I can use it somehow in Alberta. I can make up the cost by using the ticket here before moving to Alberta.

If you want to get in a skilled trade, all you need is standars first aid. Cost is ~ $140 and 2 days of your time.

Hey Zeus how is Cowtown treating you? Have you started working in your trade yet? Details please!

Just two questions guys:

I am looking to get a city and guild certificate in welding level 1 (its a 12 weeks course) before i fly to canada. Will this certificate (city and guild) be recognised in Canada? Any number that i can call to ask this question?

Are the majority of cars in edmonton automatic? Im looking to get an automatic car license before i leave the UK so i can drive when i arrive in Canada, just making sure im making the right choice.

Pitt. We just have one license so I don't think it matters which UK one you have. As long as it's the "standard" license it should convert over fine to an Alberta one.

(11-21-2012 06:52 PM)pitt Wrote:  Just two questions guys:

I am looking to get a city and guild certificate in welding level 1 (its a 12 weeks course) before i fly to canada. Will this certificate (city and guild) be recognised in Canada? Any number that i can call to ask this question?

Are the majority of cars in edmonton automatic? Im looking to get an automatic car license before i leave the UK so i can drive when i arrive in Canada, just making sure im making the right choice.

780-452-7080
http://www.local488.ca/
This is local 488 the Pipefitters union, which includes welders.
They will be able to answer your questions.

Most cars are automatic.

No man, you need to do your weld test and get ticketed IN Canada. Its not hard and it costs about $60 per test.

Pitt, I would also call the Canadian Welding Bureau at their Edmonton office, contact info here: http://www.cwbgroup.org/

Right guys I have been real slack on posting here but there is a reason:

I have been hustling non stop, working the angles

I have been chasing the big job leads while working different jobs to keep busy.

So far I have done: Landscaping, snow removal, plywood fire coating and recently a bit of bouncing at my local bar ( 50% discount on drinks and lock ins after hours when I am not working )


So just to give an example on what some days have been like here:

Earlier today I head over to do my driving test for the second time (failed for driving too cautiously on the ice for time around -Total money making racket BS). On the way I see a cop car behind me and think it would be crazy if I got pulled over on the way to my test. Sure enough the lights go on and the sirens start up. I am driving a class 7 by myself which is as I was quickly informed illegal and means my car gets impounded. This isn't great since it belongs to a girl I am with and has just come out of impound about 3 days ago for something unrelated to me. I spin some stories and turn on the Irish charm and manage to talk my way out of it. I then drive over to the test center with my nerves shot.

Now I failed the test Monday even though I drove perfectly. I knew I would have the same test guy today who is a 40 plus year old Indian guy with a bad attitude. So instead of practicing anymore for the test I read up on Indian people. Spent 30 minutes talking about cricket, food and racism and passed no problem. By the end he was giving me his friends number for insurance quotes and not even watching me drive.

Then get back to the center and find out my irish driving experience wont count as I only ever had a provisional license and that I am going to get a temporary class 5 instead (useless for the oil industry). I demand to talk to everyone I can think of, stand my ground, tell some good BS and after 2 and a half hours get my full class 5.

After all that I get a call with an interview tomorrow for a dream job as a MWD Drilling assistant. Its with a real good company and exactly what I want. Didnt come easy, probably the 12th company I have talked to or called into this week.


I am learning life lessons by the minute over here. Hustling and stepping up is no longer an option its a must. Work hard and reap the rewards.

I have some PMs to respond to and some data on stuff to post that I have promised and I will real soon.


Hope this helps some of ye who are working hard to get over here or who are here already and trying to get set up.

Keep knocking and someone will answer

(11-21-2012 02:10 AM)scotian Wrote:  Hey Zeus how is Cowtown treating you? Have you started working in your trade yet? Details please!

Scotian,

Cowtown is great so far. I never realised how cunty Toronto women are until I came here and 8's and 9's will openly just talk to you. And they're not fat.

I fucking hate the cold. Enough said.

I have my apprenticeship. I am filling out my papers now and waiting for my "blue book" It's great. Learning fast and I have the best boss. He comes in the the shop and yells at the top of his lungs "SICK TITTIES!!!" just for the hell of it. We got talking yesterday and he said exactly what you've been saying. If you're good, companies will pay you basically whatever you want to babysit sites. Sitting there doing nothing just for a little insurance. I expect to make over $125K by 3rd year.

I build these PLC Panels

(11-22-2012 06:57 PM)Irishman Wrote:  Keep knocking and someone will answer

Truth

(11-22-2012 06:57 PM)Irishman Wrote:  (...)
Now I failed the test Monday even though I drove perfectly. I knew I would have the same test guy today who is a 40 plus year old Indian guy with a bad attitude. So instead of practicing anymore for the test I read up on Indian people. Spent 30 minutes talking about cricket, food and racism and passed no problem. By the end he was giving me his friends number for insurance quotes and not even watching me drive.
(...)

Ahahah, Indian Trolls everywhere messing with RVF members.

I'll be waiting your reporting on the immigration stuff.

Irishman, that is fucking inspiring. Thank you for being here.

(11-23-2012 07:11 AM)ElJefe Wrote:  Irishman, that is fucking inspiring. Thank you for being here.

Thanks but real credit goes to Scotian for all the info that got me here in the 1st place.

Found out today I am going up Drilling this Thursday. I called and told them I had the truck and was ready to go. Got a call back 10 minutes later. Should have got the truck weeks ago I guess.

I will try answer all the PMs I have before I go but most of it is up here already.

Plus I still have this other MWD job that might come through yet which will mean skipping a few rungs on the drilling ladder.

Hopefully I make it back with all my fingers to post up about rig life...

(11-22-2012 08:27 PM)Zeus Wrote:  

(11-21-2012 02:10 AM)scotian Wrote:  Hey Zeus how is Cowtown treating you? Have you started working in your trade yet? Details please!

Scotian,

Cowtown is great so far. I never realised how cunty Toronto women are until I came here and 8's and 9's will openly just talk to you. And they're not fat.

I fucking hate the cold. Enough said.

I have my apprenticeship. I am filling out my papers now and waiting for my "blue book" It's great. Learning fast and I have the best boss. He comes in the the shop and yells at the top of his lungs "SICK TITTIES!!!" just for the hell of it. We got talking yesterday and he said exactly what you've been saying. If you're good, companies will pay you basically whatever you want to babysit sites. Sitting there doing nothing just for a little insurance. I expect to make over $125K by 3rd year.

I build these PLC Panels

(11-22-2012 06:57 PM)Irishman Wrote:  Keep knocking and someone will answer

Truth

Thank you! I have a couple questions mostly for the sole reason is that I don't know what I don't know.

the things that I do want to ask

I am not an electrician or a tradesman. Worked with computer networks / servers for last 17 years but also worked in other office / sales positions. So no certs there, but am super technically minded. the go to person for anything technical in any office I am involved with. Would just getting the plc certification or training be enough or would I need an electronics / electrical technician training or an electrical ticket would be the training needed

1) are there quite a few jobs that could be done still with some PLC training / certificate
2) if I train by myself (books / videos / home setup) are there chances of getting those jobs

would having a CDL be of any benefit if I am not planning on being a trucker but would rather be in PCL

and another question ..

as a network computer admin/technician (wife/wan/lan/pc/mac) are there any positions that earn comparable pay to what you guys do?

thank you so much

(11-27-2012 06:27 PM)calihunter Wrote:  Thank you! I have a couple questions mostly for the sole reason is that I don't know what I don't know.

the things that I do want to ask

I am not an electrician or a tradesman. Worked with computer networks / servers for last 17 years but also worked in other office / sales positions. So no certs there, but am super technically minded. the go to person for anything technical in any office I am involved with. Would just getting the plc certification or training be enough or would I need an electronics / electrical technician training or an electrical ticket would be the training needed

1) are there quite a few jobs that could be done still with some PLC training / certificate
2) if I train by myself (books / videos / home setup) are there chances of getting those jobs

would having a CDL be of any benefit if I am not planning on being a trucker but would rather be in PCL

and another question ..

as a network computer admin/technician (wife/wan/lan/pc/mac) are there any positions that earn comparable pay to what you guys do?

thank you so much

You most likely would need your ticket. PLC evolved from electricians and you would need to know what you're doing electrical wise. It's not just software. It's nderstanding how the circuitry works and the properties. I'm not sure it would be easy to get PLC work without your ticket. I'm sure it's possible, anything is, but it would be a climb.

I think you would be wasting your time "training yourself" just my thoughts. We learn about PLC in our 4th year of then apprenticeship. And we just touch on it. I'ts pretty advanced stuff. As well, you have to take further courses after to be competent.

I would suggest if you want to do PLC, get your ticket.

rote:
Hey man how's it going? Hope you're enjoying Thailand, it's a blast and way nicer than Edmonton at the moment.

I don't know if you remember me but I messaged you a while asking you about working in the oilsands. Well things haven't gone as well as I'd hoped. Maybe it's a string of bad luck or a series of unfortunate events, I'm pretty distraught at the moment.
I don't want this posted in the thread cause I don't want to discourage people from making the move. I feel partly responsible for the things that have happened although I also understand that there's bound to be bumps along the way.

When I arrived in Etown I was incredibly motivated to work. I hitched to downtown from whyte to rent a car and drove to Nisku for 2 days hoping to land something. I got stumped because I didn't know if the jobs advertised were in camp or in the yard. It seemed to me that the only ones that were in camp were drilling companies and that wasn't what I wanted to do so I wrote off Nisku altogether. Renting a car to go to work isn't the smartest idea.

After more hunting I recieved a callback from some companies. One was a company who hires labourers for CEDA. The other was in Cold Lake that required a vehicle. Everyone I met had been talking about the CEDA one, how they'd hire anyone, and that we would be staying in camp. After a few weeks of getting my tickets we were oriented for a shutdown in Ftsask. There was confusion between the company and the plant of who would be starting which shifts and I got the sense that it wasn't managed very well. I got a call before the night I went to work telling me that some of us had been turned away and I won't be working that night. I was then offered to work for the company internally and was invited to do the company's orientation. I maintained a positive outlook throughout this ordeal hoping I would go to work soon. Finally I was briefed on an upcoming well servicing job that put me in a hotel and gave me subsidence. As if things couldn't get any worse, I get a call the next day telling me that an incident had happened at the job site and I won't be going. After that I called again and again only to learn that the person who hired me had left the company.

I managed to get an interview with a company that does machining for out of town work. I showed them all my tickets I got and my clean driver's abstract and was told to wait for a call. 2 weeks had passed and I left them.

By then it was already summer and I couldn't find any out of town work so I worked for the city helping out with festivals while applying for whatever I can. Having no car limited my prospects.

I get an email from a safety company telling me to attend training in 2 weeks which was a godsend seeing how things had worked out so far. Well that 2 weeks turned into 4 weeks and I was close to leaving them but kept in contact and was assured that it will happen. Finally, after a week of training we were told we could be call at any moment so be patient and standby. Funny thing is after training I get a call from another safety company I applied for in the summer and I turned them down.

Sure enough I get a call following week telling me to hop on a plane the next day to Fort McMurray. I was so happy I found something that sticked and someone had kept their word. Up till this point I thought I was chasing the ever illusive camp job I could never have.

The site we were going to was a SAGD site and doing safety was a pretty good gig. I can see all the different trades in the field doing their work and meet some of the more technical guys as well. Millwrights complaining about always having to clean shit for NDT guys, scaffolders yelling at each other, engineers inspecting vessels, labourers cleaning and vacuuming inside tanks. Camp life is ok, it wasn't as glamourous as I thought it would be. Food is dependent on the camp but the second camp we were at had some amazing food. I'd say camp experience depends on the quality of the camp and how much of a nuisance the guy is next door.

After getting back to town with no word on when the I'll be heading out next, I started getting anxious with winter approaching. Although the paycheck was nice, I hadn't been working that much, and that stint in FtMac was my only experience. By the second week I started applying for other companies cause I got the feeling I was going to be stood up once more. But then I was called for more training, this time for the rigs. We were told we would have to wait for the roads to be built which might take 3-4 weeks.

It's been 6 weeks already and I still haven't heard anything. During this time I went to a temp agency for work and shoveled snow the first day. I showed up at 5:45am the next day, waited till 9:30am only to be told there won't be work today. I show up again tomorrow only to be told the same. By now I had lost all confidence and motivation in myself and everyone.

On the upside I have applied for a pre-apprenticeship trades program at SAIT starting in January. And sure enough I am on the waitlist. Judging by the way things have gone, I wouldn't get my hopes up. I know it's gambler's fallacy to think otherwise.

So that sums up my experience in Alberta so far. I'm a patient guy so it might have worked against me. I'll be driving back home in December to get some money and hope I get into the program. If I don't I'll make the move again immediately afterwards only this time I'll find something more stable in the city. There is another college offering the same program though it starts in September and is in a smaller town and only gives the 1st year of schooling as opposed to the first 2 years.

If I were to give some advice to someone it would be:
- Know what you want. If you don't know then get a any job during a shutdown in late March/mid August doing safety or labour to get an idea of how things run in a plant. Once you know what you want, BOUNCE because shutdown work is on call. Or apply to an entry trades program in advance and make the move when school starts. That way you come out with a job and apprenticeship. If you have a car and know exactly what you want to do then you can hustle for an apprenticeship. YMMV
- Don't hang around to be a setting sun. Abandon things before they abandon you. If you don't hear back then don't be afraid to leave. Jobs are abundant here. Leave any beliefs you have about loyalty at home. I didn't want to leave cause I've already invested too much in the company. read:loss aversion and sunk costs
- Wear quality PPE cause getting insulation in your eye sucks!
- Make use of your time. Read and exercise.
- I didn't find as many assholes as there were idiots. It helps to be nice. Don't sink to their level. How much education your work requires dictates who you work with.
- Network.
- Be frugal.

That's about it.

There was this one older feller I remember while doing a manwatch for. We started talking about his work, how he loves doing testing and how's he been doing it for a long time. I told him about my experience coming here and he goes "Aha! That's because you come from a different work background! Out here no one gives a shit! You don't have to be loyal to anyone! You are worth more to them than they are to you!". He asked me if I had a girlfriend to which I replied no, he then goes on and says "pussy is a pussy maan, get some girls and go fucking! If I were your age man I would be fuckin a lot of pussy" with a thick spanish accent. I asked if he was married (yes) and if it puts a strain on their marriage. He says nope my wife understands she's cool and if his kids wants to smoke weed or whatever he won't stop them. He tells me he's from Spain and that even though he enjoys the rich history and culture and learning about the inquisition he's deeply against religion. He tells me of places he has traveled like Africa and how he hates it there and how he loves Canada and it's the best country in the world and that in Africa people walk by dead bodies rotting on the street with not a care on their face and that the camps aren't as nice and he doesn't get treated as well. We were just talking, waiting for the paint to dry. Really great guy. Kinda shows you the different people you meet in the industry.

Thanks hiphoppotamus for your honest post, it really adds value to this thread because it just goes to show that things don`t always work out for everyone who makes the move to Alberta and guy`s can learn from your experience.

Actually your experience is very similar to mine when I first moved to Edmonton back in 06` when it was even busier, even though there were tons of jobs to be had, I didn`t know what I wanted to do and was a bit too picky. I ended up going through six different jobs in the six months I was there before finally pulling the plug and moving back east, broke. I was quite depressed that things didn`t work out but since there wasn`t much going on back home for work I decided to move back out a few months later, take a pre-employment course and thankfully got a good career out of it and haven`t looked back since.

Again, thanks for sharing and keep your head up man, if you do end up moving home don`t think of it as a failure, you learned a lot and you actually gained some relevant on-site experience and you have your safety tickets. The oil and gas industries in Alberta will be busy for years to come (I hope so anyway!) and there will be plenty of jobs to be had.

So refocus your plan, try to get your hands on a vehicle, go back to school and give it another shot!

I ventured out to Nisku yesterday to drop my CV off, hard to navigate the place without a car. The job search was refreshingly straightforward, some offered an interview on the spot – I was asked about a class 5 licenses and couldn't get it on that basis. Getting a license here opens doors; make sure you get it done when you arrive alongside your safety tickets.

No luck on camp gigs, one place called 3 hours later offering me a testing/labor gig – it was a letdown due to logistics. I've been looking into drilling, welding and pipe-fitting as possible options. Lots of jobs for welders and pipe-fitters around that area. Most places said they'd be hiring mid-December. Scotian, both the Redwater and Fort Sask. plants will be hiring for spring; lots of options on the websites too.

Started going to the gym again and it's definitely helped me focus better. For pipe-lining, try out the one week trials offered at most gyms. Show up at a fitness class, some have decent talent. It's probably good for those off weeks on rotations since you have less time to day game.

(11-29-2012 01:42 PM)brownman Wrote:  I ventured out to Nisku yesterday to drop my CV off, hard to navigate the place without a car. The job search was refreshingly straightforward, some offered an interview on the spot – I was asked about a class 5 licenses and couldn't get it on that basis. Getting a license here opens doors; make sure you get it done when you arrive alongside your safety tickets.

No luck on camp gigs, one place called 3 hours later offering me a testing/labor gig – it was a letdown due to logistics. I've been looking into drilling, welding and pipe-fitting as possible options. Lots of jobs for welders and pipe-fitters around that area. Most places said they'd be hiring mid-December. Scotian, both the Redwater and Fort Sask. plants will be hiring for spring; lots of options on the websites too.

Started going to the gym again and it's definitely helped me focus better. For pipe-lining, try out the one week trials offered at most gyms. Show up at a fitness class, some have decent talent. It's probably good for those off weeks on rotations since you have less time to day game.

You don't have a driver's license? If not, get it ASAP.

Guys, its not impossible to find a job without one but it makes your CV a lot less attractive to potential employers, especially if you are unskilled.

I waited 5 weeks to go drilling after being hired for fly in jobs cause I had no car. Once I got the licience and truck it took literally 10 minutes after I called them. Turns out my 2 weeks as a leasehanding is actually 1 week. Also I got work as an mwd already with another company once I get back. Real happy with that.

Worked my first few hours on the rig today. Its loud and feels like you're inside a massive engine. Its dangerous but managable. Also got run off the road by a logging truck on the way up. Just like scotian warned about Haha Nasty impact but the truck survived and was out in an hour after getting towed. Feels like the cold wild west out here

Do you really have to have a truck to work in this industry or does it at least help your job chances if you write "has truck" on your resume? It sounds that I should at least write "has car" on my resume, but I am reluctant to go full on truck as it would hurt my game where I am from. Maybe that is different in Calgary. Decisions, decisions.

I am heading out for Ft Mac next week for a Haul Truck interview and then off to Calgary to ideally secure some sort of fly in/fly out position while I wait a few months for the course to start. I will review the notes I have taken from this very helpful thread.

(11-30-2012 12:45 AM)Ferro Wrote:  Do you really have to have a truck to work in this industry or does it at least help your job chances if you write "has truck" on your resume? It sounds that I should at least write "has car" on my resume, but I am reluctant to go full on truck as it would hurt my game where I am from. Maybe that is different in Calgary. Decisions, decisions.

I am heading out for Ft Mac next week for a Haul Truck interview and then off to Calgary to ideally secure some sort of fly in/fly out position while I wait a few months for the course to start. I will review the notes I have taken from this very helpful thread.

I'd write that you have a vehicle on your CV, it doesn't have to be a truck unless you are driving to remote job sites down logging roads like Irishman is, then you'll need a 4X4 truck. If you're just driving around the cities, you're okay in a car, even driving up to Fort Mac on Hwy 63, you can do it in a car.

I spent a year in Alberta without a vehicle, both Edmonton and Calgary, and I relied on public transportation which is doable but sucks, I also didn't work outside of the cities then. If you're planning on doing out of town work, then a car is essential as not all employers provide transport, especially if you're new and unskilled. Once you are experienced and ticketed up, employers will usually provide transport, this is something you can bargain in the interview.

When I had my interviews after going to school (for the job I've been doing the past 5 years) one of the first questions each employer asked was "do you have a car?". I went out and bought a shitty little Toyota Echo for $4000 and got the job. A couple of years later, I eventually succumbed to what a lot of guys in Alberta do and went out and bought a 4X4 truck, a Nissan Titan, it was nice but at that point I was on a fly in/out job, I didn't actually need it although they're nice to have in the winter because they don't plow the side roads very well, even in Calgary and Edmonton.

I've been without a vehicle for over a year now, my employer gives me a work truck to drive around in and use as a personal truck when I'm in Fort Mac. Whenever I go to Edmonton for a few days or to catch a flight from there, I take a bus from Fort Mac and rent a car while I"m in the city.

I always tell guys that if you're serious about a career in the Alberta oil patch, plan on living there year round for a solid 3-5 years to get the tickets and experience you need to be in a position to bargain with your employer, whether its asking for a work truck or telling them you're fucking off for the winter. Living in Alberta=owning a vehicle, period.

(11-30-2012 12:45 AM)Ferro Wrote:  Do you really have to have a truck to work in this industry or does it at least help your job chances if you write "has truck" on your resume? It sounds that I should at least write "has car" on my resume, but I am reluctant to go full on truck as it would hurt my game where I am from. Maybe that is different in Calgary. Decisions, decisions.

I am heading out for Ft Mac next week for a Haul Truck interview and then off to Calgary to ideally secure some sort of fly in/fly out position while I wait a few months for the course to start. I will review the notes I have taken from this very helpful thread.

Are you taking the interview for a company or the Keyano college program? Good luck btw man.

Thanks scotian, I will probably hit kijiji for something ridiculously cheap. I love how there aren't emissions requirements in Alberta like there are in ON.

Keyano Kdog. I see it as a great backup plan if I don't find something else I like more in the months before the course starts.

(11-30-2012 02:07 PM)Ferro Wrote:  Thanks scotian, I will probably hit kijiji for something ridiculously cheap. I love how there aren't emissions requirements in Alberta like there are in ON.

Keyano Kdog. I see it as a great backup plan if I don't find something else I like more in the months before the course starts.

Good choice in taking the course at Keyano, there's a good chance that you'll be recruited the day you graduate and if not, you'll be in Fort Mac anyway so make sure you do some networking while you're there. Try to meet people at MacDonald Island Park (rec centre) or Syncrude fitness centre (close to Keyano), Oil Barons junior hockey games, taverns, hell even show girls strip club is about a three minute walk from Keyano, you can run into people at all those places who may be able to hook up up with a lead on a good job.

Here's some jobs sites for the Fort Mac area: http://www.fortmcmurrayonline.com/

http://regionalhelpwanted.com/home/330.htm

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/intro-eng.aspx

Scotian great thread !

I am stuck at present here in Italy, my company closed down, I am a white collar but hated my job and spending all my life in front of a pc screen; this could be for me the start of a new career.

I am thinking of coming in Alberta and getting some kind of qualification in order not to show up totally unskilled.

I you were to choose some kind of training course (not longer than 6 months ideally for financial reason I would say 3 months) what would you suggest ? I mean what would give me the highest chances of a job ?

many thanks if you are able to reply

(12-01-2012 10:04 AM)callaghan Wrote:  Scotian great thread !

I am stuck at present here in Italy, my company closed down, I am a white collar but hated my job and spending all my life in front of a pc screen; this could be for me the start of a new career.

I am thinking of coming in Alberta and getting some kind of qualification in order not to show up totally unskilled.

I you were to choose some kind of training course (not longer than 6 months ideally for financial reason I would say 3 months) what would you suggest ? I mean what would give me the highest chances of a job ?

many thanks if you are able to reply

.

All the info you need is here in this thread, read it through. Your best bet is some type of technical trade but if you're going to do the school part in your country, make sure that it is recognized in Canada, there's a good chance that it won't be as Canada isn't the best at accepting international qualifications. You'd almost be better off just coming here on whatever visa and getting whatever job, then going from there. Read Irishman's posts and you can do something similar to what he's been doing.

I worked for a big Italian contractor at the Husky Sunrise site north of Fort Mac, it was probably the most fucked up site I've ever worked at, their name is Snamprogetti, I'd be surprised if that site ever gets built and can't wait until it eventually blows up because I'll make a killing there, just like I did at CNRL Horizon when that blew up, I love when shit blows up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpDxiWyROb8

Anyway, enough oil sands hearsay, you should contact them and see what they say about potential work opportunities in Canada.

http://business.financialpost.com/2011/1...onnection/