What paper is that in Salmonfella?

double msg

triple post FFS. Sorry.

Scotian,

What do you think about prospects in trucking? As a fresh newbie, if I get an Alberta class 1, what are the chances that I could land a high paying job right away? Do you have any insight to share about the life of truckers?

(04-26-2013 01:14 AM)ilove Wrote:  Scotian,

What do you think about prospects in trucking? As a fresh newbie, if I get an Alberta class 1, what are the chances that I could land a high paying job right away? Do you have any insight to share about the life of truckers?

Class 1 is NOT guaranteed instant trucking work. Driving big rigs, you gotta prove yourself with smaller companies. They will not risk cargo loads with new drivers. Haul for Culligan Water Delivery, Drywall Delivery, UPS, and then approach the bigger companies. Give it a shot anyway. Nothing to lose. Surprising things happen.
Talk to truckers, head to Truck part dealerships, and talk with folks there. The life of a Trucker, your life is in your truck. You can get with a company like QuikX to do 2 partner longhauls (two drivers, one rig, drive for 8, your partner drives for 8), highway driving is way easier than city driving. This is where you'll get your biggest break with a Class 1 'cause folks don't like leaving home.

In addition, if you're going to do any type of driving course. Do the ones that immediately are related to the Oil Sands. Like this course. Way better investment than a Class 1 if your intent is to make money right away. http://keyano.ca/programs/trades%20heavy...20operator

The Canadian government is reversing its foreign worker acceleration program due to a public outcry recently.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...e11622324/

Quote:THE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes announced Monday to the federal government’s temporary foreign workers program include:

– Employers must now pay temporary foreign workers at the prevailing wage, rather than up to 15 per cent less than the average for the same job;

– The “accelerated labour market opinion” process, which fast-tracked the ability of some companies to bring in workers from outside Canada, has been temporarily suspended;

– The government has more authority to suspend and revoke work permits and labour market opinions (LMOs) if the program is being abused;

– Specific questions will be asked of employers that are applying for LMOs to ensure the program is not being used to facilitate outsourcing;

– Requiring employers who rely on temporary foreign workers to have a “firm plan” in place to transition to a Canadian work force over time;

– Introducing new fees for employers for LMOs, and increasing the existing fees for work permits;

– Allowing only English and French as languages that can be used as a job requirement.

The Canadian Press

(04-29-2013 11:15 PM)DjembaDjemba Wrote:  The Canadian government is reversing its foreign worker acceleration program due to a public outcry recently.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...e11622324/

Quote:THE HIGHLIGHTS



The Canadian Press

GOOD! When I lived in Vancouver I saw some serious bullsh*t! I recall an animator from Brazil.. Guy did Pixar quality work, when he applied for work after graduating from a Canadian school, some companies were offering him $22,000 a year instead of a starting wage $40 000 a year that they pay locals. He was told "Oh you don't have Canadian experience." For animating, even though he did it professionally for 2 years before going to a Canadian school! Some of these companies try to short change excellent workers with skills all because of a work permit. F*ck 'em! Glad they have changes happening!

Just got hired as an Pipefitter Helper ( 3 months evaluation before they decide to indenture me) ! In Calgary! Just when I was about to throw in the towel, I get a call, I drive to Calgary from Edmonton, interview lasts 5 minutes. Dude, says. " Sh*t! This is what you wanna do! Great! Some guys I interview look half dead, don't even know why they applied to begin with. When do you want to start?"

I wore a vest, khakis and dress shirt. Mentioned the online course I took for Pipefitting.

The company does installations all over Western Canada and, of course, Northern Alberta, of Fiberglass Piping, and last crew flew to Cuba to do pipe installations. Another crew was prepped to head to Russia for some installs.

And right after I got back to Edmonton from the Calgary interview I'm now getting call backs from companies in Edmonton for work! It's like dating. When you're single, no one wants ya, when you get with someone, then all of a sudden the women start showing up!

My many thanks for an awesome and informative thread! If Trades is what you guys wanna do! GO FOR IT! Keep ALL options open!

Just curious.

I see the holiday work permits have limited numbers for any specific country. Is this what you need to work there or are there different working visas?

(05-01-2013 06:15 PM)RossTan Wrote:  My many thanks for an awesome and informative thread! If Trades is what you guys wanna do! GO FOR IT! Keep ALL options open!

Way to go bud. Calgary is an amazing city. The trades are tough but worth it.

(05-01-2013 06:26 PM)Power_Ranger Wrote:  Just curious.

I see the holiday work permits have limited numbers for any specific country. Is this what you need to work there or are there different working visas?

Depends on the country: http://www.international.gc.ca/experienc...x?lang=eng

For the UK: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/uni...&menu_id=3

congrats on the offer! I got a question for the guys working, how do you keep yourself motivated to do something productive after a 12 hr shift? I planned to learn some russian but the long hours and crazy travel is completely exhausting me. Especially since I've only got maybe an hour or two after eating dinner.

hey guys,

Im new to this forum and mainly joined because of this golden thread. Big thanks to everyone who took the time to contribute, amazing amount of detail and info here lads. Quick word on my background, im a 20 year old lad from Ireland, im currently in collage and exams are starting soon however i think iv spent more time researching and planing my canada adventure then studying i dont plan on going back to collage next year as im starting to think it would be abit of a waste, i have 3 more years to do and id much rather spend that time in canada taking on the challenge and lifestyle that comes with it, making sum decent paper and moving up the ladder to become a driller on an oil rig or if i went down the trades route clock up some time as an apprentice scaffolder or pipefitter, then been a broke ass student that can barely aford to go out once a week for afew pints! and it would probally take another year or 2 to even find a job after geting a degree as Ireland is in a bad state! Dont get me wrong i like the whole collage experience and the crack is mighty but i tink im past it and would like to try better myself and my life financially, mentally and physically by taking this opportunity!
Its going to take me a gud few more months before things really come together to make the move as im broke and nowhere near having the initial funds to set myself up over there (5000 dollers). so more time for planing i guess,
Quick questions... Do ye guys think it will still be handy enough to land a good gig on a rig or get an apprenticeship this time next year?? (at the very most) If one was to follow all the advice here and meet the requirements (safety tickets, visas etc)

Also, if one was to make 100k in a year doing lets say scaffolding work (obiviously not in their 1st year but after maybe 3 years in an apprenticeship or so?) how much of that is left after taxes.. any ideas roughly?

Thanks for your time lads, work safe out there.

An another Irish dude here mate. All the Best but be warned we won't be able to do certain apprenticeships as ya have to be a Canadian resident I have read story's on here of Irish doing apprenticeships in Canada but I highly doubt they are registered as an apprentice unless they have PR as the IEC visa is only 2 years and an apprenticeship is 4 . Sometimes I read this thread and people think you will walk into a 100k job with no experience I highly doubt it. I am not a great fan of people going to Canada with no experience you will struggle your best going with a trade. Have you ever worked 12 hour days on the building sites in Ireland? The oil rigs are ten times harder I would imagine: D I ain't trying to ruin your dream I just want to let ya no it won't be as easy as ya think:-)... but I wish ya all the best

hey salmonfella,

im aware how hard the work will be and i no i will be starting from the very bottom and have to prove my worth before any sort of advancement which i have no problem with! Im not afraid of hard physical work id much prefer that then sitting behind a computer all day. (like everyone else on this thread) plus im highly motivated and determined to succeed with this. If i can get my foot in the door over there atall im sure ill rise up and prove myself. Im not expecting a very high paying job from the start or anything, i was just wondering after afew years of doing it wat one might expect. I do silage contracting every summer with roughly the same hours, i no the work pales in comparison to trade and rig work over there especially with the brutal climate condition but its toughened me up somewhat ha. Im going to print off most of this thread and study it so i dont waste anyones time with stupid questions ha. I cant get an apprenticeship of any kind here thats how bad tis, if i could id take anything really and then head over ha.

(05-08-2013 01:14 PM)man in green Wrote:  hey salmonfella,

im aware how hard the work will be and i no i will be starting from the very bottom and have to prove my worth before any sort of advancement which i have no problem with! Im not afraid of hard physical work id much prefer that then sitting behind a computer all day. (like everyone else on this thread) plus im highly motivated and determined to succeed with this. I cant get an apprenticeship of any kind here thats how bad tis, if i could id take anything really and then head over ha.

Get into Power Engineering. If you're going to get into the oil patch at your age, I'd recommend getting into Power Engineering. What are you taking in school right now? There's 52 listed Trades. Many to choose from, pick wisely. Even an Electrical Engineering Degree will help you get into Canada pretty quick.

Read Alberta Venture. LOTS of great articles.
http://albertaventure.com/2013/03/immigr...e-alberta/

Power Engineers pull in about $200 000 a year...sometimes that's the starting wage 'cause there's HIGH DEMAND for them currently.
The level of education is a 2 year diploma course, some have certificates. Engineering math at a Polytechnic is not as demanding as University math courses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10-evVLz_1g

Do ya not need to be a PR to do that? Plus we can't undergo education on our working hoilday visa

(05-08-2013 07:35 PM)RossTan Wrote:  

(05-08-2013 01:14 PM)man in green Wrote:  hey salmonfella,

im aware how hard the work will be and i no i will be starting from the very bottom and have to prove my worth before any sort of advancement which i have no problem with! Im not afraid of hard physical work id much prefer that then sitting behind a computer all day. (like everyone else on this thread) plus im highly motivated and determined to succeed with this. I cant get an apprenticeship of any kind here thats how bad tis, if i could id take anything really and then head over ha.

Get into Power Engineering. If you're going to get into the oil patch at your age, I'd recommend getting into Power Engineering. What are you taking in school right now? There's 52 listed Trades. Many to choose from, pick wisely. Even an Electrical Engineering Degree will help you get into Canada pretty quick.

Read Alberta Venture. LOTS of great articles.
http://albertaventure.com/2013/03/immigr...e-alberta/

Ya have to be s PR to do a trade the op is from Ireland so I imagine he is not sadly like myself the best he can look forward to is a lease hand/labourer gig that is why I suggested he do a trade in Ireland before comibg over.

hey Ross thanks for the reply,

Im studying transport management at the moment. Im in danger of failing my exams, thats where the strong push is coming from to go the canada, especially after reading all these success stories! truly inspiring and motivating. Process engineer looks like a great job, it would be well worth doing 2 years at NAIT if you could walk into a job as high paying and challenging as that however in Nait and sait its a requirement to have done chemistry and/or physics in the leaving cert? and i done neither

(05-09-2013 03:49 AM)salmonfella Wrote:  Do ya not need to be a PR to do that? Plus we can't undergo education on our working hoilday visa

I think its fairly easy to get permanent residency in Canada, maybe 2-3 years, so if he comes over on the working holiday visa, he can still get a labourer type job in the oil industry and gain valuable experience and of course, make decent money.

Then once you guys get your PR, you can move into a trade, think big picture and long term guys. Also, lets say he did 2-3 years as a welder's helper and learned everything about welding and how to actually weld, I think that if his hours are recorded, he could challenge the 1st year or even 2nd year apprentice exams. I'm not sure about that, but its possible, something to look into guys.

Rosstan, good suggestions with the power engineering trade, that was a good video you posted, that guy has a pretty mint gig working 5 days on 5 days off, that's 6 months of time off each year, not a bad gig, but I would be getting the fuck outta Etown as much as possible and hitting the slopes in the Rockies or flying to coastal BC on my days off.

I agree with ya scotian I have sent an email to immigration to see is that possible to work for 2 years as a non/semi skilled worker and then apply for PR after our 2 year visa is up. That's why I suggested getting some kind of coll diploma at home here first. I would hate to see lads going to Canada doing there 2 year visa and then finding out they can't apply for PR and haveing to return home to Ireland after 2 good years in Canada unskilled.

hey Scotian,

ya that sounds v. good. I wouldnt mind a labour type job atall and im all for paying my dues and working hard. Anything is beter then been here, iv being going through a pretty rough patch here and having some really low days even weeks. I actually think i need this canada trip just as much as i want it if ya get me. I just want to get the ball rolling on this as soon as i can and start getting a better life for myself on track.

Do ya think labour entry positions or leasehand positions would be handy enough get into late this year roughly? once one has all da required certs etc sorted of course..


Salmonfella,

I get you now man, thanks for the heads up, will ya let me know what immigration say bud.