(05-09-2013 06:04 AM)man in green Wrote:  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.

Shouldn't be too much of a problem, there's always work in Alberta. You may not land the dream job right away and you may even work a shitty job for awhile, but you'll be able to make ends meet. Just look at the experience of Irishman, he busted his ass doing landscaping and shoveling snow for a few months, then he got the gig he was looking for.

I always try to tell guys to be realistic about their expectations, don't expect to be making $30/hour right away, it took me a year of living in Alberta and going to trade school to get to that level. If it happens, then great, but $15-20/hour is more realistic.

Again, September to November is very busy in the oil sands and the refineries/plant site in northern Alberta (Edmonton, Fort Mac, etc) but it slows down a bit December to March. The winter months are busy on the drilling side, then they slow down in the spring during break up time.

Hi guys, this is definitely an interesting thread.

I came across this thread as I was looking for work ideas as I'm planning to apply for a working holiday visa for 2015, although I would consider applying for a work visa instead.

I'm from the UK, I have a double BSc (hons) in Computer Forensics & Cyber Security, from which I have recently graduated, along with a bunch of computer certs, and am thinking about doing an MSc Telecommunications starting September. I have six years experience as a bus driver, and have two years experience as an FLT driver (reach & counter balance). I am also first aid at work qualified, and would consider any other courses that would aid me in finding work.

Whilst I would prefer to get into some kind of engineering / computing position, I have nothing against manual labour as most of my family are roofers and I have done some labouring for them in my spare time. I imagine I would be able to complete at least some kind of entry level course over the next 18 months.

Also, my brother is a chef with over a decade of experience including working 18 hour days on cruise liners. Do you know what the prospects would be for a chef finding work up there?

I appreciate any kind of advice you could offer.

Thanks in advance.

Lads do any of ye have the probation class 5 licence? Any good or is the class 5 advanced a must?

Hey guys does anyone know does Power-line Technician company's be recruiting often? or do they ever recruit positions for the likes of a helper something along the lines of a Welders assistant. i would love to get into that area as it is mega coin and then after my couple of years do as scotian suggested apply for my PR and backdate my work any help would be great. i have served 80% of an Irish apprenticeship as an electrician and since i cant work in this area in canada as its regulated i am hoping that might help me land a gig in the power line game. any help would be great i am sure ye guys would no if i would have a chance of getting a job in it or not. Cheers

Sorry about the double post i tryed to edit the above to include this message but it would not allow it.

Hey guys, been lurking this thread for a while. Actually just decided to relocate to Edmonton after just recently finishing my somewhat useless social science degree in Ontario. Looking to get a fly in/out job in the mac, preferably as an apprentice electrician. Already met some helpful people since I got here so it seems promising. Just completing my tickets at the moment so I'll keep everyone updated.

Lads i no this has been posted before but i had to again this video is just amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxPbk_Q2O4I

(05-10-2013 03:32 PM)salmonfella Wrote:  Lads i no this has been posted before but i had to again this video is just amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxPbk_Q2O4I

I would of shat myself flying outside the chopper like that.

I think i did just watching it haha

(05-10-2013 05:35 AM)salmonfella Wrote:  Hey guys does anyone know does Power-line Technician company's be recruiting often? or do they ever recruit positions for the likes of a helper something along the lines of a Welders assistant. i would love to get into that area as it is mega coin and then after my couple of years do as scotian suggested apply for my PR and backdate my work any help would be great. i have served 80% of an Irish apprenticeship as an electrician and since i cant work in this area in canada as its regulated i am hoping that might help me land a gig in the power line game. any help would be great i am sure ye guys would no if i would have a chance of getting a job in it or not. Cheers

Sorry about the double post i tryed to edit the above to include this message but it would not allow it.

As a helper with Electricians you'll be hauling cables, cutting wires. Some openings are there for sure. Check the link below to see if your current experience may help. Met a guy from Ghana a few years back, trained o be an Electrician in the UK, came to Canada, for a few months he worked at a Warehouse until he landed an Apprenticeship. TO my knowledge he studied the modules, passed, so he got the book work done and started filling in his work hours for Journeyman certification.

http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/experiencedworkers/

indeed.ca <--job search engine.

I never thought of it serioursly. But I just saw a website that offers training
http://www.mdslimited.ca/

They expicitly say you will probably have to get trained again if you're hired, but I'm wondering if taking that training would be a good way to get a foot in the door? If it is I might take it. Anyone have any experience with it?

(05-11-2013 06:39 AM)Pete Wrote:  I never thought of it serioursly. But I just saw a website that offers training
http://www.mdslimited.ca/

They expicitly say you will probably have to get trained again if you're hired, but I'm wondering if taking that training would be a good way to get a foot in the door? If it is I might take it. Anyone have any experience with it?

I'm somewhat familiar with the school, its in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and my friend's brother took the course and I've heard of other people taking it and they all said the same thing: don't take the course! It costs several thousands of dollars and although it would teach you some very useful skills, you can learn those same skills by getting hired on as a green horn at any drilling company in Alberta. This course won't put you ahead of any random unskilled guy who gets hired off the street, you'll both be complete newbies. I would rather get paid to learn all of the basics than fork over thousands of dollars for something that isn't really going to give me an advantage. Also, you have to factor in the costs of moving and living near the school, and North Sydney is a shit hole, my parents are from those parts.

I would suggest using the money to buy a decent truck and just have extra cash in the bank while you relocate to Alberta and look for work in the oil biz.

Cheers Ross that sounds good I have all my schooling done In Ireland so hopefully something might come from that. The thing is anytime I apply for jobs the company's reply saying I am not a red seal electrician or a registered apprentice and I can't do that as I dont have PR and that it would be illegal to work in the trade as it is regulated. so I am kind of screwed I taught I might be able to get work as a linesman helper as the trades not regulated and with my prior low voltage experiance it might help me. Thanks for your help)

(05-11-2013 06:39 AM)Pete Wrote:  I never thought of it serioursly. But I just saw a website that offers training
http://www.mdslimited.ca/

They explicitly say you will probably have to get trained again if you're hired, but I'm wondering if taking that training would be a good way to get a foot in the door? If it is I might take it. Anyone have any experience with it?

Depending on the cost, it's worth looking into if you want to do this for a career. Get a feel if it's for you through the course. I took Enform's pre-employment for drilling, cost me $1200 at the time. Was it worth it for a week? My personal opinion, yes. I realized I had zero interest in working the rig life. Fun experience though. And even at Enform they said "what we teach is our way to be safe, when you get out there the crew will probably do things a little different, don't argue with 'em if you want to keep your job."

Nova Scotia also has a Pipefitting/Steamfitter course in one of their colleges. I would recommend that over the Roughneck course any day if their tuition costs are similar!

Just said i would update this regards PR in canada. Scotian was indeed right us foreign guys can apply for PR via the Canadian Experience Class (CEC route) after one year provided we meet these requirements to apply under the Canadian Experience Class.
You must:
plan to live outside the province of Quebec
have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before you apply,
have gained your experience in Canada with the proper authorization
meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing, and listening).

So basically as long as your occupation is on A or B list of this we can apply for PR check it out here http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/...lcome.aspx

This is great for us Irish guys who got the 2 year visa up front after a year of working we can apply for the CEC. the only draw back is that it can take up to 13 months to get approved for the CEC PR route visa but since we have our second we can keep on working.
So where theres a will theres a way.

Hey Scotian thanks so much for the info! I'm definitely interested in doing this after school. How high is the demand for chemical engineers? Is their enough of a pay jump that makes it worth going? Also since I'm not in college yet, if I didn't do chemical engineering what would be the best major for the oil sands? Thanks!

(05-11-2013 01:56 PM)xolisi Wrote:  Hey Scotian thanks so much for the info! I'm definitely interested in doing this after school. How high is the demand for chemical engineers? Is their enough of a pay jump that makes it worth going? Also since I'm not in college yet, if I didn't do chemical engineering what would be the best major for the oil sands? Thanks!

How many pages did you read?

Or the search bar is great

(05-11-2013 07:01 AM)scotian Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 06:39 AM)Pete Wrote:  I never thought of it serioursly. But I just saw a website that offers training
http://www.mdslimited.ca/

They expicitly say you will probably have to get trained again if you're hired, but I'm wondering if taking that training would be a good way to get a foot in the door? If it is I might take it. Anyone have any experience with it?

I'm somewhat familiar with the school, its in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and my friend's brother took the course and I've heard of other people taking it and they all said the same thing: don't take the course! It costs several thousands of dollars and although it would teach you some very useful skills, you can learn those same skills by getting hired on as a green horn at any drilling company in Alberta. This course won't put you ahead of any random unskilled guy who gets hired off the street, you'll both be complete newbies. I would rather get paid to learn all of the basics than fork over thousands of dollars for something that isn't really going to give me an advantage. Also, you have to factor in the costs of moving and living near the school, and North Sydney is a shit hole, my parents are from those parts.

I would suggest using the money to buy a decent truck and just have extra cash in the bank while you relocate to Alberta and look for work in the oil biz.

Thanks for your input! I was just looking at it as a way to get a feel. I think it's only about $1,000-2000. I have no way of moving to canada as it is very hard to get a visa to live there for an american citizen and I don't have any trade, just a bachelors in business (management information systems).

Right now I'm working for $7.25/hr alongside with guys who never went to college, I feel like I wasted those years. So I wanna move to a career that's more fullfiling (economically)

(05-11-2013 02:27 PM)Irishman Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 01:56 PM)xolisi Wrote:  Hey Scotian thanks so much for the info! I'm definitely interested in doing this after school. How high is the demand for chemical engineers? Is their enough of a pay jump that makes it worth going? Also since I'm not in college yet, if I didn't do chemical engineering what would be the best major for the oil sands? Thanks!

How many pages did you read?

A good amount and I searched the thread for chemical engineering

Hey all of you unskilled American guys wanting to find work in the oil sands, I wrote this thread just for you, honestly you're better off moving to North Dakota and getting the experience and skill set, say 3-5 years, then you can think about moving to Canada.

(05-11-2013 05:27 PM)scotian Wrote:  Hey all of you unskilled American guys wanting to find work in the oil sands, I wrote this thread just for you, honestly you're better off moving to North Dakota and getting the experience and skill set, say 3-5 years, then you can think about moving to Canada.

Well said and shared! What we seek tends to be close at hand.

I want to say thanks again for this thread. It really has changed my career path and outlook on work in life.

I am a week away from putting in my application to get my blue book for an electrician apprenticeship as my employer has a three month probationary period. Will have about half the hours required to go to school, and will be looking to further increase the earning potential while grabbing some applicable tickets and applying to oilfield contractors.

But I just have to say, why are there so many damn smilies in these posts?

Because were happy at the prospects of making so much coin thanks to scotian and the other posters

(05-12-2013 01:57 AM)NFallin Wrote:  I want to say thanks again for this thread. It really has changed my career path and outlook on work in life.


But I just have to say, why are there so many damn smilies in these posts?

You don't like "smilies?" You prefer....

SMilies ROCK! Great sign of appreciation!

Haha bros, I was concerned about the mass overload of smilies you guys could be sending to the ladies!