this is probably the best thread on this forum. thanks scotian and irishman.

(01-09-2014 11:45 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 05:13 PM)DarianFrey Wrote:  I'm thinking about taking a year off from studying in order to work and save some cash, and I got hooked on the idea of going to the oil sands after reading this thread.

I'm a 22 year old Swede, studying physiotherapy at university and have never had a truly backbreaking job; I've worked at a McDonald's and in a big kitchen (high stress though). I'm more brainy than practical, but I learn fairly quickly and gym 4 times a week to keep in shape. The desire to try my hand at a tough grind has always been there, mostly to prove to myself that I can do it.

I'm wondering what sort of jobs are available for a guy like me? No trade school, no "oil-sands" work type of experience... Just a desire to work hard and earn some cash.

Lol at "trade school." You don't need any formal education to get an apprenticeship man. As for jobs if you read the whole thread you would have a decent idea.

Second cook or kitchen helpers make decent money if you don't mind the work. You could be a camp attendant and make 1500 a week with accommodation!

http://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Blue-Sky-Recrui...cy%29/jobs

These are great options if you're looking to make some money ASAP. If you want a future or a skilled occupation... striving for an apprenticeship or getting a labour job and working your way up are the best ways to go.

If you're looking for work in a trade, you should network and find someone who will allow you to name drop with their company. That is without a doubt the easiest way to get your foot in the door. Once you are indentured, just make sure you don't fuck up or fail a drug test and you're golden my swedish meatball!

Big thanks for the link man. I'm trying to get in as an apprentice Welder over there and will use those position as a set up to get some money coming in and set up shop

Dia duit, to all contributors to this thread,

I have read through this once in it's entirety and am currently re-reading and making notes, mostly on the exploits of Irishman who's former situation seems parallel to my current situation. Scoatian not to beat a dead dog but my gratitude and thanks go out to you this thread has inspired to make the move.

A little background on myself, I am in my early 20's from Ireland, I graduated with an engineering degree in automation and control systems one year ago and like most Irish men with sense I immigrated, currently I am working in the UK in my field. I am currently working in a 'good job' good meaning I have security and dental, but I'm getting cabin fever I'm not made for an office environment so finding this has been a god send, praise be to Odin.

I have no questions at this time as they have been answered several times over I simply wanted to introduce myself and say a big 'go raibh maith agat' to all who have contributed to this thread, too many to name, you know who you are. I am currently waiting on the Irish visa's to be released which should be any day now.

Once again thank you all, I will update as the visa process moves along.

(01-17-2014 01:25 PM)Buzzyfurbox Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 12:42 PM)Irishman Wrote:  

(01-16-2014 12:28 PM)Buzzyfurbox Wrote:  Irishman what maths are required for MWD'ing? thanks!!

Yearly salary + day rate + food allowance + truck allowance + mileage.

Joking.

Honestly the maths are pretty basic, most of the figures I dealt with our auto generated and/or enter into excel and worked out through auto-formulas.

An aptitude with computers is probably more important. That said it definitely doesn't hurt to be good at maths.

hahahaha quality!!!

Ya that's good, was looking online and it said there was a lot of trigonometry involved,wasn't sure if it was true or not,i'm heading over in April and i'll be applying for MWD jobs straight away,not going to stop till I get one, Scotian and Irishman thanks for all the great posts, very informative, cheers!!

You probably want to apply for a MWD position in the fall man. I'm no expert but those guys work falls in line with the drilling season, which tends to slow down in April because of spring breakup. Then it picks back up in June/July and really begins to kickoff come fall and into winter.

(01-17-2014 11:48 PM)Captain Gh Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 11:45 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 05:13 PM)DarianFrey Wrote:  I'm thinking about taking a year off from studying in order to work and save some cash, and I got hooked on the idea of going to the oil sands after reading this thread.

I'm a 22 year old Swede, studying physiotherapy at university and have never had a truly backbreaking job; I've worked at a McDonald's and in a big kitchen (high stress though). I'm more brainy than practical, but I learn fairly quickly and gym 4 times a week to keep in shape. The desire to try my hand at a tough grind has always been there, mostly to prove to myself that I can do it.

I'm wondering what sort of jobs are available for a guy like me? No trade school, no "oil-sands" work type of experience... Just a desire to work hard and earn some cash.

Lol at "trade school." You don't need any formal education to get an apprenticeship man. As for jobs if you read the whole thread you would have a decent idea.

Second cook or kitchen helpers make decent money if you don't mind the work. You could be a camp attendant and make 1500 a week with accommodation!

http://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Blue-Sky-Recrui...cy%29/jobs

These are great options if you're looking to make some money ASAP. If you want a future or a skilled occupation... striving for an apprenticeship or getting a labour job and working your way up are the best ways to go.

If you're looking for work in a trade, you should network and find someone who will allow you to name drop with their company. That is without a doubt the easiest way to get your foot in the door. Once you are indentured, just make sure you don't fuck up or fail a drug test and you're golden my swedish meatball!

Big thanks for the link man. I'm trying to get in as an apprentice Welder over there and will use those position as a set up to get some money coming in and set up shop

No problem man indeed is a good place to look, but I'm staying at a Black Diamond camp right now and had a conversation with the manager here earlier. If you'd like I could ask about the best way to get hired in one of their locations, it will probably be through a recruiting service though. In that case, I'll see if I can find out the prominent companies to contact hopefully we can see you out here making some big coin!

I'm going to try to get a 21 or 24 day rotation... Should net me about $6K a month, crazy as a first year. I'm sure the wages are comparable in welding too, so look forward to that man and just keep striving.

Im an Aussie heading over to Calgary within the next few months on a Working Holiday Visa I have some experience on a Mine site plus plenty of work on an industrial site. Now Im not even sure if getting involved in the oil sands is my calling haha, aiming elsewhere workwise to begin with. I want to to enjoy myself, hit the slopes. But like all plans they often turn to shit and If im overseas and need money then I know where I will be heading.

Just looking for updates on what exactly is going on or what will be happening in the near future ?

If I dont pounce will I miss my opportunity ?

How may Scots/Irish/Poms/Aussies etc etc go there with Romantic notion of this line of work. If Im handing in resumes I want to know what im up against ?

Should I choose Edmonton over Calgary maybe ?

I have read this whole thread in the past (great thread) but as things have changed how far back again should I go ?

(01-18-2014 11:24 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 11:48 PM)Captain Gh Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 11:45 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 05:13 PM)DarianFrey Wrote:  I'm thinking about taking a year off from studying in order to work and save some cash, and I got hooked on the idea of going to the oil sands after reading this thread.

I'm a 22 year old Swede, studying physiotherapy at university and have never had a truly backbreaking job; I've worked at a McDonald's and in a big kitchen (high stress though). I'm more brainy than practical, but I learn fairly quickly and gym 4 times a week to keep in shape. The desire to try my hand at a tough grind has always been there, mostly to prove to myself that I can do it.

I'm wondering what sort of jobs are available for a guy like me? No trade school, no "oil-sands" work type of experience... Just a desire to work hard and earn some cash.

Lol at "trade school." You don't need any formal education to get an apprenticeship man. As for jobs if you read the whole thread you would have a decent idea.

Second cook or kitchen helpers make decent money if you don't mind the work. You could be a camp attendant and make 1500 a week with accommodation!

http://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Blue-Sky-Recrui...cy%29/jobs

These are great options if you're looking to make some money ASAP. If you want a future or a skilled occupation... striving for an apprenticeship or getting a labour job and working your way up are the best ways to go.

If you're looking for work in a trade, you should network and find someone who will allow you to name drop with their company. That is without a doubt the easiest way to get your foot in the door. Once you are indentured, just make sure you don't fuck up or fail a drug test and you're golden my swedish meatball!

Big thanks for the link man. I'm trying to get in as an apprentice Welder over there and will use those position as a set up to get some money coming in and set up shop

No problem man indeed is a good place to look, but I'm staying at a Black Diamond camp right now and had a conversation with the manager here earlier. If you'd like I could ask about the best way to get hired in one of their locations, it will probably be through a recruiting service though. In that case, I'll see if I can find out the prominent companies to contact hopefully we can see you out here making some big coin!

I'm going to try to get a 21 or 24 day rotation... Should net me about $6K a month, crazy as a first year. I'm sure the wages are comparable in welding too, so look forward to that man and just keep striving.

I'd be interested as well. What kind of work do they have you doing so far as a first year electrical apprentice? I like well testing but my intention all along was to get into the electrical and/or instrumentation trades.

(01-19-2014 01:07 AM)simdog87 Wrote:  Im an Aussie heading over to Calgary within the next few months on a Working Holiday Visa I have some experience on a Mine site plus plenty of work on an industrial site. Now Im not even sure if getting involved in the oil sands is my calling haha, aiming elsewhere workwise to begin with. I want to to enjoy myself, hit the slopes. But like all plans they often turn to shit and If im overseas and need money then I know where I will be heading.

Just looking for updates on what exactly is going on or what will be happening in the near future ?

If I dont pounce will I miss my opportunity ?

How may Scots/Irish/Poms/Aussies etc etc go there with Romantic notion of this line of work. If Im handing in resumes I want to know what im up against ?

Should I choose Edmonton over Calgary maybe ?

I have read this whole thread in the past (great thread) but as things have changed how far back again should I go ?

Sounds like you want to have a good time in the mountains, so if I was you, I'd move to Banff or Lake Louise and get some random shit job washing dishes or whatever for $12/hour and smoke dope, snow board and chase all of the horny young women there doing the same thing (especially the French Canadians there, lots of them). Do that for 3-6 months, then move on to a city, either Calgary or Edmonton, I would recommend the former as its only 1.5 hours from that STD infested poosy paradise Banff, so in your free time you can hit the slopes and hit the harem of skanks you will have built up there.

Unless your super keen on making big money, I would stick with that plan, maybe even move around Canada to see the country, there's a lot of cool places to work some random shit job: Tofino, Whistler, Fernie (BC), Montreal/Quebec City, Maritimes, Nfld, etc. You won't make or save much money but you'll have a good time, likely get laid and see some of the most beautiful places that Canada has to offer. You won't get those experiences spending the majority of your time in a work camp sausage party.

But ya, if its money your after then Alberta, Saskatchewan and to a lesser extent, BC are definitely the places to be for resource work but besides having a fat bank account, you won't have a great experience if you spend weeks or months on end up in some remote shit hole in northern Alberta. Its busy enough in Alberta, not crazy as it has been before but companies are definitely hiring, as you can see by the amount of guys on here who are still getting hired. I'm not sure about the amount of guys from the UK, Oz, etc but they're definitely working in the oil patch, not in huge numbers but they're there.

Maybe its because I already did the big money, work like a retard thing for a few years but working my ass off and making huge money just isn't a really big opportunity for me any more and now I'm more into travel and having good experiences outside of work. Maybe you guys will experience this too eventually, maybe not, I just get depressed thinking about all of the guys I know who have basically wasted their 20s chasing money in industrial shit holes.

Hey, first off, I'd like to say this is an amazing thread and it's given me a lot of information on this topic. It's also the reason I joined this forum.

So my situation is that I live in Ontario, I'm 19 years old and I want some kind of job (maybe just a labourer position or an apprenticeship). I don't have much experience working as I'm pretty much just out of high school and have been working in a factory as a general labourer, so I don't know what kind of jobs their are available for me. Should I just call the companies and ask if they're hiring?

My plan is to make money in Alberta for a few years, get experience in a trade then come back to work in Ontario.

(01-19-2014 10:09 PM)bastermater Wrote:  Hey, first off, I'd like to say this is an amazing thread and it's given me a lot of information on this topic. It's also the reason I joined this forum.

So my situation is that I live in Ontario, I'm 19 years old and I want some kind of job (maybe just a labourer position or an apprenticeship). I don't have much experience working as I'm pretty much just out of high school and have been working in a factory as a general labourer, so I don't know what kind of jobs their are available for me. Should I just call the companies and ask if they're hiring?

My plan is to make money in Alberta for a few years, get experience in a trade then come back to work in Ontario.

Buddy I lied on my resume to buff it up a bit (don't tell.) As long as you have general labour experience it should be all good...

An idea if you're going to falsify your experience is either find a company that went out of business and put them, or you can do what I did; I thought of a name "Grand Landscape" and put 6 months experience... When they asked for a reference I just said it was self run business specializing in installing patio stones and what not. No one checked into it

(01-19-2014 10:26 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(01-19-2014 10:09 PM)bastermater Wrote:  Hey, first off, I'd like to say this is an amazing thread and it's given me a lot of information on this topic. It's also the reason I joined this forum.

So my situation is that I live in Ontario, I'm 19 years old and I want some kind of job (maybe just a labourer position or an apprenticeship). I don't have much experience working as I'm pretty much just out of high school and have been working in a factory as a general labourer, so I don't know what kind of jobs their are available for me. Should I just call the companies and ask if they're hiring?

My plan is to make money in Alberta for a few years, get experience in a trade then come back to work in Ontario.

Buddy I lied on my resume to buff it up a bit (don't tell.) As long as you have general labour experience it should be all good...

An idea if you're going to falsify your experience is either find a company that went out of business and put them, or you can do what I did; I thought of a name "Grand Landscape" and put 6 months experience... When they asked for a reference I just said it was self run business specializing in installing patio stones and what not. No one checked into it

Do you know places I should apply to in Alberta? And is it best to call them and ask if there is a general labour, minimal experience job? What do those people do?

(01-19-2014 01:33 PM)Temm Wrote:  

(01-18-2014 11:24 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(01-17-2014 11:48 PM)Captain Gh Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 11:45 PM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 05:13 PM)DarianFrey Wrote:  I'm thinking about taking a year off from studying in order to work and save some cash, and I got hooked on the idea of going to the oil sands after reading this thread.

I'm a 22 year old Swede, studying physiotherapy at university and have never had a truly backbreaking job; I've worked at a McDonald's and in a big kitchen (high stress though). I'm more brainy than practical, but I learn fairly quickly and gym 4 times a week to keep in shape. The desire to try my hand at a tough grind has always been there, mostly to prove to myself that I can do it.

I'm wondering what sort of jobs are available for a guy like me? No trade school, no "oil-sands" work type of experience... Just a desire to work hard and earn some cash.

Lol at "trade school." You don't need any formal education to get an apprenticeship man. As for jobs if you read the whole thread you would have a decent idea.

Second cook or kitchen helpers make decent money if you don't mind the work. You could be a camp attendant and make 1500 a week with accommodation!

http://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Blue-Sky-Recrui...cy%29/jobs

These are great options if you're looking to make some money ASAP. If you want a future or a skilled occupation... striving for an apprenticeship or getting a labour job and working your way up are the best ways to go.

If you're looking for work in a trade, you should network and find someone who will allow you to name drop with their company. That is without a doubt the easiest way to get your foot in the door. Once you are indentured, just make sure you don't fuck up or fail a drug test and you're golden my swedish meatball!

Big thanks for the link man. I'm trying to get in as an apprentice Welder over there and will use those position as a set up to get some money coming in and set up shop

No problem man indeed is a good place to look, but I'm staying at a Black Diamond camp right now and had a conversation with the manager here earlier. If you'd like I could ask about the best way to get hired in one of their locations, it will probably be through a recruiting service though. In that case, I'll see if I can find out the prominent companies to contact hopefully we can see you out here making some big coin!

I'm going to try to get a 21 or 24 day rotation... Should net me about $6K a month, crazy as a first year. I'm sure the wages are comparable in welding too, so look forward to that man and just keep striving.

I'd be interested as well. What kind of work do they have you doing so far as a first year electrical apprentice? I like well testing but my intention all along was to get into the electrical and/or instrumentation trades.

All I can say is keep working out if you're going to do industrial...

Week 1: Crawling under trailers and running tech cable, lugging around tech cable, disengaging and testing fire alarms, installing fire alarm devices (don't expect to do this as a first year, it's rare until the 3rd.)

Week 2: Demoing a camp, removing tech cable, lugging tech cable, lugging more tech cable, removing cable trays and interconnects, disconnecting generators and prepped a whole Black Diamond camp for move

Week 3: What I'm currently doing... installing pipe for car plugs in a temporary parking lot, running pipe 200-300 ft. and pushing wire through to each "receptacle" basically where the socket connects to the power.. been 3 days of twisting and drilling to the point that I feel like a carpenter

It's not to this point what I thought it'd be, but I'm definitely not disappointed. Starting to hear there are a lot better companies out there though so once I have about 6 months under my belt I'll probably start looking for something other than building camps. I've heard building well heads or commercial is pretty good! Residential is apparently a big pay cut..

Also, are there a lot of camp jobs? I'd pretty much only go to a place that has a place to live on the site.

(01-19-2014 11:12 PM)bastermater Wrote:  Also, are there a lot of camp jobs? I'd pretty much only go to a place that has a place to live on the site.

Don't be too picky, it can be hard to land a camp gig, the majority of guys who've moved to Alberta since I started this thread are not working camp jobs, they're living in Edmonton or Calgary. A lot of them are working in the cities, mostly normal schedules, Monday to Friday type of deal, they're gaining the work experience and getting the training/tickets that they need in order to work up north. Some of the guys have no interest in working camp jobs and are happy with the in town gigs and having a "normal" work schedule.

Basically all of the questions that you're asking have been answered a million times on here, just read the thread, take notes if you have to and move out west with some money and see what happens.

Your right there Scotian I am still working away in city getting it very tough to land a camp job.

(01-19-2014 09:30 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(01-19-2014 01:07 AM)simdog87 Wrote:  Im an Aussie heading over to Calgary within the next few months on a Working Holiday Visa I have some experience on a Mine site plus plenty of work on an industrial site. Now Im not even sure if getting involved in the oil sands is my calling haha, aiming elsewhere workwise to begin with. I want to to enjoy myself, hit the slopes. But like all plans they often turn to shit and If im overseas and need money then I know where I will be heading.

Just looking for updates on what exactly is going on or what will be happening in the near future ?

If I dont pounce will I miss my opportunity ?

How may Scots/Irish/Poms/Aussies etc etc go there with Romantic notion of this line of work. If Im handing in resumes I want to know what im up against ?

Should I choose Edmonton over Calgary maybe ?

I have read this whole thread in the past (great thread) but as things have changed how far back again should I go ?

Sounds like you want to have a good time in the mountains, so if I was you, I'd move to Banff or Lake Louise and get some random shit job washing dishes or whatever for $12/hour and smoke dope, snow board and chase all of the horny young women there doing the same thing (especially the French Canadians there, lots of them). Do that for 3-6 months, then move on to a city, either Calgary or Edmonton, I would recommend the former as its only 1.5 hours from that STD infested poosy paradise Banff, so in your free time you can hit the slopes and hit the harem of skanks you will have built up there.

Unless your super keen on making big money, I would stick with that plan, maybe even move around Canada to see the country, there's a lot of cool places to work some random shit job: Tofino, Whistler, Fernie (BC), Montreal/Quebec City, Maritimes, Nfld, etc. You won't make or save much money but you'll have a good time, likely get laid and see some of the most beautiful places that Canada has to offer. You won't get those experiences spending the majority of your time in a work camp sausage party.

But ya, if its money your after then Alberta, Saskatchewan and to a lesser extent, BC are definitely the places to be for resource work but besides having a fat bank account, you won't have a great experience if you spend weeks or months on end up in some remote shit hole in northern Alberta. Its busy enough in Alberta, not crazy as it has been before but companies are definitely hiring, as you can see by the amount of guys on here who are still getting hired. I'm not sure about the amount of guys from the UK, Oz, etc but they're definitely working in the oil patch, not in huge numbers but they're there.

Maybe its because I already did the big money, work like a retard thing for a few years but working my ass off and making huge money just isn't a really big opportunity for me any more and now I'm more into travel and having good experiences outside of work. Maybe you guys will experience this too eventually, maybe not, I just get depressed thinking about all of the guys I know who have basically wasted their 20s chasing money in industrial shit holes.

It's the little things like this that makes one question their chosen path and the sacrifices that may or may not be the best in the end.

This week I chose not to go to the camps. It wasn't worth it for me. I have a solid gig in Cow town, in my own bed every night and still making top dollar from anyone else in any other province with all the OT I want.

I can go on about how I don't think the camps are worth it and the reasons, but you guys need to figure some shit on your own.

BUT!!!

The jobs are here. Come get them.


Fear never got you anywhere in life.

(01-19-2014 11:18 PM)scotian Wrote:  Don't be too picky, it can be hard to land a camp gig, the majority of guys who've moved to Alberta since I started this thread are not working camp jobs, they're living in Edmonton or Calgary. A lot of them are working in the cities, mostly normal schedules, Monday to Friday type of deal, they're gaining the work experience and getting the training/tickets that they need in order to work up north. Some of the guys have no interest in working camp jobs and are happy with the in town gigs and having a "normal" work schedule.

I'm part of the working in the city group. Though my hours are not the conventional 9-5, as I work evenings and because of all the work, I'm pretty much working a 12-2 type rotation. However, I'm home every night and very, very seldom work out of town. This is my choice.

When I first started on the rigs, I was living the camp, nomadic lifestyle. Money was amazing, but at the sacrifice of balanced social lifestyle. I learned it wasn't for me.

What my plan is, instead, is to accumulate experience while keeping up with my studies so that I can climb the ranks at a quicker pace. I have sacrificed higher level pay in exchange for extra time to study for higher level tickets and investing time to make deep but meaningful connections with my current and potentially new networks.

An example: the boss in my department is a motorcycle enthusiast, and also races bikes. Though I'm not at his level of dedication to motorcycles, I do have my own and I enjoy riding. I have such little knowledge about bikes but I like to learn. That's what we talk about a lot, and he's always giving me tips about my bike.

There was also a motorcycle show at the Edmonton Expo, and he was manning one of the booths. Myself and a buddy went over there to check it out, and I also went to visit him, shoot the shit for about a half hour or so.

At the track he races at, I asked him if I could volunteer as a cornerman, because I'm thinking about getting into racing too, and volunteering would be good exposure for me. He talked to one of his buddies who heads the racing association, and got me into their circle.

The point of all this? He has the final say as to whether or not I am capable of getting my higher level tickets.

Although I really do enjoy bikes and riding, my ulterior motive is to ensure that he knows that I'm not only capable at doing my job, but that I won't conflict with him on a social level. Climbing ranks is not just showing the you are more than capable of performing your work tasks, but that your personality meshes well with the crew in general. My intent is to get my boss to like me a lot to the point where it is a no-brainer for him to recommend me to go to school to proceed to my next ticket.

In summary, what I'm trying to say is that this is the path that I'm currently taking: sticking with my company to build my reputation, such that to accelerate the process in getting better tickets. The pay rise for the next level is insane, which is why I'm taking the reduced pay now to enjoy the fruits of my labour in the very near future.

Of course there are other ways to do it, i.e. scotian jumped ship plenty of times, as I recall, as long as the next ship provided a better opportunity. Or getting that gig that pays in gold just for a starting position, but requires you to sacrifice your social, mental and physical well-being.

I feel that in my situation, if I play my cards right, I'll be able to get to the level I want: which is to work 6 months, and travel 6 months. I just have to practice some patience, sacrifice a little now but work smart for later.

Stay safe out there.
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/01...-at-suncor

(01-20-2014 12:39 AM)Zeus Wrote:  This week I chose not to go to the camps. It wasn't worth it for me. I have a solid gig in Cow town, in my own bed every night and still making top dollar from anyone else in any other province with all the OT I want.

I can go on about how I don't think the camps are worth it and the reasons, but you guys need to figure some shit on your own.

BUT!!!

The jobs are here. Come get them.


Fear never got you anywhere in life.

It isn't for everyone that's for sure. But, not everyone is going to be in a position like yours where they are free to work as much as they want, or even score something high paying. In town work is a lot lower paying generally. You also have to take into account cost of living: Food, rent, gas, bills, entertainment (you'll be spending more when you have things to do around you constantly instead of being isolated.)

Pros:

• Higher pay, greater overtime
• Very little expenses, everything paid for
• No need for a vehicle if your company supplies a truck
• Chance to work seasonally, take off a few months every year
  

Cons:

• Can be extremely isolated, away from family and friends for 2-3 weeks at a time
• No solid ground, always moving from place to place
• Long hours and cold work
  

In the end, it all boils down to what your goals are and what type of a person you are. To some, this line of work could become very depressing, very quick. To those who understand goals and are willing to sacrifice years of working for decades later in life, these are the ones who will last.

Myself, I would rather work like a Behemoth and bank as much money as possible until I'm about 22 and then live the wonder years. I'm already planning to invest in property 4-6 months from now... Not only is it great money, but it allows for financial abundance in more ways than just your pay cheques. That is, if you choose to be smart. I've already heard about these meathead riggers going off on their free time blowing wads on $15 shots of patron. That is also a con about working out here, the lifestyle that accompanies the environment... But like I said, it's who you are and what you want, or who you want to become

Tl;dr - Understand what you're getting into; you're not gonna make all this money for just half-assed effort, as real sacrifices must be made.

Zeus is right about one thing: people have to figure most of this stuff out on their own.

The money is great out here for sure. Some people are just willing to go further than others to make more faster. It's not a knock on those who choose not to fully sacrifice their social life or related. The point is, to figure out the best path you can take based on your personal characteristics, and that requires you to try it out first hand.

I've talked to countless people who are tunnel-visioned from all this math they're doing on their future finances: "if I work this many hours for this many days at this rate, I'll be laughing in a few years easy!"

Then they go out in the field, and they haven't considered factors like the physicality of the work, how long hours for consecutive days takes a toll on your mind, body and soul, <b>no matter what age you are</b>, and the psychological implications of social isolation for long periods of time, only to name a few. Suddenly, all that money to be made isn't so glorious for some, and end up pulling out after less than a month.

For those of you who are still considering the move or very recently made the move: <b>Make sure you fully understand why the wages are that high. You are sacrificing more than just your time in this industry</b>.

I feel that this should be mentioned because I see a lot of people in this thread with a romantic notion of how things go out here. Don't fall into that trap.

In my experience, upon fully grasping the realities of working hard, in harsh conditions and for long hours, it made that paycheque much, much sweeter to finally obtain. But it also gave me a reality check, it humbled my ego and what I initially believed to be easy oil money.

My intent here is not to discourage people who wish to better themselves to make the trek here. This post is meant for those who think they can half-ass this shit and get through, without understanding the difficulties of making a lot of money with little exp.

^ Very true. The wages, although high out here, do represent the burden of labour (time/stress/conditions/social aspect).

Alberton has been dropping lots of good data for quite a while now yet only has one rep point!?

(01-21-2014 03:53 AM)Irishman Wrote:  ^ Very true. The wages, although high out here, do represent the burden of labour (time/stress/conditions/social aspect).

Alberton has been dropping lots of good data for quite a while now yet only has one rep point!?

Just repped him, can't believe I didn't do that already.

I think no one wants to rep me because I spelt my user name wrong

By the way to the guys out there reading this thread, my JM is from NZ and another 3rd year is Australian.. So it's possible for you to come out here as well