Working in the Canadian oil sands: 6 figures in 6 months!
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Tresdus 路 2014-06-24 18:26:00 路 #2751
I've been here for 5 months now (time really flies) and last two days were somehow really emotional. I don't know what happened but all I could think about was my parents and how I miss then. Thank god my brain's back to normal now, that was starting to annoy me.
Big Country 路 2014-06-24 19:13:00 路 #2752
Thanks for your thoughts guys, much appreciated.
Tresdus 路 2014-06-24 20:27:00 路 #2753
If you think you're going to be homesick the biggest thing for me is to keep yourself busy. I lived a month in London before I came here and I just had to go home (partly because I ran out of money) but also because I was sitting in my room most of the time because my budget was so small. I had pretty much no social interaction during that time which didn't make it easier either.
Albertron 路 2014-06-24 23:20:00 路 #2754
Big Country,
I think I can say that most people, myself included, who stumble upon this thread, take the time to consume the info here and finally make the move are trying to improve their life situation, be it trying to make more money, finding a better job or looking for a change.
That being said, it goes without saying that sacrificing family time and your old social circle is a true reality that must be considered prior to moving here. I know in my situation, it took me months to understand that reality and accept it, so once I got here, I was in go-go-go mode and thought of nothing else but achieving the goals I've set for myself to get on my feet ASAP and set the wheels of financial abundance into motion.
Once I've settled into my role at work and began to see my bank account swell, the routinization of my schedule started kicking in, and it wasn't until about 8 months in that I became incredibly homesick. I'm proud of myself for jumping into something I knew nothing about other than the research I've done and this thread, but the unfamiliarity of my surroundings did take a toll on my psyche.
My cousin, who also moved here to teach high school on a Native reserve camp, said it best when he went back home to visit family: he felt like he was in limbo when he was there. I felt the same way when I went back home for holidays. Old friends move on, family is doing the same old things. Life goes on with or without you. Once I realized and fully understood that, my homesickness went away almost entirely. So in a sense, my desire to go back home did lessen, and now I don't think about it too much anymore.
I got a lot of shit to do here, which will allow me to do other shit that I've always wanted to do. That in itself is enough to keep the feelings of homesickness at bay.
I think I can say that most people, myself included, who stumble upon this thread, take the time to consume the info here and finally make the move are trying to improve their life situation, be it trying to make more money, finding a better job or looking for a change.
That being said, it goes without saying that sacrificing family time and your old social circle is a true reality that must be considered prior to moving here. I know in my situation, it took me months to understand that reality and accept it, so once I got here, I was in go-go-go mode and thought of nothing else but achieving the goals I've set for myself to get on my feet ASAP and set the wheels of financial abundance into motion.
Once I've settled into my role at work and began to see my bank account swell, the routinization of my schedule started kicking in, and it wasn't until about 8 months in that I became incredibly homesick. I'm proud of myself for jumping into something I knew nothing about other than the research I've done and this thread, but the unfamiliarity of my surroundings did take a toll on my psyche.
My cousin, who also moved here to teach high school on a Native reserve camp, said it best when he went back home to visit family: he felt like he was in limbo when he was there. I felt the same way when I went back home for holidays. Old friends move on, family is doing the same old things. Life goes on with or without you. Once I realized and fully understood that, my homesickness went away almost entirely. So in a sense, my desire to go back home did lessen, and now I don't think about it too much anymore.
I got a lot of shit to do here, which will allow me to do other shit that I've always wanted to do. That in itself is enough to keep the feelings of homesickness at bay.
Sal Ceech 路 2014-06-25 16:29:00 路 #2755
(06-14-2014 04:42 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote: Hey,
Good to hear you'll make the move soon. Remember what I and many others who have made the move been writing here repeatedly : come prepared. That means have a place to stay at lined up. Yes the Hi Hostel on Whyte is where everyone stayed at but it's best to get a room ASAP. Make that your first priority here. Then, get your main and basic tickets ASAP! These are H2S, First Aid and CSTS/PST. Heck you could even go to the Bissell Centre and have them pay for your tickets, this saving about 400$!
http://bissellcentre.org/programs/employment-services/
Then once you have these done go pound the pavement. Go in person to every company in Nisku and Sherwood Park, resume and your tickets in hand and ask to speak to the hiring manager.
Yeah there are daily jobs like Labour Ready but best is to oh straight to Nisku and Sherwood Park.
Let me know when you get here. We'll have drinks. A+.
All the best!
P.S. T'es Qu茅b茅cois ou Francais?
(06-13-2014 12:49 AM)Sal Ceech Wrote: VP
Mon Frere , congrats !!Very sound advice , but I can't stay here . My plan is to leave end of month . I'll have enough for a week's stay at the YMCA. The 1st proratity is a cash paid daily job, then the rest will fall into place. I know I'm pulling a cirque du soliel highwire act , yet lots of safety nets there. Here in Hammer town lots of rocks and hard places. People here expect me to fail . I
Im planning to arrive on Wed next week ,( great way to celebrate Canada Day , travel across the country =)
Im sending emails to Blissel and the YMCA . I dont have a place lined up .
Gentlemen I have heard horror stories by close friends who say people wind up out there are homeless . It gets so bad your shoes get stolen from your feet o-O !! . They say shelters are full etc , etc .
I know its crazy , but even if I end up bearfoot , its a journey that must be taken .
jake1720 路 2014-06-25 20:06:00 路 #2756
In the oilfield it's all WHO you know.
All you need to know is that one person who can get you that job. If you know the right person you can get it over someone with years of experience surprisingly.
All you need to know is that one person who can get you that job. If you know the right person you can get it over someone with years of experience surprisingly.
MiddleEastern 路 2014-06-26 01:19:00 路 #2757
God bless
scotian 路 2014-06-26 11:28:00 路 #2758
Alright so the meet up is on tonight, I'll be at the Pint off Whyte at 8pm so hope to see some of you guys there, I know a few are out of town or working nights so won't be able to join us but a few of guys got back to me so we'll see what happens.
As far as home sickness goes, the longer you stay out here, the easier it gets. I've been out here for eight years now and for the first three years or so my main goals were to pay off my loans, get tickets and experience then move home. I achieved the first two goals easily but then realized that moving home just wasn't the best option, for starters, the wages are low back home in Nova Scotia, about $8 less an hour, plus there's very little over time. Basically I'd go from making about $100K in Edmonton to about $50-60K in Halifax, plus the income taxes are high in NS and so are all other taxes, they pay 15% sales tax compared to just 5% in Alberta. Also, since there is a labour shortage out west for skilled people, the employers tend to treat you better because they know that if they don't, you'll just cross the street and work somewhere else. It isn't like that down home, where employers tend to treat you like shit because they know that they can and also, there's a lot more bag licking and back stabbing among employees down home because again, there's just not that much work to go around.
I try to make it home once a year now, but will start going more often as I have nieces and a God daughter who I want to see grow up. I just spent three weeks home back in April and honestly can't see myself moving back as there just isn't enough opportunity down there and if I did move, I'd have to change my lifestyle quite a bit and start pinching pennies. I remember what it was like living pay cheque-to-pay cheque and it sucked, its not something I care to do again. Plus as you get older, your old friends move on and start having families and settling down, so its not even that fun to go home anymore.
As far as home sickness goes, the longer you stay out here, the easier it gets. I've been out here for eight years now and for the first three years or so my main goals were to pay off my loans, get tickets and experience then move home. I achieved the first two goals easily but then realized that moving home just wasn't the best option, for starters, the wages are low back home in Nova Scotia, about $8 less an hour, plus there's very little over time. Basically I'd go from making about $100K in Edmonton to about $50-60K in Halifax, plus the income taxes are high in NS and so are all other taxes, they pay 15% sales tax compared to just 5% in Alberta. Also, since there is a labour shortage out west for skilled people, the employers tend to treat you better because they know that if they don't, you'll just cross the street and work somewhere else. It isn't like that down home, where employers tend to treat you like shit because they know that they can and also, there's a lot more bag licking and back stabbing among employees down home because again, there's just not that much work to go around.
I try to make it home once a year now, but will start going more often as I have nieces and a God daughter who I want to see grow up. I just spent three weeks home back in April and honestly can't see myself moving back as there just isn't enough opportunity down there and if I did move, I'd have to change my lifestyle quite a bit and start pinching pennies. I remember what it was like living pay cheque-to-pay cheque and it sucked, its not something I care to do again. Plus as you get older, your old friends move on and start having families and settling down, so its not even that fun to go home anymore.
noidea555 路 2014-06-27 18:50:00 路 #2759
Hello everyone. First time posting here, and I wanna thank Scotian et all right off the bat for this awesome thread.
I'm gonna be heading out there towards the end of the year trying to get into welding most likely.
For now however, I've got a question on behalf of my dad. He's a truck driver (owner/operator), and has been for the past 20 years. He's pretty much an ideal employee as far as trucking companies would be concerned, clean driving and criminal history, has his first aid, whmis, and whatever other certs. The only thing he's missing is H2S which he's doing in a few weekends here in Ontario.
Anyways, he's interested in heading out to Alberta very soon and he's gonna start calling around this weekend to different companies, but there are thousands of them, so I'm just wondering if anyone can let me know which companies he should be contacting first as an owner/operator (basically, at which companies would he be earning the most?). I think he'd prefer camp work.
Thanks in advance everyone, and thanks again to Scotian for starting this awesome thread.
I'm gonna be heading out there towards the end of the year trying to get into welding most likely.
For now however, I've got a question on behalf of my dad. He's a truck driver (owner/operator), and has been for the past 20 years. He's pretty much an ideal employee as far as trucking companies would be concerned, clean driving and criminal history, has his first aid, whmis, and whatever other certs. The only thing he's missing is H2S which he's doing in a few weekends here in Ontario.
Anyways, he's interested in heading out to Alberta very soon and he's gonna start calling around this weekend to different companies, but there are thousands of them, so I'm just wondering if anyone can let me know which companies he should be contacting first as an owner/operator (basically, at which companies would he be earning the most?). I think he'd prefer camp work.
Thanks in advance everyone, and thanks again to Scotian for starting this awesome thread.
slowokan 路 2014-06-28 01:20:00 路 #2760
(06-27-2014 06:50 PM)noidea555 Wrote: Anyways, he's interested in heading out to Alberta very soon and he's gonna start calling around this weekend to different companies, but there are thousands of them, so I'm just wondering if anyone can let me know which companies he should be contacting first as an owner/operator (basically, at which companies would he be earning the most?). I think he'd prefer camp work.
Thanks in advance everyone, and thanks again to Scotian for starting this awesome thread.
There is one thread regarding truckers in oil patch. Lots of info there;
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckin...-jobs.html
PALEO DUDE 路 2014-06-29 14:25:00 路 #2761
I used to be a security guard for a mall in West Vancouver and had tons of fun kicking ass, anybody know of a company I can contact that handles contracts in the oil industry camp sites? Also if you have an idea what their wage and hours are I would appreciate it.
?Kick 路 2014-06-29 14:35:00 路 #2762
Here you go mall cop ,
Google -> security jobs oil sands
First result -> indeed.ca
First post -> g4s security
Scroll a few lines down -> 23 dollars an hour
Yea....or, if you read the thread you'd find a good post on security jobs.
Google -> security jobs oil sands
First result -> indeed.ca
First post -> g4s security
Scroll a few lines down -> 23 dollars an hour
Yea....or, if you read the thread you'd find a good post on security jobs.
PALEO DUDE 路 2014-06-29 16:20:00 路 #2763
(06-29-2014 02:35 PM)?Kick Wrote: Here you go mall cop ,
Google -> security jobs oil sands
First result -> indeed.ca
First post -> g4s security
Scroll a few lines down -> 23 dollars an hour
Yea....or, if you read the thread you'd find a good post on security jobs.
Not much of a mall cop, mostly just kicking out drunken natives and watching movies online.
I actually ended up getting canned because I was too busy watching ong bak in my office computer while drunken natives were throwing alcohol at each other in the middle of the mall in broad day light.
I was looking for new perspectives.
Buzzyfurbox 路 2014-06-29 21:57:00 路 #2764
Alright dudes,
Finally made the move to Edmonton last week,staying at the hi hostel,got my csts and hopefully have a labouring job lined up for this week,planning on getting my h2s first aid and whimis in the next few weeks($ are tight)gonna head out to nisku and bang out the cvs to the dd companies in hopes of an mwd job,was reading on the paper that the rig count is up 16% on this time last year,which is good news!! Had a couple of nights out on whyte ave,cool place,in o'brynes now havin a scoop,if anyone's about send me a pm
Cheers
Finally made the move to Edmonton last week,staying at the hi hostel,got my csts and hopefully have a labouring job lined up for this week,planning on getting my h2s first aid and whimis in the next few weeks($ are tight)gonna head out to nisku and bang out the cvs to the dd companies in hopes of an mwd job,was reading on the paper that the rig count is up 16% on this time last year,which is good news!! Had a couple of nights out on whyte ave,cool place,in o'brynes now havin a scoop,if anyone's about send me a pm
Cheers
WilliamShatnersEgo 路 2014-06-29 21:59:00 路 #2765
The truck driving dad should contact the Teamster's union.
Laurifer 路 2014-06-30 12:52:00 路 #2766
Just reminding you guys to pay attention on the roads when driving late at night.
I was driving to Edmonton from High Prairie the other night when out of the corner of my eye the biggest god damn moose I've ever seen was standing in the oncoming lane! This thing was the size of a tree. Its legs met its body at probably the same height as the roof of my truck.
Scared the shit out of me.
I was driving to Edmonton from High Prairie the other night when out of the corner of my eye the biggest god damn moose I've ever seen was standing in the oncoming lane! This thing was the size of a tree. Its legs met its body at probably the same height as the roof of my truck.
Scared the shit out of me.
Tresdus 路 2014-07-02 17:37:00 路 #2767
Well looks like we can go home guys, no more jobs available. Oh wait, I was looking at art degree statistics.
These are the Oil Sands statistics:
31,840 new jobs are needed until 2022 and that isn't even counting all the trades as far as I can tell.
http://www.petrohrsc.ca/media/42582/oil_..._sheet.pdf
These are the Oil Sands statistics:
31,840 new jobs are needed until 2022 and that isn't even counting all the trades as far as I can tell.
http://www.petrohrsc.ca/media/42582/oil_..._sheet.pdf
Atlantic 路 2014-07-03 00:01:00 路 #2768
Raced a McLaren F1 on the way back from the rig today in the truck. I obviously lost but I seen he got pulled over for speeding about 5 minutes later. Sucker.
I though there was only 200 of them? Guys must have been balling. Looked like this...
![[Image: Mclaren-F1-Top.gif]](http://becar.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Mclaren-F1-Top.gif)
I though there was only 200 of them? Guys must have been balling. Looked like this...
DjembaDjemba 路 2014-07-03 09:03:00 路 #2769
Assuming the pipelines go through.
Hey Guys, couple questions...
I applied to a JM Carpenter position via Indeed back in the beginning of June as they were looking for 45 JM carpenters in the Fort Mac area with flights and camp benefits paid by employer.
I got a call from a recruiter last Friday and answered a bunch of questions regarding the position and they said I was put on the selected candidate list. They said they were going to email me requesting my red seal certificate scans as well as CSTS scan and they would then call me with further instructions.
I received the email right away and replied immediately thanking them for consideration and attached all my ticket scans but I have yet to hear from them and its been almost 7 days.
My trade certificates are legit inter-provincial red-seal and I did the Alberta CSTS. When they called they said they were recruiting Carpenters for next month, but it was June when they called (last Friday) and now Its July (next month).
Am I expected to follow up? They said they would call me with further instructions. Am I being impatient?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much guys.
I applied to a JM Carpenter position via Indeed back in the beginning of June as they were looking for 45 JM carpenters in the Fort Mac area with flights and camp benefits paid by employer.
I got a call from a recruiter last Friday and answered a bunch of questions regarding the position and they said I was put on the selected candidate list. They said they were going to email me requesting my red seal certificate scans as well as CSTS scan and they would then call me with further instructions.
I received the email right away and replied immediately thanking them for consideration and attached all my ticket scans but I have yet to hear from them and its been almost 7 days.
My trade certificates are legit inter-provincial red-seal and I did the Alberta CSTS. When they called they said they were recruiting Carpenters for next month, but it was June when they called (last Friday) and now Its July (next month).
Am I expected to follow up? They said they would call me with further instructions. Am I being impatient?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much guys.
sammybiker 路 2014-07-03 18:11:00 路 #2771
I'd call them back right now/first thing tomorrow morning.
(07-03-2014 05:27 PM)vanisle Wrote: Hey Guys, couple questions...
I applied to a JM Carpenter position via Indeed back in the beginning of June as they were looking for 45 JM carpenters in the Fort Mac area with flights and camp benefits paid by employer.
I got a call from a recruiter last Friday and answered a bunch of questions regarding the position and they said I was put on the selected candidate list. They said they were going to email me requesting my red seal certificate scans as well as CSTS scan and they would then call me with further instructions.
I received the email right away and replied immediately thanking them for consideration and attached all my ticket scans but I have yet to hear from them and its been almost 7 days.
My trade certificates are legit inter-provincial red-seal and I did the Alberta CSTS. When they called they said they were recruiting Carpenters for next month, but it was June when they called (last Friday) and now Its July (next month).
Am I expected to follow up? They said they would call me with further instructions. Am I being impatient?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much guys.
scotian 路 2014-07-03 19:42:00 路 #2772
(07-03-2014 05:27 PM)vanisle Wrote: Hey Guys, couple questions...
I applied to a JM Carpenter position via Indeed back in the beginning of June as they were looking for 45 JM carpenters in the Fort Mac area with flights and camp benefits paid by employer.
I got a call from a recruiter last Friday and answered a bunch of questions regarding the position and they said I was put on the selected candidate list. They said they were going to email me requesting my red seal certificate scans as well as CSTS scan and they would then call me with further instructions.
I received the email right away and replied immediately thanking them for consideration and attached all my ticket scans but I have yet to hear from them and its been almost 7 days.
My trade certificates are legit inter-provincial red-seal and I did the Alberta CSTS. When they called they said they were recruiting Carpenters for next month, but it was June when they called (last Friday) and now Its July (next month).
Am I expected to follow up? They said they would call me with further instructions. Am I being impatient?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much guys.
Sometimes these companies really lead guys on and fuck them around, I know a couple of guys in Edmonton were complaining about that. The reality is that in the oil patch, the job scopes often change on a weekly, or daily basis and all of a sudden the client (oil company) changes their manpower needs and scales back, or in some cases, needs more guys. The best way to avoid being jerked around by these companies is to have "boots on the ground" in Alberta, as we've all said a lot throughout this thread. Even if you're a JM tradesman like yourself, you will get a lot more offers and chances for interviews in you're actually in Alberta, if you're an inexperienced newbie then times that by a 1000.
My best advice would be to relocate to Alberta, Edmonton would probably be the best place to base yourself out of but there's other decent places to live in as well, depending on what type of lifestyle you're after. Then find work, which won't be hard, make some cash, make some connections and after 6-12 months, if you want to move back to BC, go for it. Another way to go about it would be to drive or fly to Alberta and stay here for a week or two and hit up every carpentry company all over the province and see what happens. I'd recommend going to Calgary, Red Deer, GP, Lloyd, Etown and the Big Dirty, Fort McMurray (we can meet up for beers if you want).
Sitting in BC and trying to find work is probably the most difficult option, by no means impossible, but you're chance of finding something will definitely increase if you come to Alberta to hand out resumes in person. Also, have you applied for any jobs going on in BC? Apparently Kitimat is blowing up and there's lots of work in Sparwood/Fernie, Fort Nelson and Fort St John.
Ferro 路 2014-07-03 23:51:00 路 #2773
Going to carpet bomb Edmonton tomorrow with resumes and my tenacity. Good luck to everyone else doing the same.
CKSEA 路 2014-07-04 00:21:00 路 #2774
gpjobfair.com
I strongly recommend this job fair in Grande Prairie, held quarterly. This venue is appropriate for new guys with no experience. I've been twice, got into my current job three days after attending and meeting the hiring manager directly at the fair, no HR bs, no behavioral interview questions. I had three months oilfield experience, all my tickets, 4 year business degree, just the right attitude and right place at the right time.
The other time was just to check it out again because it was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. Essentially 50+ companies all with immediate jobs that need to be filled across all skill levels. Different industries as well (GP = Big timber companies competing for employees against oil companies).
I've only been at the one held in early fall, that's when GP gets ready to explode for the year and is the best time to get hired in my opinion.
I strongly recommend this job fair in Grande Prairie, held quarterly. This venue is appropriate for new guys with no experience. I've been twice, got into my current job three days after attending and meeting the hiring manager directly at the fair, no HR bs, no behavioral interview questions. I had three months oilfield experience, all my tickets, 4 year business degree, just the right attitude and right place at the right time.
The other time was just to check it out again because it was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. Essentially 50+ companies all with immediate jobs that need to be filled across all skill levels. Different industries as well (GP = Big timber companies competing for employees against oil companies).
I've only been at the one held in early fall, that's when GP gets ready to explode for the year and is the best time to get hired in my opinion.
MiddleEastern 路 2014-07-04 02:27:00 路 #2775
I attest to that. I got my current job through the GP fair too. I will definitely go there again just for the heck of it.
(07-04-2014 12:21 AM)CKSEA Wrote: gpjobfair.com
I strongly recommend this job fair in Grande Prairie, held quarterly. This venue is appropriate for new guys with no experience. I've been twice, got into my current job three days after attending and meeting the hiring manager directly at the fair, no HR bs, no behavioral interview questions. I had three months oilfield experience, all my tickets, 4 year business degree, just the right attitude and right place at the right time.
The other time was just to check it out again because it was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. Essentially 50+ companies all with immediate jobs that need to be filled across all skill levels. Different industries as well (GP = Big timber companies competing for employees against oil companies).
I've only been at the one held in early fall, that's when GP gets ready to explode for the year and is the best time to get hired in my opinion.