(09-10-2014 06:49 PM)pitt Wrote:  

(09-10-2014 06:41 PM)Tresdus Wrote:  2 - Other guys correct me if I'm wrong but for girls at least the hair needs to be in a bun and I think under the hardhat.

3 - Lots of racism, it's a pretty redneck world.

I also wanted to add something to the financing from a couple of pages ago. I bought a motorbike here through a dealership and I had trouble initially getting the financing, but then they changed it to 10% downpayment and 2 year contract and I got it, all on a 1 year working visa.

Just wondering, what race are you?

He's white (European).

I'd have to disagree with him a bit though. People you meet out here on job sites are genuine rednecks, but I've never encountered racism, at least not to my face (I was born in Iran). There was one time when I saw a leather tool belt with swastika markings every 15 cm, but that was it. Everybody I meet on a day to day basis (welders, office people, operators, apprentices, helpers etc...) has always been friendly and helpful. At the place I work at, there are tons of black people and a couple of them have dreads (for the guy that was asking about dreads).

That said, people notice and talk about ethnic differences and issues a lot more openly than I'm used to (compared to Vancouver where I'm from) and I like it this way.

I do have to mention one thing though. I have heard the terms "paki" and "gook" being used a few times. One guy was talking on the phone and said he didn't like Vancouver b/c "there are way too many gooks" and the term "paki driver" is quite common. I don't think these stem from racism though. I just think that's how people out here are. Albertans aren't cosmopolitan folk by any stretch of the imagination and the atmosphere is different. I don't think it should be mistaken for racism. Half the guys I work with grew up on farms. I can't expect them to act and talk the same way as guys that grew up in Vancouver or Toronto.

One of my co-workers needed some help with some numbers on the computer.

Him: Hey, you're good at math, right? Of course you are

He's a ball buster by nature.

Me: Yep. Lemme see here...
*show two closed fists, then on one hand, slowly lift thumb, then middle finger*

Me: 1... 2... plus

*then with the other hand*

Me: 2... equals... oh! Fuck you! *both birds flipped*

We both laugh.

Look, in this day, age and (Western) society, racial discrimination is only an issue if you allow it to be an issue. The political correctness of our times has caused explicit racism to be socially taboo, pretty much shamed upon. Hence why Nima, and myself, have never encountered racism out here.

In our Western society, when someone cries racism, it's generally the same type of card played as a girl who cries rape (i.e. like the many stories in the EE section). Just another victim card to play for the weak and narcissistic.

Thanks for the replies. Big country I checked the pdf you sent and that’s great news. I’ll just do my G2 exam in Toronto and convert it when I reach to Alberta. Thanks Nima and Alberton also for your replies and your personal experiences there. Well Monday I’ll be back in Toronto and I’ll have 2 weeks to finalize my things before I move to Alberta. I got to say many thanks to you guys; I finally have a game plan. One more question, how easy will the transition be to get a position as a MDW with 1 year experience on the rig floor and a B.S in Information Technology. Big country said I might be able to apply for a MWD position with my current qualification, (Seneca College Advanced Diploma in Computer Systems Technology). Can someone shed some light with this for me?

Summer is over.

If you blink you'll miss autumn. Calgary suffered a snowstorm already, and it won't be too far until the weather here in E-Town dips below 0* and stays there until April/May next year.

As that temperature drops, the cool weather sets in, short skirts turn to tights and jeans, and scarfs cover that cleavage, the companies begin ramping up for the winter season. Things are picking up. I'll be hitting the road again soon armed with another ticket under my belt, and if things go to plan will ride out another few wintery projects.

Don't be fear the cold, embrace it, as it's when you'll make your money. This is the time to begin trying to hitch onto a long term project or shutdown.

Try not to sleep on the opportunities.

Good luck boys.

Hello everyone, after reading this forum in October of last year, I finally decided to move out here from Port Hope Ontario. I'll tell you how it has gone for me, and what I have witnessed for people looking to come out here as first hand accounts are very helpful in my opinion.

So after reading this stuff I got motivated to finally come out here. My sister shared a small bedroom apartment, that was the reason to come to Calgary, free room and board while I set myself up.

I came out here with 2 000 dollars, minus 450 dollars for gas driving out here over 3 days (I drive a civic +1 for fuel economy) I had basically 1500 bucks to my name. I found a temporary job working for Imperial Oil in their mail room, 14 an hour, and just to get an idea it took me about 3 days to find a job to pay me enough to live. The experience I have is kind of limited as I was an infantry reservist (full time reservist so to say taking contracts etc etc.)

I ended up staying at this job until I got paid one paycheck, then found a super cheap place that needed no security deposit and was 375 a month. After around a month and with pay problems (IO was changing their pay system delaying my pay by about 2 weeks or so), I was about 500 dollars in the hole, with a loan from my sister.

After staying with IO for around 5 months I quit and did another job, but that's irrelevant, I can tell you stories about the friends I've had come out here.

I always told my friends that if they wanted to move out west, they could stay with me for free until they got setup. My first army buddy I met summer of 2013 hit me up on Facebook and asked about coming out to live with me while he got hired to be a rigger. I said of course. I don't know how much money he came out here with, but it was enough to buy a car (I drove around and helped him find a car), and go to and from Edmonton enough times to get hired by Savannah in around 7 days including orientation scheduling, and some training.

He actually ended up dating a recruiter and told me (as of around last month) that if anyone I knew needed a job, he could get them hired instantly.

Que my next 2 friends that came out here, one is looking for the rigs, the other is looking to live in Calgary. I have two of my best friend home town buddies staying with me right now, and they have been here for the past couple of weeks.

Random friend showed up at my house who I knew in High School but is still just an acquaintance. He has been living in E town working as an insulation installer for around 22 an hour or something, he casually mentions wanting to be a rigger Saturday night, I tell him I can get him a job, he gets hired by the end of the next Monday. Now working a camp job.

Friend 1 got his tickets in around 2 weeks, and went up to E town a little too late to get hired at Savannah as they said they weren't looking for leasehands. He walked into Trinidad looking for work, supervisor asks him if he has H2S (which he does) and points him towards the paperwork, he is now going through orientation to do something.

Friend 2 is looking at staying in Calgary (for you people who want to live in the city and not be a rigger). He got hired in around 1 week of being here as a plumbers assistant. Makes 18 an hour and works around 40 hours a week with some overtime. They are looking to get him an apprenticeship after 1500 hours.

Just for me, I luckily have truck driving experience and deliver freight as a subcontractor. I make 17 an hour and bank huge hours, my first month was 180 hours. I also started on the 9th or so of the month, so I was missing quite a few days. More than enough to save up 10 grand over the winter and take a heavy machine operators course so I can go up north and work in the oilfields to make the big bucks.

If you come out here YOU WILL get a job. Seriously just make the move and you won't regret it. Anyone have any info about working heavy machinery and if taking an 8 week course will be enough to get hired? Thanks!

Hey guys ill be in Edmonton tomorrow and for Sunday. pm me if anyone wants to have a get together on whyte ave.

(09-13-2014 03:25 AM)PakiRambo Wrote:  Hey guys ill be in Edmonton tomorrow and for Sunday. pm me if anyone wants to have a get together on whyte ave.

I'm in Edmonton, pretty busy moving in to my place but will have some free time tonight to have a couple of drinks, probably around 9.

Alright guys here is an update on my time in Alberta so far. As mentioned in my previous update, I arrived in Edmonton on Tuesday September 2. I ended my last update by saying that I was going to Red Deer on Tuesday night for a job fair in Red Deer on Wednesday, so I will start from there.

I arrived at the fair at around 11am as I had some issues printing my resume package in the morning. At the job fair, there were about 50 companies, with 4 being big drilling/well servicing companies. I warmed up by going to some of the construction company booths and then hit the drilling companies. To hand the recruiters, I made a 3 page resume package that included my resume on the first page (with tickets and license/owning a truck right at the top), a second page that included photocopies of all my courses and drivers license, and a third page that included a clean drivers abstract and my insurance card that showed I had my own insurance and truck. The recruiters absolutely loved this, as most of them ask if I had copies of my courses to show them and I could actually gave them a sheet with all of my courses that they could keep.

I was finished at the job fair at about 12:30pm, so looked at my already prepared list of drilling companies around Red Deer and mapped out the rest of my day on my iPhone GPS (I’ve already said this is a necessity). I got back to Edmonton at about 4pm with another 4 big/medium sized drilling company offices that I hit after the fair (skipped the small drilling companies and all well servicing companies). So overall for just Wednesday, I gave my resume package to 8 drilling/well servicing companies.

To the job fair, I wore a dress shirt, tie, and dress pants. When I showed up, half the people there were in sweatpants and hoodies. I was pretty much the best dressed guy there and this got me stares from everyone and every company booth I walked by (Moore’s mens store called me over as I walked by and the first thing they said was to offer me a job). To any guys going to job fairs out here, I would recommend dressing a step down from what I did.

At the job fair, the big drilling/well service companies were not offering jobs on the spot. However, one of the recruiters at a big drilling company told me I was exactly what they were looking for and told me to come to their office in nisku the next day to do my drug test and that I could skip parts of training. I knew I was going to get hired the next day when I went in early, but brought a bunch of resume packages and a huge list of companies to hit after if I ended up not getting the job.

I ended up getting “officially” hired immediately when I walked in and met the recruiter the next day. So since I basically got hired the day before, it took a total of under an hour from starting my job search to get hired in the position I wanted and with a sweet company.

When I was doing my drug test the next day, the recruiter said thanks for taking the time to dress nicely. I asked her if she thought it was overkill and she said that she liked it. However, she said that other people in the office may see it as disrespectful because I was dressed nicer than the top guys in the office and that it comes off that I don’t like to get my hands dirty (but she said my resume showed otherwise). There were guys waiting in line for interviews with clothes that had huge rips/holes.

Overall, I got the job that I wanted with a great company within an hour of starting my job search and within 8 days of landing in Alberta. If you are not making bank back home or don’t know what to do with your life, then get the fuck out here. With all the info in this thread and the stories that prove people making it out here, there is no reason to doubt yourself making the move. As mentioned countless times before, you have to be out here and actually visit the offices if you want a job, especially if you have no experience. Also, read the entire thread and make notes before asking a question on the thread or through PM that has already been answered.

Fantastic stuff Essential!! Very happy for you man!
You showed how it's done! Very well done!!!

Now go out, make those big bucks and make it big in the oil sands! You are an example for everyone looking at making the move.

Guys, don't overthink it. The innumerable examples of guys who came here and made it happen are all the proofs you need to get here ASAP! Right now is the best time to get here as all the companies are gearing up for the busy fall shutdowns and even busier winter season.

So guys on the edge, stop wasting time and get here ASAP! As the corny commercial line goes, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain! You'll be very glad you did!!!!

For the guys coming out attempting to get on the rigs, do a course called eGSO from Enform. It is a free online course that takes 20 minutes. You will have to do that in your training so if you already have it, put it on the resume to be more attractive to recruiters and it also lets you skip part of training.

This is to fucking easy guys. Make the move.

Well looks like I'm gonna do this. Just broke up with the girlfriend and need a change of scenery. Plus the inflated bank account will make me feel better. Seems like perfect timing!

I've been looking at houses in Edmonton over the past couple of days, I may buy one and turn it into an RVF OIL SANDS rooming house, I'll keep you guys posted but I'm looking to buy something in the Whyte Ave area and would probably rent furnished rooms for about $500/month.

(09-16-2014 05:24 PM)scotian Wrote:  I've been looking at houses in Edmonton over the past couple of days, I may buy one and turn it into an RVF OIL SANDS rooming house, I'll keep you guys posted but I'm looking to buy something in the Whyte Ave area and would probably rent furnished rooms for about $500/month.

That sounds like a great idea. I thought rooms were way more expensive in Edmonton (like 800 bucks minimum).

(09-16-2014 05:35 PM)pitt Wrote:  

(09-16-2014 05:24 PM)scotian Wrote:  I've been looking at houses in Edmonton over the past couple of days, I may buy one and turn it into an RVF OIL SANDS rooming house, I'll keep you guys posted but I'm looking to buy something in the Whyte Ave area and would probably rent furnished rooms for about $500/month.

That sounds like a great idea. I thought rooms were way more expensive in Edmonton (like 800 bucks minimum).

Depends on the place, but in an older house such as the ones I"m looking at, rooms usually go for about $500, the area has a huge student population (near the University of Alberta) so lots of potential renters around. I think it could be pretty convenient to have a few RVF guys living together and working in the oil patch, the house will be very close to the U of A and the party area, Whyte Ave. Also, I'd rather rent to people making decent money than to broke ass students, here's a listing on Kijiji that is a comparable place: http://www.kijiji.ca/v-room-rental-roomm...nFlag=true

(09-16-2014 05:35 PM)pitt Wrote:  

(09-16-2014 05:24 PM)scotian Wrote:  I've been looking at houses in Edmonton over the past couple of days, I may buy one and turn it into an RVF OIL SANDS rooming house, I'll keep you guys posted but I'm looking to buy something in the Whyte Ave area and would probably rent furnished rooms for about $500/month.

That sounds like a great idea. I thought rooms were way more expensive in Edmonton (like 800 bucks minimum).

You're thinking of actual apartments. They go for 800+ Rooms (house shared with other people) start at 400.

Hey guys, I will be in Edmonton for probably another week so send me a PM if you want to meet up. Looking forward to meeting more guys out here.

Well its a year later than I'd originally intended... but I'll be leaving for Alberta at the end of the month.

See you fuckers soon!!!

(09-18-2014 05:10 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  Well its a year later than I'd originally intended... but I'll be leaving for Alberta at the end of the month.

See you fuckers soon!!!

Holy shit, you're back!!

Hi everyone,

I've been viewing this thread for a few months now and it's given me the inspiration and motivation to change where I'm heading.

I currently live in Calgary and have been for the past year. I've been working a number of jobs since being here (warehouse, pipe yard, kitchen) and I've decided I want to work up north where all the money is. I have applied to SAIT for welding as it interests me as a trade and will benefit my end goal of being a combat engineer in the military down the road. That course would start in January so I wouldn't be up north until next year at least.

I'm not done reading the entire thread so I won't ask any questions that may have already been answered. Just wanted to introduce myself and thank you for taking the time to post so much valuable information and all the help you've given people.

(09-19-2014 04:38 AM)Coach Wrote:  Hi everyone,

I've been viewing this thread for a few months now and it's given me the inspiration and motivation to change where I'm heading.

I currently live in Calgary and have been for the past year. I've been working a number of jobs since being here (warehouse, pipe yard, kitchen) and I've decided I want to work up north where all the money is. I have applied to SAIT for welding as it interests me as a trade and will benefit my end goal of being a combat engineer in the military down the road. That course would start in January so I wouldn't be up north until next year at least.

I'm not done reading the entire thread so I won't ask any questions that may have already been answered. Just wanted to introduce myself and thank you for taking the time to post so much valuable information and all the help you've given people.

Why don't you join the military now instead? I know a lot of ex-forces guys who got out and into the oil patch but can't say I know any who went the opposite route.

(09-19-2014 08:15 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(09-19-2014 04:38 AM)Coach Wrote:  Hi everyone,

I've been viewing this thread for a few months now and it's given me the inspiration and motivation to change where I'm heading.

I currently live in Calgary and have been for the past year. I've been working a number of jobs since being here (warehouse, pipe yard, kitchen) and I've decided I want to work up north where all the money is. I have applied to SAIT for welding as it interests me as a trade and will benefit my end goal of being a combat engineer in the military down the road. That course would start in January so I wouldn't be up north until next year at least.

I'm not done reading the entire thread so I won't ask any questions that may have already been answered. Just wanted to introduce myself and thank you for taking the time to post so much valuable information and all the help you've given people.

Why don't you join the military now instead? I know a lot of ex-forces guys who got out and into the oil patch but can't say I know any who went the opposite route.

The military is my end goal, what I want to do as a lifelong career. I've known that was what I wanted to do since I was young.

As a lot of the posts have mentioned here a lot of people do the oil patch for a awhile and then get out. That's my plan, do it for a while making as much as I can while gaining experience that will transfer over to the military so I do not have to worry about things financially. Additionally be able to do a little more traveling before I leave my 20s so I can focus on the military as my career when I join.

Sounds strange I know but I've thought about it a lot and it's the plan that I'm motivated about doing.

Bro. Military does not help produce oil. They dont have welding inspectors, or roughnecks, or 1st year apprentices. You can always transfer as a medic

(09-19-2014 09:30 PM)Coach Wrote:  

(09-19-2014 08:15 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(09-19-2014 04:38 AM)Coach Wrote:  Hi everyone,

I've been viewing this thread for a few months now and it's given me the inspiration and motivation to change where I'm heading.

I currently live in Calgary and have been for the past year. I've been working a number of jobs since being here (warehouse, pipe yard, kitchen) and I've decided I want to work up north where all the money is. I have applied to SAIT for welding as it interests me as a trade and will benefit my end goal of being a combat engineer in the military down the road. That course would start in January so I wouldn't be up north until next year at least.

I'm not done reading the entire thread so I won't ask any questions that may have already been answered. Just wanted to introduce myself and thank you for taking the time to post so much valuable information and all the help you've given people.

Why don't you join the military now instead? I know a lot of ex-forces guys who got out and into the oil patch but can't say I know any who went the opposite route.

The military is my end goal, what I want to do as a lifelong career. I've known that was what I wanted to do since I was young.

As a lot of the posts have mentioned here a lot of people do the oil patch for a awhile and then get out. That's my plan, do it for a while making as much as I can while gaining experience that will transfer over to the military so I do not have to worry about things financially. Additionally be able to do a little more traveling before I leave my 20s so I can focus on the military as my career when I join.

Sounds strange I know but I've thought about it a lot and it's the plan that I'm motivated about doing.

One thing to think about if you are serious about joining the military is the military pension. The sooner you join and put in your years, the sooner you can retire with a pension.

(09-19-2014 09:35 PM)PakiRambo Wrote:  Bro. Military does not help produce oil. They dont have welding inspectors, or roughnecks, or 1st year apprentices. You can always transfer as a medic

One of the more ignorant things I have read on this thread. I have worked in many field positions (drilling, seismic, well operating- both as a labourer and supervisory), many more than you, and can vouch for every single ex military guy I have ever worked with. They generally have high mechanical aptitude and are quick thinkers- they rarely fuck up once they know their job. Many companies in the US are run by ex-military guys- ConocoPhillips and SM Energy in the States for example have or have had multiple ex Military guys as CEOs. I personally know many guys who went to the RMC in Kingston who are now making their ways up the ladder in downtown Calgary as engineers. There are many routes you can go after military service and the oil patch is one of the best places where these guys can apply their skills. And even if they don't go the engineering route, you can be damn sure they will make their way up the ranks quickly in field positions, because they are not gonna be pussies.

Just finished my first shut down work up in Redwater. Night shift for a week, 14 hr shifts, which was more like 16-17 hr days if you add the travel time from my place to the shop. The work itself was pretty chill with a great group of guys and in that we worked maybe 2-3 hours tops out of the 14 hr shift, the rest of the time just sitting in the trailer, chatting with the boys, browsing the net and pipelining girls for my up coming trip in the fall. Was a great learning experience as I got exposed to a few different methods within my field.

Starting a new shutdown project on Wednesday. Friday morning I have my written exam for my certification in my trade. The time off in between is really a godsend to both recharge my batteries and get ready to ace that exam!

Things are finally falling into place for me after a very slow start work wise. Looking forward to getting tons of hours from now till end of oct, mid nov max then I'm out of here till the spring. Want to get my ticket before leaving so when I return in the spring, it will be easier to get a good gig right away.

Pumped and very excited about the future!

Scotian, brother, I will always be grateful to you for having opened my eyes to a whole new world I didn't t even knew existed! A world of unlimited opportunities that is opening up to each of us who have made the move and stuck through the initial challenges. A whole new world of opportunities beyond anything we could have or would have, had it not been for you. You are literally changing lives man whether you realize it or not! You have changed mine and provided me with something that the corporate world failed to in over a decade: a bright future in a very lucrative industry! And that is priceless. The feeling of peace of mind that comes with it is undescribable.

You deserve your own statue somewhere in Edmonton man! You are a legend brother!

God Bless!