A point I'd like to mention:
- Someone from the previous page suggested that if you have a university degree and are applying for a labourer position, that you omit listing your degree on your resume.
Terrible, terrible advice. Why are you intentionally reducing your qualifications? Because you are afraid of the hassle? That's like saying that in order for me to get in with these group of girls I'm trying to pick up at the bar, I should dumb myself down to their ditzy level. Fuck no.
Case in point: During my second week here, still unemployed and looking for work, I walked into one of the well-servicing offices in Edmonton and was immediately given an interview with a recruiter. Asked about my qualifications, I told her I had none on an oil rig, but plenty of labourer experience (bullshit on my resume). She looked over my resume, and the conversation went as so:
Recruiter: Ahh, I see you graduated from university
Me: Yep
Recruiter: Why is it that you want to work here then?
Me: To make a SHIT ton of money, something I can't do back in Toronto
Recruiter: *chuckles* That's fair enough. Are you aware of how our operations work? Are you familiar with the harsh conditions of work?
Me: Absolutely (I had no idea)
Recruiter: Ok! When are you available to work?
All they care about is having readily available, and capable, hands to assist in their operations. Having your university degree in your resume does NOT impair your chances because it exceeds their expectations in looking for available workers. Especially with oil rig operations at the lower, more entry level positions, turnover rates are very, very high.
(09-27-2014 06:54 PM)komatiite Wrote: Jesus that is some serious money especially with the 7-7 rotation! I envision 30 new members to this thread on Oct 1, each one a guy from Ontario asking how he can land a job like that with a background as a cashier in Toronto and a BA in Sociology!
Let them ask away. There will always be guys who do way too much talking, reading and analyzing, and not enough networking and applying the info they've learned. Paralysis by analysis.
There are way,
way too many chumps here; guys with the spine of a jellyfish that lack conviction behind their words. I don't know how it is in Fort Mac but there are a lot more chumps here than I expected. Lately I've been pretty fed up to them, to the point where I gave a direct and honest "Fuck you" to one of my co-workers for being a fucking snake.
(09-28-2014 10:48 AM)Sundinology Wrote: Only question I really have, I have seen a mention or two of getting physicals and fitness testing on top of the drug testing. Anybody gone through this? How fit are they expecting one to be? I'm currently 245lbs and 6'3", but hopefully by the time I get out there I'm down to 235ish...working out every day and eating proper in preparation. I have good strength, but my cardio could stand improvement...so I've been focusing on that. Thinking of joining a Crossfit gym for the next 4 weeks but truth be told I can't stand those type of workouts, think they would be good prep though for the patch.
buko's reply to this a few posts up matches my experience when I had to do my fitness and drug testing. I would like to add, though, that it is not necessary for you to be physically fit for you to do well on the oil rigs.
Case in point: During my first rotation on the rigs (21-4), I did a lot of sweeping snow, tripping pipe and rod, and carrying heavy ass shit around, usually pipe and/or tools. -40 degrees Celsius outside on the daily. My meals were pretty healthy: made sure to have some Gatorade and/or water, some turkey or chicken sandwiches, some fruits and a protein shake. I'd make sure that once I turned in, I'd take a shower, read a little, and hit the sack right away, so I was able to get about 6-7 hours of sleep, which is on par with how much I normally sleep anyway.
I remember one of the floorhands looking at my lunch one day, while we were chilling in the doghouse, and said "Hey man, that doesn't look like too much food, I dunno if you can survive out here off of that." I looked over at what the guys are: a few packs of frozen Chinese food (the same shit you'd find at convenience stores or gas stations), several cans of that Monster energy drink, and lots of cold medication. This is what they ate every day. On top of that, after work, they'd polish off a 12 pack to their face, get about a few hours of sleep and do it all over again.
Not only did these guys have some insane cardio, but they were much, much stronger than I was. 14 hour shifts of hauling ass and lifting heavy shit all day, and they would still have enough energy to still bust my balls, make jokes and shit like that. Meanwhile, by lunch time, I was so incredibly exhausted, doing my best to keep up with them but it was clear that they were outperforming me by miles and miles.
The point I'm trying to make here is that you can go to the gym, eat healthier and all that jazz, and yes, you will be better prepared vs. one that is a piece of shit, lazy bum. But how can you appropriate your training to match the conditions of a place you've never experienced? Conditions such as the extreme cold, wind, how much snow or mud is on the ground, carrying items of varying geometries and weights take an immense toll on your body, but more importantly, a toll on your
psyche. Carrying heavy shit becomes a second thought when you're wondering if your cheeks, fingers or toes have frostbite, or how hungry you are, or whether not the horrible conditions were all worth the pay (come pay day, you'll find out it is). These guys could do it because they became climatized and accustomed to the conditions of work.
They got used to it.
So the best way to be ready for this type of labour?
Learn by doing.
You mentioned Crossfit too. I don't like Crossfit, at all. Goes against many tenets of fitness that I follow almost religiously. I could get into it but it's a personal philosophy so if you wanna do it, up to you.