Oilbreh I just read back over your posts. Are you still thinking of doing MWDing this winter or did you find something else. With your degree and background you could go directional within two years.

Get in touch if you want some advice. I actually had a good laugh at that and I think you would do well on the directional side of things.

(10-07-2014 10:27 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 09:06 PM)Tresdus Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 04:50 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  working for cash through a guy. hopefully it all pans out he seems good. says he'll pay me when he gets paid every 2 weeks. should I be concerned or what?

Why would you risk getting scammed if there's thousands legit jobs? Don't just jump onto the next best thing. Those things usually never work out unless that guy actually has a legit company and has you hired as a contractor.

You do it because you got laid off from your legit job but you're receiving pogey (Employment Insurance) so you work cash jobs for extra income, or you're a crack head and want cash at the end of each day.

Yeah the guy even told me to go on EI while I work it. I don't think I qualify since I left voluntarily (although I could say it was due to a traumatic experience -- that dude losing fingers and me having to do first aid)

I've been following the thread since the beginning. I am interested in MWD.

I will be moving to Edmonton in April. I know it will not be a good time to apply for MWD positions, as I know September and October are the best.

I just want to ask if I should mention my Class 1 (tractor-trailer) license in the interview. Actually I hold an A-Z license, but I will convert it to Class 1 as soon as I move in Alberta. Is having a Class 1 license a plus on getting an MWD job easier?

By the way, I hold a Mechanical Engineering degree and have been working on tanker vessels as an engine officer for over 5 years.

(10-08-2014 01:51 AM)slowokan Wrote:  I've been following the thread since the beginning. I am interested in MWD.

I will be moving to Edmonton in April. I know it will not be a good time to apply for MWD positions, as I know September and October are the best.

I just want to ask if I should mention my Class 1 (tractor-trailer) license in the interview. Actually I hold an A-Z license, but I will convert it to Class 1 as soon as I move in Alberta. Is having a Class 1 license a plus on getting an MWD job easier?

By the way, I hold a Mechanical Engineering degree and have been working on tanker vessels as an engine officer for over 5 years.

The class 1 Licence won't help you, as we don't drive any big trucks.
Your Mechanical Engineering degree could help you in some companies.
From my experience some companies don't care what kind of education you have, they prefer rig experience, other companies prefer an engineering degree.
As an engine officer on tanker vessels I assume you were working for months away from home, mention that in an interview and they will see that you can take the isolation easily. This is also a big point for the employers.

Thanks for the advice, buko. Appreciated..

I will for sure mention about my being away from home for long periods in interviews. That's a big plus. Thanks for the advice..

By the way, my record of being away from home is 9 months straight. And my another contract was 8 months and the other one was 7.5 months. The contracts were 6 months that time, but I was extending the contracts as well.

(10-08-2014 11:23 AM)slowokan Wrote:  Thanks for the advice, buko. Appreciated..

I will for sure mention about my being away from home for long periods in interviews. That's a big plus. Thanks for the advice..

By the way, my record of being away from home is 9 months straight. And my another contract was 8 months and the other one was 7.5 months. The contracts were 6 months that time, but I was extending the contracts as well.

No problem, you have good chances to get a job with your 5 years experience with heavy machinery. I think you are mechanically inclined and know how to fix shit. They will like it. You would be a good fit for a pulse tool as there are more moving parts and more settings you need to do than EM.

Buko how is your mwd work going. You on any fixed project for the winter?

(10-08-2014 01:51 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  Buko how is your mwd work going. You on any fixed project for the winter?

I needed to go home to Germany Sep 6th to apply for the Young Professional visa. I got it 2 days ago.
I would like to do now a short holiday and then come back to Alberta at the beginning of November.
I doubt i get back on the same project i was on before. They had still 70 wells to drill around Kindersley, SK. This would keep me working until Spring Breakup.

(10-07-2014 11:23 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  My original point was not to compare the jobs oilbreh. The floor is obviously a lot harder. It was to say that an office type cant hide for too long as an mwd without getting pushed out. There is the odd day that does require a lot of stress. Ive had multiple times where Ive been up over thirty hours with technical issues and the company man is roaring at you. My last trainee fucked a basic task up and lost a project worth several million. I had to deal with that situation and the fallout.

My point was if you couldn't handle the floor you probably should pass on MWDing too. The physicality is not the same but the attitude and environment is similar.

I did enjoy that though.

Thats one perk roughnecking has over mwd, the personal responsibility. Shit goes wrong with mwd, you are under a firing squad, all the tickets on the lease for rentals, crews and rig probably come out to 200k a day, then there is all the overhead. MWD hick up can cost a company a couple million. Had one MWD bitch that it took a tow truck driver 6 hours to find the lease to take his car to shop. He didnt even bother troubleshooting, could of just been a MAF sensor or fuel pump from the sound of it. Came back from days off the guy was replaced. No company wants a guy repping them like that. PM'ed you.

(10-06-2014 07:30 PM)pitt Wrote:  Welcome to the forum Yellowstone.

Just wondering, do you hold any engineering degree? If yes, do you think that is the reason why you got the MWD job?

Hey Pitt,
Thanks for the welcome. I have a science degree. It wasn't the entire reason I got the job but it did help. In the interview the coordinator went through my resume to start, education was the first section after my name, address etc.

Conversation went as follows:
Coordinator: So... I see you have a bachelor of science?
Me: Yes that's correct.
Coordinator: How long was your degree?
Me: It was a 4 Year course with 8 months work experience included.
Coordinator: That's good, its lets us know that you're able to follow and see things through.

That's where the conversation ended in regard to degrees. As you can see he never asked about what topics the course covered, what I did for my work experience or if I even enjoy it. He just needed something to indicate/justify to himself that I could see something through, could I be reliable, dependable and resilient when pressure comes on.

I don't believe having a degree is essential. When applying for any position you need something that sets you apart from the rest of the pack but is still relevant to the job, rig experience, mechanical experience, computer courses, a recommendation or something as simple as living 5 minutes from the shop. If you don't have a degree to grab their attention you have to have something else that does. You want to make it easy for an employer to justify hiring you.

For an MWD there looking for the following skills:
Problem solver
Reliable
Mechanically inclined
Able to work in a team or as an individual
Physically able for the job (lift 50lbs)
Computer Skills
Location
(Not in that order)

Be prepared to be quizzed on these and have at least one example for each.

Pitt, if you want, give me an examples for each of the following listed above as if you were in an interview, if you don't have a degree lets focus on what you do have?

(10-06-2014 06:21 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  Yellowstone is a very good buddy of mine from back home that a few members have already meet.

This guy gave me the original info on how to get into MWDing that I used to succeed, along with Scotians thread.

Welcome to the forum man!

Cheers man, thanks for having me.

Thanks for replying.

I have a post graduation degree in health, safety and environment and I have also worked as a hes inspector for 6 months in the oil industry but I don't think that is relevant for the MWD position. I can tick everything on your list but I won't necessarily say that I am mechanically inclined but if they ask me, I will just tell them yes haha.

I will probably just aim for a floorhand/leasehand position first and then I will take it from there.

(10-07-2014 07:36 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  If anyone wants some construction/drywalling/framing cash-work the guy I'm working for would probably be interested once he gets a few more contracts

Scratch that, I just quit and the guy is PISSED.

Probably drilled 3 screws in 3 days.

I'd get to his house, he'd run an hour late we'd leave for the site, hed want to stop for food. An hour later we get to the site. Work for 2 hours then take a 2 hour break to make phone calls and have me drive him to some errand. Then we'd go back to the site, hed get pissed off at something then an hour later leave. I'd go get food for another hour or two then back to another site.

Like c'mon man, I get you want to have your own schedule and thats why you're sub-contracting, but A) you're doing jobs by the square foot and B) paying me hourly so its in your best interest to not fuck around the whole day.

(10-09-2014 05:21 AM)pitt Wrote:  Thanks for replying.

I have a post graduation degree in health, safety and environment and I have also worked as a hes inspector for 6 months in the oil industry but I don't think that is relevant for the MWD position. I can tick everything on your list but I won't necessarily say that I am mechanically inclined but if they ask me, I will just tell them yes haha.

I will probably just aim for a floorhand/leasehand position first and then I will take it from there.

This is like gaming a girl. You just reframe everything in a favourable light.

Example: health, safety and environment degree

Change it around to Honors Environmental Engineering and Safety Degree. They wont check and it doesn't matter anyway

Example 2: HES Junior Project Manager and Team Leader, XXXX Major Oil Company

Stick buzz works like 'engineering', 'project management', 'energy', 'oil operations' into everything.

Start with what you think the best resume possible for a position is and then just change yours to suit that as much as possible. I am not saying to directly lie (although you could) but just upgrade everything and make it sound more oil industry relevant than it is.

If you worked at Starbucks for 6 months say you worked as at an expanding customer delivery service company as a junior team leader. You dealt with team training, client relations and project competitions. That might mean changing the toilet roll in the bathrooms but just phrase it as if you were in charge of a small countries oil reserves.

Well I just got back to my place in Fort McMurray and was informed that today would be my last shift which means that I'M FUCKING DONE FOR THE YEAR BOYS!!!! Sometime tomorrow I'll be seeing Fort McMurray in the best way possible, in the rear view mirror heading south on the 63, HELL YA! I'll be in Etown for at least a week, maybe two so look forward to seeing some of you fellas before I fuck off somewhere warm.

http://yegishome.ca/
Pretty cool website to check out the neighboorhoods in Edmonton.

(10-09-2014 12:58 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  

(10-09-2014 05:21 AM)pitt Wrote:  Thanks for replying.

I have a post graduation degree in health, safety and environment and I have also worked as a hes inspector for 6 months in the oil industry but I don't think that is relevant for the MWD position. I can tick everything on your list but I won't necessarily say that I am mechanically inclined but if they ask me, I will just tell them yes haha.

I will probably just aim for a floorhand/leasehand position first and then I will take it from there.

This is like gaming a girl. You just reframe everything in a favourable light.

Example: health, safety and environment degree

Change it around to Honors Environmental Engineering and Safety Degree. They wont check and it doesn't matter anyway

Example 2: HES Junior Project Manager and Team Leader, XXXX Major Oil Company

Stick buzz works like 'engineering', 'project management', 'energy', 'oil operations' into everything.

Start with what you think the best resume possible for a position is and then just change yours to suit that as much as possible. I am not saying to directly lie (although you could) but just upgrade everything and make it sound more oil industry relevant than it is.

If you worked at Starbucks for 6 months say you worked as at an expanding customer delivery service company as a junior team leader. You dealt with team training, client relations and project competitions. That might mean changing the toilet roll in the bathrooms but just phrase it as if you were in charge of a small countries oil reserves.

Thanks man, that was a very smart comment.

(10-09-2014 08:26 PM)pitt Wrote:  

(10-09-2014 12:58 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  

(10-09-2014 05:21 AM)pitt Wrote:  Thanks for replying.

I have a post graduation degree in health, safety and environment and I have also worked as a hes inspector for 6 months in the oil industry but I don't think that is relevant for the MWD position. I can tick everything on your list but I won't necessarily say that I am mechanically inclined but if they ask me, I will just tell them yes haha.

I will probably just aim for a floorhand/leasehand position first and then I will take it from there.

This is like gaming a girl. You just reframe everything in a favourable light.

Example: health, safety and environment degree

Change it around to Honors Environmental Engineering and Safety Degree. They wont check and it doesn't matter anyway

Example 2: HES Junior Project Manager and Team Leader, XXXX Major Oil Company

Stick buzz works like 'engineering', 'project management', 'energy', 'oil operations' into everything.

Start with what you think the best resume possible for a position is and then just change yours to suit that as much as possible. I am not saying to directly lie (although you could) but just upgrade everything and make it sound more oil industry relevant than it is.

If you worked at Starbucks for 6 months say you worked as at an expanding customer delivery service company as a junior team leader. You dealt with team training, client relations and project competitions. That might mean changing the toilet roll in the bathrooms but just phrase it as if you were in charge of a small countries oil reserves.

Thanks man, that was a very smart comment.

Atlantic is right, you have to make the sale. To do that you have to package yourself correctly. HSE is a perfect hustle (selling point) in an interview for you and here's why:

In HSE you follow standard operating procedures (S.O.P's) and even coach/help other to do the same. A lot of MWDing revolves around repetition and the ability to be consistent. Showing them you've worked with S.O.P's in the past and also with others gives you your first 3 selling points alone. Your able to follow procedures and take direction. Your willing and able to work with others. You've worked with others before from a position of authority and could be a good fit for future training of new MWD personnel.

Hazard Identification. A good HSE member is always looking to be proactive rather than reactive, a good MWD should be doing the same. Spotting issues and fixing them before they happen will make your job run smoother, the smoother you job runs the less work you create for your employer. Also the rigfloor has hazards and adds a little assurance that you'll be watching your surrounding a little closer than the average newbie.

Incident investigation. When something goes wrong onsite a good HSE member will have to be ready and able to conduct a full incident investigation, what, where, when,how and why. In MWDing the same has to happen if an incidents occur, tool failures, equipment failures or missing/damaged kit parts.

Report writing, this is a major part of being an MWD. Its your line of communication with the office for what's happening in the field, morning reports, failure reports and well reports. The better the info the less work you leave for the office to figure out.

In an interview you need to come across as being a potential assist to a company, not future deadweight. When you get asked what skills do you think you could bring to the job, all of the above should be your answer.

Hope this helps.

Very informative post, Yellowstone...

I had planned to tell some of them in my interview, but I realized I missed some of them, which you said. I use all of these on tanker vessels everyday.

Good that you reminded me. Many thanks..

Anyone have any millwright data/experiences? I've got an interview today

(10-10-2014 01:19 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  Anyone have any millwright data/experiences? I've got an interview today

I sometimes work with millwrights, its a pretty good trade, basically they're industrial mechanics who fix stuff, so you'll learn all about tearing shit apart and putting it back together. Definitely a physical trade and you'll learn a lot, millwrights are kind of jack-of-all-trades, they do a little bit of everything, it can be a union job with very good benefits, I once worked with a dual ticketed millwright/welder and he made a small fortune ($100+/hour). Here's a decent video of what you can expect as a millwright int he oil sands: (cannot imbed so click the link)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMdiYZdvbWc

Sweet, I looked at a couple youtube videos. Seems pretty interesting. I would always hang around the maintenance dudes at work, looked hard at times but I like figuring out how shit works. My uni math/physics should definitely help. Told the guy I could come in at 2 but no reply back yet. Its in nisku. Google maps says it should take 30 mins, but if my experience with driving around here is anything then it'll be like 5 hours because I'll take a wrong turn and end up in red deer or something.

(10-10-2014 01:39 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  Sweet, I looked at a couple youtube videos. Seems pretty interesting. I would always hang around the maintenance dudes at work, looked hard at times but I like figuring out how shit works. My uni math/physics should definitely help. Told the guy I could come in at 2 but no reply back yet. Its in nisku. Google maps says it should take 30 mins, but if my experience with driving around here is anything then it'll be like 5 hours because I'll take a wrong turn and end up in red deer or something.

It pretty easy to get to Nisku man, if you see the airport, then you've gone too far! Edmonton is probably one of the easiest cities in Canada to get around in, unless you venture off into one of those far off suburbs.

Yeah I'm getting better with getting around here, but just this morning I was coming back from a chicks place and followed the road. It headed the opposite direction of where I was going and took 10 minutes to find a place to turn around!!!

The millwright guy hasn't gotten back to me. He asked when I was free for an interview. Gave him a time (a couple hours from the current time), no response.

Whats the deal with all the flaky motherfuckaz around here

Yeah Edmonton is easy to get around. I usually manage to get lost in villages of 2 streets, but with the system here of numbered streets and avenues it's really simple.

Wanna PM me the company in Nisku? I've worked in probably 40+ shops there so I can tell you what's going on if I know them.

(10-10-2014 01:46 PM)scotian Wrote:  It pretty easy to get to Nisku man, if you see the airport, then you've gone too far! Edmonton is probably one of the easiest cities in Canada to get around in, unless you venture off into one of those far off suburbs.

They still haven't fixed the fucking bridge on the Leduc exit. It's been closed since June. The new bridge will be up before the other one is fixed.