Hey guys I"m back in Edmonton now and will be here for 7-10 days until I fuck off somewhere warm, so if any of you guys want to meet up for a drink or something, just let me know. If anyone is interested in having a RVF meet up, I'm up for that, once I leave I'l be gone til April or so!

Whats good fellas. I just gotta say first and foremost thanks to Scotian, Atlantic, Djemba and MANY others. Even some that have banned in the process. haha. A little about me..well I hail from nearly 2,000 miles away from Canada. I am a Telecommunications Tower Rigger (Foreman) by Trade which is a job in high demand in Canada. I am 24 years old and looking for a change of scenery, environment and most importantly LIFESTYLE. My job requires me to travel alot, from island to island repairing installing and even sometimes demolishing cell towers up to 500 feet. I love my job and I love the hard work it requires, it can be stressful at times with the last minute decisions made by our coverage providers, and out of suitcase lifestyle, but its what pays the bills and makes me feel fulfilled as a man! Its what an "on call type of job" so its not steady year round. They pay is "ok". I started my Electronic Engineering Technology at Niagara College in Ontario but was unable to finish because of the lack of funds. (Seriously why does college cost so DAMN much for foreigners lol). I fell in love with ALL THINGS CANADA since I went there in 2010 and have been ITCHING to come back since! I stumbled on this post READ EVERY SINGLE POST (informative or not) made a WORD doc with the most valuable info (imo at least) and IMMEDIATELY thought, I GOTTA GIVE THIS A SHOT. Hard work? Great Pay? Cold Weather? THATS RIGHT UP MY MF ALLEY!!! BRING IT ON! I love new challenges and I embrace the thrill of a new adventure! I am looking to come up near the end of November and get things sorted out. Maybe in a year or two i will look into getting a trade or going back into Engineering part time. I was also looking at Power Engineering online as an option or maybe MWD. First things first RIG EXPERIENCE. I want to obtain at LEAST a year on a firm rig, WORK HARD..continue to network and make my way to the top. I took Atlantic's (Irishman at the time) advice and got set up with a LinkedIn account and HOA LEE HELL...I already have at LEAST 30 guys looking to hire me based off my profile and of course using the "wonderful" search feature to located DRILLERS, MWD's, LEASEHANDS, FLOORHANDS, etc and invited them to connect. I would send each one that added me a message and i guess you can say about 20percent of them replied. I have about 400+ connections now. About 10 even told me to send my resume ahead of time as they have lots of contact in the industry! Some provided their personal cell and email. Thanks again Atlantic. I cant wait to meet you dudes BTW.yall seem cool as ever. I will keep this one short. I will keep everyone up to date on my progress as the days roll on. 6 figs in 6 months here I come!

Ps.Here are some pics of my work.
Scotian ...you may be mad at me for this...but I wanna piss off to somewhere COLD like Canada. Im from THE BAHAMAS... I hate the HEAT!!

[attachment=22122][attachment=22123][attachment=22124][attachment=22125][attachment=22127][attachment=22128][attachment=22129][attachment=22130]

Haha epic first post. Best of luck buddy. Hopefully catch ya over the winter.

This seems to be a task in itself to send these pics.

Hey, new to the patch and the forum. Lots of awesome info. I've been swamping for an oilfield supply trucking company for 3.5 months now. Burned out as a 3d animator on the east coast, so I quit and moved here. I love it, but we're not as busy as I'd like to be. Originally I was gonna get my class 1 and drive, but now I'm thinking about doing a winter on a rig to get more experience. Just not sure what my next move should be. Before I came here I was told there was a job that was well suited for someone that was mechanically inclined and had a computer background, and they knew it was general computer skill, not programming. I've asked around( pushes, roughnecks, safety dudes) and no one can tell me much. Any idea's? This is pretty rambling but I'm really hungover. Thanks

I recently made a bit of a fuck up while calling one of the drilling companies that hired me, it didn't end up hurting but it easily could have. As it's been said on thread many times, apply to as many companies as possible, don't stop applying just because a company say's they will hire you as you could be waiting for a call back for several weeks.

Now this is all well and good and its what I did but you need to stay on top of your contacts. Don't just write recruiter into your phone, your going to have quite a few of these. Make sure to write as much contact info as possible. Also if your applying for different positions consider writing all the info in a notebook e.g.

Name: xxx
Company: xxx
Position: xxx
Date: xxx

I recommend this because when your applying to several different companies and positions at the same time it's easy to get your wires crossed, which is what happened to me. I had a missed call from a recruiter so I called her back thinking it was Company X when in reality it was Company Y. I mentioned the Company X's Name to Recruiter Y, who was none to pleased and informed that they are competitors.

I quickly rattled off something about that was a company I applied for several weeks ago and I was calling them back to tell them I all ready had a job. It ended up not effecting me but it easily could have.

So the lesson from this is don't be retarded like me and make sure your phoning the right person at the right company for the right job

I have got through about half of those people who sent me resumes but have really been limited the last few days with some work issues and a very bad internet connection. If anyone wants advice in the meantime PM me your number and I will try and give you a call. As for now I can't send resumes for at least a few more days.

That cell tower job looks fun. Good luck getting used to the Canadian winter after that.

Hey everyone. Wanted to say thanks for all the great info on here. You guys are unreal for posting all of this crucial info! I've gone through it all and I've taken notes.

I Want to give you some background about me before asking for a little advice if that's cool. I have a bachelor's degree and a masters degree from a university in ontario. Bachelors in Environmental Management and Masters in Landscape Architecture (border-line basket weaving, I know..) I recently graduated and the only job I was able to land didn't come near what I would like to make, and after unsuccessfully applying for jobs in Ontario I've sort of become jaded about the profession. Long story short: it took me 7 years of University to realize that the trades are where it's at, especially in the oil sands. I've always had a summer job and it was almost always labour or trades based. I've had jobs as a telephone repair technician for bell, electrician helper, concrete labourer, water distribution, pool technician, etc. All this to say that I'm not just some guy with a degree that's afraid to do physical labour. I actually prefer to get my hands dirty than to work in an office environment.

Currently living in Toronto and I've given my landlord notice that I'm moving out on the 1st of November and am aiming on being in Calgary by the 9th of November. I will do my first aid down here and I will complete the oil-sands-specific tickets when I get to Calgary. I plan on getting a position as a starter or 1st year apprentice electrician pretty much anywhere I'm needed. My girlfriend is in the same boat as me with her degree in Psychology so she wants to work in the oil sands as well. We are both 100% committed. She will be taking a pre-employment program, though, because she really has no experience in the trades.

This brings me to the question I have for you guys: How likely do you think it is that we could both get on similar rotations working as apprentice electricians? We are prepared to deal with the reality that we really won't see much of each other for the first year or so, but we were hoping that we could eventually get on the same rotation so that we would be able to reap the benefits of working our asses off in the oil sands together. We've both read through all the posts and we've seen the amazing salaries that some of you guys are making and we have been thinking about the benefits of both of us eventually making that kind of money.

Also, there seems to be a really high number of electrical jobs in Saskatchewan right now. Does anyone know if that is a better place to land a job as an apprentice? I know there's fck-all to do out there, but I'm willing to tough it out for the first couple of years or so because you guys have showed me what can be achieved after a few years of hard work out there.

Thanks again.

(10-14-2014 05:52 PM)JustinS Wrote:  This brings me to the question I have for you guys: How likely do you think it is that we could both get on similar rotations working as apprentice electricians? We are prepared to deal with the reality that we really won't see much of each other for the first year or so, but we were hoping that we could eventually get on the same rotation so that we would be able to reap the benefits of working our asses off in the oil sands together.

lol

hello everyone

i read the entire thread multiple times and i'm really serious about going to canada thanks to life-changing input from all of you, especially scotian and atlantic, all of you guys are an unbelievable wealth of information and i can't believe you're sharing it with ambitious red pillers just like that, really great to see men helping each other this way

my plan is to get the croatian working holiday visa, thoroughly prepare (in the last month or so i made 1/3 of those 5000$ i'll need for canada, i'm really inspired to be working for something that will actually pay off finally), minimize expenses, go to canada, pass the tickets and hit the pavement next year, probably mid august

i don't have a degree, was studying business but i dropped out for now because of the expenses and job opportunities i've had - also, i'm not optimistic about my financial opportunities after i get the degree

so anyway, i got some general questions regarding my situation:

1. in case i get the wh visa, everything is cool, but if i don't, what are my options? getting the work permit on a guarantee from the company is out of the question?

2. i got a class 3 license, does that help a lot or just a little bit?

3. does anyone here work in sweden? since moving there would be fairly easy i'd like to know is there a language barrier for working in the oil industry since i'm really good at english so it would help out if they use that over there - also, is the procedure for getting a basic job out there the same as in canada?

that's basically it for now, thanks again for all the great info, keep it coming

cheers!

Anybody worried about dropping oil prices effecting employment opportunities in the patch this winter?


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-dips-b...43148.html

CanadianDreamer you seem like the sort of guy who will succeed in the oil sands, best of luck to you.

Drilling starts to become unprofitable at around $75.00 a barrel. Any lower and there may be a pullback in production in both USA and Canada.

(10-15-2014 08:11 AM)Sundinology Wrote:  Anybody worried about dropping oil prices effecting employment opportunities in the patch this winter?


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-dips-b...43148.html

It's been a slow summer/fall season for exploratory work so far, from what I have heard.

I'm not sure if it's because of the price of oil. Though that definitely factors in. The other part of the problem that has been effecting work is the increasingly difficult regulations and application process. They just changed the application process for the exploratory end of the industry last year.

Certainly the price of oil is one factor and if it drops work could slow down. However there is also a powerful American lobby that seeks to prevent new pipelines in Canada. Overhead is also increasing because of new regulations and rules.

forum meet up on Friday anyone ?

(10-15-2014 02:44 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  forum meet up on Friday anyone ?

Ya lets have a meet up, I need to get really drunk. To the guy above wanting to know if he can get a gig up north with his missus, ya I suppose it could work but I've never encountered a guy/girl team like that, you sure you want to take your girl up in the patch where hundreds of guys are gonna be trying to fuck her all day long? good luck

Maybe she can get some inspiration from this girl. http://www.vancouverobserver.com/environ...-tar-sands
She is pretty cute, imagine how good she would look after an extra long shift!

Check the comment section out, talk about a complete neural short circuit for some of these BC folks- on one hand a young hardworking woman is grinding it out in a male dominated worksite and breaking all the stereotypes that Feminists so proudly fight for, but she is KILLING THE ENVIRONMENT!

Pretty funny at the comments attacking that girl
Someone complained how hard it is to find employees in the cities now because of the oil sands..... Yeah the same companies that pay below award wages to desperate FOB immigrants and treat you like absolute shit! I've done electrical work in Vancouver and would never again!

The same people that are pointing the finger are probably the types walking by homeless people or dying junkies while they take their morning selfie drinking their kale smoothie

Or they run some "organic coffee" shop that they sell cups of coffee for an arm and a leg that comes from slave wages in Nigeria

(10-15-2014 03:19 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 02:44 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  forum meet up on Friday anyone ?

Ya lets have a meet up, I need to get really drunk. To the guy above wanting to know if he can get a gig up north with his missus, ya I suppose it could work but I've never encountered a guy/girl team like that, you sure you want to take your girl up in the patch where hundreds of guys are gonna be trying to fuck her all day long? good luck

I got this butterface chick whos down to party on friday. She has a ton of hot friends I might be able to get out. One of them has the massivest tits I've ever seen

(10-10-2014 01:30 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(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

I just moved to Calgary and wanted a career change and I'm really interested in becoming a Millwright. I haven't gone to school for it though, so I'd need a company to take me on as an apprentice - which by the looks of my online searches isn't so easy - they all want all kinds of experience! I do have over 10 years of mechanical experience though and I'm just getting some safety tickets now (fall protection,CSTS, H2S). Anyone have any advice or info on where I should apply? Any info is helpful, thanks!

(10-15-2014 05:26 PM)useakme Wrote:  

(10-10-2014 01:30 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(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

I just moved to Calgary and wanted a career change and I'm really interested in becoming a Millwright. I haven't gone to school for it though, so I'd need a company to take me on as an apprentice - which by the looks of my online searches isn't so easy - they all want all kinds of experience! I do have over 10 years of mechanical experience though and I'm just getting some safety tickets now (fall protection,CSTS, H2S). Anyone have any advice or info on where I should apply? Any info is helpful, thanks!

If you are looking to get into a trade, calling the unions would be my first step. I think Edmonton unions get more of the oil sands work but I could be wrong. My plan is to relocate to Edmonton after this season for that reason.

If you don't get any results from calling the unions, I would just start cold calling all the Millwrights.

Here is a link to the Canadian Oilfield Services and Supply Directory.

http://www.cossd.com/

(10-15-2014 05:42 PM)Darius Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 05:26 PM)useakme Wrote:  

(10-10-2014 01:30 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(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

I just moved to Calgary and wanted a career change and I'm really interested in becoming a Millwright. I haven't gone to school for it though, so I'd need a company to take me on as an apprentice - which by the looks of my online searches isn't so easy - they all want all kinds of experience! I do have over 10 years of mechanical experience though and I'm just getting some safety tickets now (fall protection,CSTS, H2S). Anyone have any advice or info on where I should apply? Any info is helpful, thanks!

If you are looking to get into a trade, calling the unions would be my first step. I think Edmonton unions get more of the oil sands work but I could be wrong. My plan is to relocate to Edmonton after this season for that reason.

If you don't get any results from calling the unions, I would just start cold calling all the Millwrights.

Here is a link to the Canadian Oilfield Services and Supply Directory.

http://www.cossd.com/

I never even thought of calling the unions, thanks for the help. :-)

(10-06-2014 06:12 PM)Yellowstone Wrote:  Hello all,

You guys have provided me with some great reading material over the last couple of weeks, I didn't want to rush into my first post but figured the best place to start was to tell you a little bit about myself and my story.

Today:
I'm mid twenties and made the move to Alberta to work in the oil patch two years ago. Currently I work as a contractor for a major energy company up North, making over 10,000 a month with relative ease. 12 Hour days, 14 days on 7 days off.

Past:
I had previously made the move to the USA, working as an MWD for a small directional outfit but due to visa issues I had to return home.

Friendships:
A close friend of mine (He goes by the name of Atlantic) who I had originally given info to about the oilfield lifestyle in the USA to had moved to Canada and phoned me to do the same.

Networking:
I arrived in Canada with no more than 2500 dollars of savings in my pocket. I started work as soon as possible to keep a cash flow coming in for food and rent, with my savings going towards field tickets and a drivers License. I spent the summer networking as best I could. I acquired my MWD job in the USA working behind a bar in a restaurant (even oil guys have to eat!) and found something similar in Edmonton working in a Café. Working behind the counter people would be forced to talk with me. Not being form Canada my accent nearly always prompts the question where are you from? Quickly followed by why are you here? You never know who holds the key that could catapult you to the top of an employers list.

Boots on the Ground:
Going door to door isn't easy but it is the quickest way to find out the real story of where you truly stand with an employer and getting employed.

Job offers:
I received four offers, three to go drilling as an MWD and one as a coordinator within an O&G construction team. I took the coordinator position.

The material on this thread is "Grade A" for anyone thinking of moving to Alberta. The guys here (Scotian in particular) have spared nothing in bringing quality information, it alone is a true guide if not a golden ticket to succeeding in the oil sands. Above in brief is my personal success story. Its a hard road but usually if something isn't hard its probably not worth doing! Feel free to ask questions. I'll do my best to answer and thanks for reading.

Great post, thanks for sharing.