Hey what's up people, first post on this forum!

So a bit about me, I'm 19, speak 5 languages fluently, born and raised in Canada (Mississauga, just west of Toronto) and I've been travelling all my life. Currently in Poland and probably going back to the great white north in a month. I've been putting off school since I just don't feel ready to commit to 4 years of studying. I've been working part-time at Hudson's Bay as a Sales Associate for the past 2 years so I've got some job experience. I'm looking to get a camp job doing anything asap since the whole $10.25/hour part-time job just isn't enough for me in terms of hours and definitely not enough in terms of salary. I'm definitely prepared for everything that comes with a camp job (No problem with being away from home, had many months of that already.) Any tips on who's hiring for camp jobs these days? Looked at suncor and a couple other oil company's websites and couldn't find any info on jobs for people with no experience. Thanks in advance guys.

If you are willing to work hard and in decent shape you could probably get a job with a Seismic company. The job would be a camp or hotel job. Eagle, Geokinetics or CggVeritas are some of the big players. Search for seismic on kijiji.

You could also try one of the companies that run the camps like PTI. You might be able to get a job helping in the kitchen.

For anything else you would probable need some tickets and/or a truck.

Thank you for the advice, sammybiker..

(10-23-2014 05:48 PM)oilbreh Wrote:  

(10-23-2014 04:22 PM)slowokan Wrote:  

(10-23-2014 04:13 PM)sammybiker Wrote:  @slowokan They won't give two shits about the masters degree...are you sharp? are you committed? can you work long hours?

You have a great undergrad degree + experience. You only need a strong ethic (and lack of alcohol/drug problem) and you'll be sorted.

Thank you sammybiker. I am very sure I have those qualities. On tankers we always work minimum 12 hours a day. And no Sundays. Non-stop working for at least 3 months. One of my contracts was 9 months straight and another one was 7.5 months. Being away from home would not be a big deal for me.

No drugs. And as for alcohol, I drink a few times a month. The tanker I've been working on is a dry ship. No alcohol for 3 months.

I think I have everything to get a job there. I just wanted to hear from you experienced guys. Thank you very much..

what kinda tankers are these anyway? transport? boilers? refinery? I would suggest sticking in the same path if possible, will make it easy to find a job. All oil field jobs are pretty boring really. First couple months after you learn it you end up doing the same thing over and over again.

For transport. Merchant ships. I am putting a photo of one of them. It is a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier), 333m length, 60m. width. 322,000 tonnes. That was my favorite ship, I've ever worked on.




Another shot, taken from my cabin;

Good Day Gents,

I've stumbled across this thread a short time ago and have been furiously tearing through it. The wealth of knowledge and shared experiences over the last 136 pages is phenomenal. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to provide help and guidance to those who want to make the move to the oil industry. Making the move has always been in the back of my head but reading this thread has been the push I needed and has motivated me with a fire under my ass.

Within the next week I’m planning to make the drive over from Vancouver Island BC and head to Etown. Hopefully my sedan will survive the ride. I’ve been watching the weather and it seems as though the big passes are going to start to accumulate snow. That raises a question for you AB boys, should I ditch the car once I get to Etown and try to trade/buy a truck or should some tire chains do the trick for the winter? I’ve been a Westcoaster forever so I have no idea what winter driving is like in AB.

From reading the thread, I’m planning to crash at the HiEdmonton for a couple of weeks until I get my bearings. I’ve accumulated a few certs already (OFA2, AED/CPR, H2S, eGSO, PST) but will look to book my OSSA Fall Arrest and Ground Disturbance once I settle into Etown. I understand that not all certs are necessary to apply for entry level positions but it couldn’t hurt to have em… I understand starting at the bottom is always the first step so I’m willing to dig ditches until I work my way up and earn my keep. Goals are to get some long hours and bank some finances over the winter. Prove my worth through solid work ethics and get some experience under my belt and work up to a MWD job, apprenticeship, or more certs for broader work. Either way, it will be a process and will have to bide my time. I’m no stranger to hard work; I’m leaving a job as a Hook Tender in the Logging industry for a more demanding job in oil.

If any of you RVF guys are scotch drinkers PM me and we’ll meet up to have a few and shoot the breeze. Any solid advice would be appreciated!

Hope to meet up with some of you RVF guys when I get to Etown!

(10-23-2014 08:15 PM)Darius Wrote:  If you are willing to work hard and in decent shape you could probably get a job with a Seismic company. The job would be a camp or hotel job. Eagle, Geokinetics or CggVeritas are some of the big players. Search for seismic on kijiji.

You could also try one of the companies that run the camps like PTI. You might be able to get a job helping in the kitchen.

For anything else you would probable need some tickets and/or a truck.

Damm, thanks for the info on the seismic work, never really heard about that type of work till now. From what I read and looked up on youtube, this kind of work would be perfect for me. Basic entry level position would be the Line Crew Helper, any idea on how much they pay per hour? I saw a post from 2011 that said that the starting pay is $12.50 an hour but it's probably outdated by now.

(10-24-2014 06:51 AM)BronzeEwe Wrote:  Damm, thanks for the info on the seismic work, never really heard about that type of work till now. From what I read and looked up on youtube, this kind of work would be perfect for me. Basic entry level position would be the Line Crew Helper, any idea on how much they pay per hour? I saw a post from 2011 that said that the starting pay is $12.50 an hour but it's probably outdated by now.

Sounds about right. I think it goes up to $17/hr if you have your shooting ticket. You could try saying you are a troubleshooter to start at a higher wage, maybe around $15/hr.

Should be able to save up enough for tickets working there quickly. Probably need about $500 to pick up all the tickets you need.

They are starting to get busier now and should be busy until the end of March - early April.

If you can find a place to stay in Calgary or Edmonton, you can find jobs that pay $20/hr to start. I saw a few driving through Calgary Industrial area the other day.

Edit:If you tell them you had previous experience as a troubleshooter, they might ask where and why you left. Just give them another seismic company and say they don't have any work.

I just want to ask experienced MWD guys, what position I should look for, if I can not land a MWD position.

As I've searched, wireline operator is the best possible option before moving up to MWD positions. What do you think?

By the way, I will be holding a Class 1 license.

(10-25-2014 03:01 AM)slowokan Wrote:  By the way, I will be holding a Class 1 license.

If you like driving or just need a job make some money while you find something better.

You could find a job tomorrow with a Class 1 license anywhere in Alberta. Companies are always looking for Class 1 and Class 3 drivers.

(10-24-2014 07:05 AM)Darius Wrote:  

(10-24-2014 06:51 AM)BronzeEwe Wrote:  Damm, thanks for the info on the seismic work, never really heard about that type of work till now. From what I read and looked up on youtube, this kind of work would be perfect for me. Basic entry level position would be the Line Crew Helper, any idea on how much they pay per hour? I saw a post from 2011 that said that the starting pay is $12.50 an hour but it's probably outdated by now.

Sounds about right. I think it goes up to $17/hr if you have your shooting ticket. You could try saying you are a troubleshooter to start at a higher wage, maybe around $15/hr.

Should be able to save up enough for tickets working there quickly. Probably need about $500 to pick up all the tickets you need.

They are starting to get busier now and should be busy until the end of March - early April.

If you can find a place to stay in Calgary or Edmonton, you can find jobs that pay $20/hr to start. I saw a few driving through Calgary Industrial area the other day.

Edit:If you tell them you had previous experience as a troubleshooter, they might ask where and why you left. Just give them another seismic company and say they don't have any work.

Hmm the problem with that would be that I have no prior knowledge of how anything works, if I said I had a job as a troubleshooter before they would atleast expect me to know the basics. Is there a possibility of getting a camp job related to actually drilling for oil that would pay a bit more than $12.50 an hour?

Don't just focus on getting a camp job straight away. Stay in the city like scotian said and get experience. Yes you will earn less, but the experience you get will make life up in Fort Mc a hundred times easier.

So I have heard from multiple sources and have been suspecting it myself for a while but it looks like the MWD job market might be heavily saturated this year. I guess it is a result of the popularity of this thread and the other MWD thread I started. Both come up very easily in any Google search related to MWDing and when you add in Alberta in seems like a LOT of people have been reading this. When I first came out here it was a comfortable niche job that not many people knew about. I post on the thread to highlight one possible career path. I didn't anticipate the interest it would receive and thought MWDing would remain a small niche. I feel that has changed. At work the other day I noticed a STACK of resumes, last year they were actively looking for several guys. Maybe it is not all this forum but interest has increased heavily. It is part of the reason I won't be posting too much on this thread anymore in regards to MWDing and have discontinued my resume service. In fact I sent a few out for free before I stopped altogether. I just don't want to promote a job that just won't pan out for a lot of people. That isn't a comment on who the people applying are but on the fact that there is only a few positions and they are now highly competitive.

I am sure some people if they are determined will still get hired this year and the advice I have given is still effective but I would warn people against solely moving out here to MWD. In fact I would encourage people against it at this stage. I would take my success, and many others, look for the approach we used and apply it to other, equally well paying, job areas. Welding is one that comes to mind right away that is just as well paying and has a lot higher chance of getting hired fast and staying busy year round. You could get hired as a welders helper within a month. MWDing takes 4-6 months, a truck and you still run the risk of just not getting hired. It is a high risk approach.

There are 1000s of different jobs in Alberta, all well paying and many are actively looking for people every year. To limit yourself to a very niche job that is now in high demand is something I no longer feel good about. I get a lot of PMs on MWDing so I know how many people have based moving out here on this job. I would still encourage coming here but that you widen your job search to include more realistic (at this stage) employment.

If you are still set on drilling I would first focus on getting a floor position and keeping that up for at least several months - year. This is now what will be needed to compete with others for future MWDing positions. But also it can lead to a lot of other lucrative areas - mud control, hvac, transport, drilling, wirelining etc. Two years ago when I first moved out it still took 6 different jobs and several months of shooting resumes to get a shot at MWDing. I was lucky too.

TLDR: If you want a safe bet this winter at quick well paying work I would focus on some of the other trades on here. If you are determined to get into drilling aim for a floor position first. Once you have some experience consider MWDing but other avenues too.

The other thing with MWD is that pretty much all of your work is in the winter. So while people like scotian can take the whole 6 months of winter of while you will have to work.

It's going to be a slower winter either way due to the oil prices. Sort of ironic- low oil prices lead to a generally shittier Canadian economy, so all these guys from Ontario who can't find work in their socialist paradise of a province decide to come out West, making it even more competitive out here. You need a skills set out here, this isn't the Wild West of old where everyone with a pulse can get work. The circle of life I suppose.

Thanks for sharing your point of view, Atlantic.. That's why I am thinking a Plan-B. Probably I will be looking for Wireline Operator positions.

Also, I can try MWD Technician positions as well, since I hold a mechanical engineering degree and 5+ years of experience on tanker vessels, repairing and maintaining machinery. That could help I think. I will try...

Slo, wireline is pretty slow too. Until someone figures out how to log horizontal wells accurately I find that those guys sit around more often than not. I rarely see those guys unless you're drilling shallow verticals like they do in the eastern Manville shit by Lloydminster, Cold lake, etc.

@ Slowokan Ya by all means try and it could well work out but just keep an open view on all jobs available.

I know people in health and safety banking over 150k a year for example. There are a LOT of options.

Edit: with your exp you should be able to land a great job. Shop around and see what you can get.

Alright, my ticket is booked and I'm heading out mid-November. Plan now is to get work with a fabrication shop, either in Edmonton proper, or in the outlying areas (Nisku, Acheson, Leduc). I'll also be making contact with the unions and hopefully starting on an apprenticeship within six months.

I've decided on two areas to live, Garneau and Oliver, so my first order of business after arriving are appointments with landlords for places I've looked up. I live in a postage stamp bachelor apartment in Toronto but I'll be going for a nice one bedroom.

My budget hinges on finding a job that starts at $18/hr for 40 hours a week plus occasional overtime. Looking around it seems like Nisku is my best bet as I do want a job that has a connection to metal trades. However, I'll take any decent job I can get at the outset.

I've got a few things to wrap up here before I go but it's all coming together nicely. Thanks to scotian and everyone else who has contributed to the thread, it has been much appreciated.

Hey guys. Im heading up on
Thursday to visit this Canadian chick I met who came down here to the island for vacation. Just want to get my tickets and scope out a few jobs. I dont have my permit yet so im looking for some cash jobs to hold me for the time that im there. If any one has ANY ideas as to where I should look, dont hesitate to hit me up! Looking forward to possibly meeting up with some of you crazy lads.

Im taking my already packed bags and jumping back on the long black road. Dont want to scare anyone, easy as shit to find work, but nothing I am interested in at this point. If anyone will be looking for a reliable cheap 4x4 vehicle or cheap workclothes gear, coveralls, parka jacket, or helly hansens PM me! Best of luck to any guys coming out here! work hard and the rest will come. If you are working the rigs be careful. There are all types of crews out there, dont stick around with one if in your gut you know they might be careless.

(10-25-2014 08:18 AM)BronzeEwe Wrote:  

(10-24-2014 07:05 AM)Darius Wrote:  

(10-24-2014 06:51 AM)BronzeEwe Wrote:  Damm, thanks for the info on the seismic work, never really heard about that type of work till now. From what I read and looked up on youtube, this kind of work would be perfect for me. Basic entry level position would be the Line Crew Helper, any idea on how much they pay per hour? I saw a post from 2011 that said that the starting pay is $12.50 an hour but it's probably outdated by now.

Sounds about right. I think it goes up to $17/hr if you have your shooting ticket. You could try saying you are a troubleshooter to start at a higher wage, maybe around $15/hr.

Should be able to save up enough for tickets working there quickly. Probably need about $500 to pick up all the tickets you need.

They are starting to get busier now and should be busy until the end of March - early April.

If you can find a place to stay in Calgary or Edmonton, you can find jobs that pay $20/hr to start. I saw a few driving through Calgary Industrial area the other day.

Edit:If you tell them you had previous experience as a troubleshooter, they might ask where and why you left. Just give them another seismic company and say they don't have any work.

Hmm the problem with that would be that I have no prior knowledge of how anything works, if I said I had a job as a troubleshooter before they would atleast expect me to know the basics. Is there a possibility of getting a camp job related to actually drilling for oil that would pay a bit more than $12.50 an hour?

You can get a job working for the camps. As a security guard or kitchen helper.

If you have money to get some tickets first you greatly increase your options. First Aid, H2S Alive, PST.

If you can get your Class 1 or Class 3 you will have no trouble finding a job.

Thank you guys, komatiite and Atlantic for all this useful info for me.

I will try hard. My best option is to get a position in Chevron's Canadian projects. I've been working for them for 2 years. Today I am joining one more ship of theirs. My last minutes at home and then 3 month contract starts with no Sundays. And I am planning to talk to HR guys when I am onboard.

Chevron is a huge company. I think it will not be that easy to move internally. I'll try my best. At least I don't hold a standard marine engine officer degree, which is the normal way to work on ships.

But I knew that applying for Chevron's Canada positions from within Turkey with a Turkish mechanical engineering degree would not work. It was totally impossible to get in Chevron even if I hold a mechanical engineering degree. That's why I chose to work on ships. Because, I knew that Chevron hires Turkish engine officers as well. Getting hired on their ships was not easy as well. I tried a lot.

I've never liked shipping. From third person view it looks interesting, I know. At the beginning it was fun, I liked. But 2 years after start, it had already been boring. I've always liked to be at sea. Being on ship is fun, I still like. But working in engine room all day... I am really bored. Everyday troubleshooting. Too much. I mean too much. Ok, any part of the industry involves plenty troubleshooting but onboard there are lots of kinds of machinery, including sewage system, steering gear, and many other small machinery. The variety is so much. We don't have a full idea of a specific machinery. We know every machinery a little. We don't focus on one or two machinery and get expert on it. We know everything, but in reality we don't know anything. Better to specialize on few things.

It is like a hospital. I can imagine the doctors' feelings. Everyday they try to cure something. It makes you upset. It never goes flawless. There is always some minor thing to worry about other than major problems. Tankers are difficult working environment. I know it is not much different on shore. Oil industry always involves high stress. But different on ship, you are at sea for months. No socializing and our ship is a dry ship as well.

So, after 5 years, I want to try other parts of the industry. I will try my best. Staying in Chevron is my priority. If it doesn't work, I will try the other options, you helpful guys advised. So much appreciated..

(10-25-2014 02:39 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  So I have heard from multiple sources and have been suspecting it myself for a while but it looks like the MWD job market might be heavily saturated this year. I guess it is a result of the popularity of this thread and the other MWD thread I started. Both come up very easily in any Google search related to MWDing and when you add in Alberta in seems like a LOT of people have been reading this. When I first came out here it was a comfortable niche job that not many people knew about. I post on the thread to highlight one possible career path. I didn't anticipate the interest it would receive and thought MWDing would remain a small niche. I feel that has changed. At work the other day I noticed a STACK of resumes, last year they were actively looking for several guys. Maybe it is not all this forum but interest has increased heavily. It is part of the reason I won't be posting too much on this thread anymore in regards to MWDing and have discontinued my resume service. In fact I sent a few out for free before I stopped altogether. I just don't want to promote a job that just won't pan out for a lot of people. That isn't a comment on who the people applying are but on the fact that there is only a few positions and they are now highly competitive.

I am sure some people if they are determined will still get hired this year and the advice I have given is still effective but I would warn people against solely moving out here to MWD. In fact I would encourage people against it at this stage. I would take my success, and many others, look for the approach we used and apply it to other, equally well paying, job areas. Welding is one that comes to mind right away that is just as well paying and has a lot higher chance of getting hired fast and staying busy year round. You could get hired as a welders helper within a month. MWDing takes 4-6 months, a truck and you still run the risk of just not getting hired. It is a high risk approach.

There are 1000s of different jobs in Alberta, all well paying and many are actively looking for people every year. To limit yourself to a very niche job that is now in high demand is something I no longer feel good about. I get a lot of PMs on MWDing so I know how many people have based moving out here on this job. I would still encourage coming here but that you widen your job search to include more realistic (at this stage) employment.

If you are still set on drilling I would first focus on getting a floor position and keeping that up for at least several months - year. This is now what will be needed to compete with others for future MWDing positions. But also it can lead to a lot of other lucrative areas - mud control, hvac, transport, drilling, wirelining etc. Two years ago when I first moved out it still took 6 different jobs and several months of shooting resumes to get a shot at MWDing. I was lucky too.

TLDR: If you want a safe bet this winter at quick well paying work I would focus on some of the other trades on here. If you are determined to get into drilling aim for a floor position first. Once you have some experience consider MWDing but other avenues too.

It's very hard to get an MWD job, the comptition is really big now. When i had my interview last December my company was hiring one guy only and they got 200 resumes the recruiter said. I was already lucky to get invited for the interview. I ended up not getting the job. But i kept calling the recruiter and in February i got lucky and they hired me.
Keep in mind that you will compete against people with previous MWD experience, with rig experience, with engineering degrees. If you apply with nothing of these your chances are pretty slim.
I would, like Atlantic previously said, recommend applying all the time for MWD positions but also trying to find work as a Leasehand, Wireline Operator, Well Tester just any oilfield job and work for a few months or years so that you have something to show on your resume.

Tresdus is right. It sucks coming back for winter and working on a rig in -30° or so, while Tradesman like scotian and VP go to South America or Asia for the winter to chill at the beach in +30°.
But that's life

(10-25-2014 04:19 PM)Big Country Wrote:  Alright, my ticket is booked and I'm heading out mid-November. Plan now is to get work with a fabrication shop, either in Edmonton proper, or in the outlying areas (Nisku, Acheson, Leduc). I'll also be making contact with the unions and hopefully starting on an apprenticeship within six months.

I've decided on two areas to live, Garneau and Oliver, so my first order of business after arriving are appointments with landlords for places I've looked up. I live in a postage stamp bachelor apartment in Toronto but I'll be going for a nice one bedroom.

My budget hinges on finding a job that starts at $18/hr for 40 hours a week plus occasional overtime. Looking around it seems like Nisku is my best bet as I do want a job that has a connection to metal trades. However, I'll take any decent job I can get at the outset.

I've got a few things to wrap up here before I go but it's all coming together nicely. Thanks to scotian and everyone else who has contributed to the thread, it has been much appreciated.

This is probably the most realistic, level headed I´m moving to Alberta post that I´ve read on this entire thread, I hope that you have a driver´s license and a car, I´m sure that you´ll do well, good luck.

(10-26-2014 10:41 AM)buko Wrote:  

(10-25-2014 02:39 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  So I have heard from multiple sources and have been suspecting it myself for a while but it looks like the MWD job market might be heavily saturated this year. I guess it is a result of the popularity of this thread and the other MWD thread I started. Both come up very easily in any Google search related to MWDing and when you add in Alberta in seems like a LOT of people have been reading this. When I first came out here it was a comfortable niche job that not many people knew about. I post on the thread to highlight one possible career path. I didn't anticipate the interest it would receive and thought MWDing would remain a small niche. I feel that has changed. At work the other day I noticed a STACK of resumes, last year they were actively looking for several guys. Maybe it is not all this forum but interest has increased heavily. It is part of the reason I won't be posting too much on this thread anymore in regards to MWDing and have discontinued my resume service. In fact I sent a few out for free before I stopped altogether. I just don't want to promote a job that just won't pan out for a lot of people. That isn't a comment on who the people applying are but on the fact that there is only a few positions and they are now highly competitive.

I am sure some people if they are determined will still get hired this year and the advice I have given is still effective but I would warn people against solely moving out here to MWD. In fact I would encourage people against it at this stage. I would take my success, and many others, look for the approach we used and apply it to other, equally well paying, job areas. Welding is one that comes to mind right away that is just as well paying and has a lot higher chance of getting hired fast and staying busy year round. You could get hired as a welders helper within a month. MWDing takes 4-6 months, a truck and you still run the risk of just not getting hired. It is a high risk approach.

There are 1000s of different jobs in Alberta, all well paying and many are actively looking for people every year. To limit yourself to a very niche job that is now in high demand is something I no longer feel good about. I get a lot of PMs on MWDing so I know how many people have based moving out here on this job. I would still encourage coming here but that you widen your job search to include more realistic (at this stage) employment.

If you are still set on drilling I would first focus on getting a floor position and keeping that up for at least several months - year. This is now what will be needed to compete with others for future MWDing positions. But also it can lead to a lot of other lucrative areas - mud control, hvac, transport, drilling, wirelining etc. Two years ago when I first moved out it still took 6 different jobs and several months of shooting resumes to get a shot at MWDing. I was lucky too.

TLDR: If you want a safe bet this winter at quick well paying work I would focus on some of the other trades on here. If you are determined to get into drilling aim for a floor position first. Once you have some experience consider MWDing but other avenues too.

It's very hard to get an MWD job, the comptition is really big now. When i had my interview last December my company was hiring one guy only and they got 200 resumes the recruiter said. I was already lucky to get invited for the interview. I ended up not getting the job. But i kept calling the recruiter and in February i got lucky and they hired me.
Keep in mind that you will compete against people with previous MWD experience, with rig experience, with engineering degrees. If you apply with nothing of these your chances are pretty slim.
I would, like Atlantic previously said, recommend applying all the time for MWD positions but also trying to find work as a Leasehand, Wireline Operator, Well Tester just any oilfield job and work for a few months or years so that you have something to show on your resume.

Tresdus is right. It sucks coming back for winter and working on a rig in -30° or so, while Tradesman like scotian and VP go to South America or Asia for the winter to chill at the beach in +30°.
But that's life

VP may be a lot of things, but a tradesman isn´t one of them, he hasn´t earned his stripes yet.

I was talking to a buddy who is MWD near Med Hat and he told me the same thing as ATL. Instead of having night guy and day guy at his job, he is the only one out there now, solely to send field reports, rep the company and troubleshoot tool failure. He has a guy in his office who logs many wells at a time remotely from Calgary. I never saw that on my times on the rigs, but then again, I am just one guy... maybe it was more common than what I imagined, and I haven't been out on one in 2-3 years anyways, amazing how technology improves!

One major misconception new-ish posters on this board seem to have is that Alberta is the land of milk and honey, and gold will flow directly in your bank account with no effort required.

Just come here, get a job, and you'll be making quarter million a year, with 6 months off in the winter, free to bang hotties in the 3rd world while sipping on mojitos and a toking on a cigar. That's far from the truth.

Coming here with an entitlement mentality is the surest way to guarantee failure.

There is quite a bit of jobs here, however the days when anyone with a pulse could get hired are pretty much over. You will have to put in the time. A trade ticket takes about 4 years to attain. This means for 3 years at least, you will be a apprentice. Essentially, keep your neck down, shut the fuck up and listen. You will be paid for it, and you will learn, however this is time you'll have to put in.

If you fail to listen to instructions, take initiative, work hard, and try to blend in culturally, you'll most likely be packing your bags and heading home even if the economy is still red hot (which it now isn't).

There's a ton of trades out there, and if anyone is bothered reading suggestions I'd recommend hitting up Nisku, and looking at:

Welding, Pipefitting, Plumbing, Equipment Operator, Electrician. I'm essentially laying out trades that are generally easier to get in. They have a generally low barrier of entry (this means you'll have to work even harder as many people are hired, many are fired).

Perhaps take a course at your current place of residence from a local college. NAIT offers programs and quick certs, pre-employment courses that give you a leg up. If you really want to get into the more technical trades you'll need to look at doing major upgrading at a college for your skillset. There's trades out there that require you to go back to school for a set time. They generally offer better long term stability and their skillsets are transferable to outside the oilfied. Again...keep in mind, you have to work hard, keep your neck down, shut the fuck up, and listen.

Edmonton is a blue collar town for the most part. Essentially if you're moving here you'll be looking to work in a trade of some kind. Plant, manufacturing, low level engineering, etc. You can learn skills here to take elsewhere down the line, when the oil is gone, no longer profitable, or something even more enticing comes around.

If you're an Engineer, or have a BSc, you could take a little longer and find a job that will pay you a very good, stable wage without the cyclical ups and downs tradesguys go through. I'm not going to even bother posting any resources and links because I think at this stage of the game guys need to be motivated enough to open the jar by themselves and not be spoonfed their future career directions.

TL;DR - Take initiative. Don't be entitled.