Post: #51

(07-10-2012 12:51 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

(07-09-2012 08:37 PM)houston Wrote:  Damn Fisto. Would you not recommend any of us head up there?

I don't know man...right now I'm pretty discouraged. I keep hearing how someone can get me a job and then it's "come back again later".

There are a lot of jobs that I won't do available. Construction, working in a shop for 15 bucks an hour, stuff like that.

I'm going to stick it out a little while longer, but I'm not working like a dog for 15 bucks per hour. Some guys here say "yeah but you work like 90 hours per week!" and they're pumped to bring in 4 grand a month.

I can make that back in Vegas, work a 3rd of the time and a 10th as hard.

Fisto I looked at the job boards posted in various threads here and even in my trade I didn't see anything worth going there for that I couldn't make here even if I didn't have a business. 25 an hour? For what to live up there? Fuck that. If I were you I would go back to Vegas where you're happy and getting laid and consider this a learning experience.

Post: #52

This sounds more like an opportunity for someone who basically has no good options rather than someone like you Fisto. You're not after just any job, but a job that will pay sufficiently more than you make now to justify living in shitsville. Those jobs will be much harder to get than just some manual labor job.

Post: #53

Mechanico, I'm beginning to think you are right. I really am thinking I just missed the boat by a matter of months. I met a guy who had no experience, got hired by Weatherford, get's a 75 dollar/day per diem and a 1000 bucks a month "housing allowance", makes 30 bucks an hour plus overtime (45) and hasn't actually worked yet. He's living in a man camp for free and the company pays his flight home every 2 weeks. That's what I was looking for. Now I've got to try and find a company that will hire with no experience, work for 22 an hour for about 6 months or so, then try and get on with a Weatherford sized company.

Menace, I just got another shipment of paintings that was about 6 days late, I'm going to see about selling them and this trailer I brought up and then bounce out of here if something viable doesn't turn up.

Post: #54

There is one other thing, I met this girl who just got here about a week ago, she's a 20 yr old Bulgarian student staying her until September. We've hung out twice (I actually flaked on her once because I was tired). She's pretty cute and I'd like to get the flag. I told her I just turned 29, I'm 34.

Post: #55

Fisto, here's a strategy. Tell the connections you met that you are thankful for their help but unfortunately couldn't find anything and are going home. Wish them well and don't ask them for anything. Chances are they will tell you to wait as they try even harder to help you find something. If not, then go back to Vegas.

Post: #56

I've got a couple other leads to exhaust and them I'm going to do that. On a whim, I applied as a UPS driver out here. I met with the guy and they've offered me a job...Jesus, I can't believe I'm thinking of doing that....

Post: #57

(07-11-2012 03:28 PM)Fisto Wrote:  I've got a couple other leads to exhaust and them I'm going to do that. On a whim, I applied as a UPS driver out here. I met with the guy and they've offered me a job...Jesus, I can't believe I'm thinking of doing that....

I have a buddy who did the same thing when he first got to the boom town I"m , he got a job at Purolator (courier Co. in Canada) and worked there for over a year, made some contacts then landed a sweet job.

Sounds like you're having a hard time adjusting there man, and its no surprise, you're from a nice city and now you live in a shit hole. That's one of the biggest obstacles to moving to a place like that, its going to be 10X more brutal when the cold hits. Most of the guys who don't mind working up there are probably from equally as shitty places in the cold northern states, or are guys who are so desperate for cash that they're willing to live miserably.

I still think you should tough it out as long as you can, the opportunity will eventually come, especially if you start delivering for UPS, you will be dropping off mail at all the big companies and can make more contacts, the UPS gig should pay half decent also

If you do decide to pack it up, no shame man, you tried. These rough shit hole towns aren't for everyone, as I've wrote about in any oil work related thread on here. I'm probably packing my shit up and getting the hell out this fall!

Post: #58

Well, finally some good news. I don't want to jinx myself but a guy came into the MMA gym and we sparred for a bit. He was pretty decent and we got to talking. Turns out he's in charge of hiring for a company based out of Utah and they are going to be using 3 rigs here in ND. The job sounds like a dream job. He offered me the job and I verbally agreed. I'm hesitant to announce it yet until I actually start but, if this pans out. It's by far better than anything I've described so far. Fingers crossed. I was about at the end of my patience but this has encouraged me to try and stick it out. Bad news is that I had to decline the UPS job but I'm supposed to start working in a week or so.

Post: #59

Hang in there Fisto. It'll be worth it when your start raking in the bank. Just think of it as every month in ND, how many months you can live in a 3rd world country. A 1 to 3 ratio isn't bad. Just suck it up and put as many hours as possible. 3 months of suffering to live for 9 or better months isn't a bad trade off.

Post: #60

Congrats on the offer! Your patience has paid off.

Post: #61

congrats, bro.

looks like we will have to meet up in vegas another time.

Post: #62

Guys, it's official. I got the offer letter of employment on Friday. I'll be a "Lead Measurement While Drilling Engineer".

1st year I'm supposed to make between 70-80K then the second it's supposed to jump to close to 200k

I work 2 weeks on 2 weeks off for 12 hour shifts. (I'm told the most I'll have to work at a time is 6 hours and then I just have to be within one hour of the rig in case something happens)

It's work that mostly takes place inside and so I won't be killing myself outside in the cold during the winter.

This is probably the best possible scenario I could have hoped for. I'm supposed to start training which lasts 3 months on August 1st in Utah. The only thing that can possibly stop me now is passing a background check and I should be all good with that.

All that said, I don't recommend coming up here unless you have the income to sustain yourself while waiting for something to pop. I was getting pretty frustrated as you all know. This place is a shithole with basically shitty people (although I did meet some great ones).

Anyway, I'm pretty psyched, those 2 weeks off are going to be me traveling to some badass places!

Post: #63

(07-15-2012 02:49 PM)Fisto Wrote:  Guys, it's official. I got the offer letter of employment on Friday. I'll be a "Lead Measurement While Drilling Engineer".

1st year I'm supposed to make between 70-80K then the second it's supposed to jump to close to 200k

I work 2 weeks on 2 weeks off for 12 hour shifts. (I'm told the most I'll have to work at a time is 6 hours and then I just have to be within one hour of the rig in case something happens)

It's work that mostly takes place inside and so I won't be killing myself outside in the cold during the winter.

This is probably the best possible scenario I could have hoped for. I'm supposed to start training which lasts 3 months on August 1st in Utah. The only thing that can possibly stop me now is passing a background check and I should be all good with that.

All that said, I don't recommend coming up here unless you have the income to sustain yourself while waiting for something to pop. I was getting pretty frustrated as you all know. This place is a shithole with basically shitty people (although I did meet some great ones).

Anyway, I'm pretty psyched, those 2 weeks off are going to be me traveling to some badass places!

That's great news man, congrats. MWD and directional drilling are advanced drilling techniques and being a MWD engineer can definitely take you places all over the world and make you some serious cash.

This is a great opportunity, looks like you'll have to tough it out in shitty Williston this winter, it'll be worth it for sure, good luck.

Post: #64

Congrats bro! Sounds like a great gig.

Look into getting one or two really good frequent flier credit cards. With as much as you will be flying, you can hopefully rack up some free flights/upgrades.

Post: #65

Rio - That's a great idea, I've got to figure it out for sure. I've heard capitol one is good...I've got a united card right now and I'm not crazy about that airline at all.

Scotian - Yeah it's going to suck but I can endure anything for 2 weeks at a time. Plus I'm told I'll be working mostly inside.

Post: #66

(07-16-2012 01:41 PM)Fisto Wrote:  Rio - That's a great idea, I've got to figure it out for sure. I've heard capitol one is good...I've got a united card right now and I'm not crazy about that airline at all.

Scotian - Yeah it's going to suck but I can endure anything for 2 weeks at a time. Plus I'm told I'll be working mostly inside.

a 14/14 is good, but look at locking down a 28/28. You'll have the opportunity to get a furnished apartment every other month anywhere you want and start hammering down. I'd recommend starting off somewhere close like the Caribbean or Central America, especially on a 14/14 gig. It sucks when you travel far and walk right into work from the plane. Bollocks.

Post: #67

Congrats, man! Everyone loves a happy ending, which is why you should also think about running a "massage parlor" up there.

Post: #68

My plan is to open a crossfit gym here as well. But yeah, I do have a party bus/vegas whore plan that I think would make a killing.

Post: #69

Congratulations, Fisto. As soon as I get my CDL in a couple of weeks and have enough money saved, I will be headed that way myself.

Post: #70

(07-16-2012 01:46 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  

(07-16-2012 01:41 PM)Fisto Wrote:  Rio - That's a great idea, I've got to figure it out for sure. I've heard capitol one is good...I've got a united card right now and I'm not crazy about that airline at all.

Scotian - Yeah it's going to suck but I can endure anything for 2 weeks at a time. Plus I'm told I'll be working mostly inside.

a 14/14 is good, but look at locking down a 28/28. You'll have the opportunity to get a furnished apartment every other month anywhere you want and start hammering down. I'd recommend starting off somewhere close like the Caribbean or Central America, especially on a 14/14 gig. It sucks when you travel far and walk right into work from the plane. Bollocks.

I just started this 30/30 gig a few days ago, my first month off starts on August 9th, ticket already booked to Colombia!

Post: #71

(07-16-2012 01:46 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  

(07-16-2012 01:41 PM)Fisto Wrote:  Rio - That's a great idea, I've got to figure it out for sure. I've heard capitol one is good...I've got a united card right now and I'm not crazy about that airline at all.

Scotian - Yeah it's going to suck but I can endure anything for 2 weeks at a time. Plus I'm told I'll be working mostly inside.

a 14/14 is good, but look at locking down a 28/28. You'll have the opportunity to get a furnished apartment every other month anywhere you want and start hammering down. I'd recommend starting off somewhere close like the Caribbean or Central America, especially on a 14/14 gig. It sucks when you travel far and walk right into work from the plane. Bollocks.

I just started this 30/30 gig a few days ago, my first month off starts on August 9th, ticket already booked to Colombia!

Post: #72

Congrats Fisto, way to go amigo! It's great to hear you've had a killer contract. Btw, how much did you spend before you got that offer if you don't mind me asking?

I'm heading this way too in the fall and can't wait to get there.
That's an awesome gig you've got Scotian! Let's party it up when I get up there bro.

Post: #73

Here's another article on the boom:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/e...story.html

There is a huge demand for day care centers. Start a chain of them... hire women with psych degrees to run it.. they're desperate for work.

Post: #74

There's demand for lots of different things out there. Finding a place to set up shop is the problem.

I've always felt the way to make money on a boom like this is to set up shop and sell to the workers. Kinda like back in the gold rush days the guys selling the shovels and pans made more than the vast majority of the prospectors.

Post: #75

Just drove back to Vegas last night. It took me a little over 36 hours total. I bet that's some sort of amateur record haha.

VP - Thanks bro, I hope you do well too.

Scotian - you are the man

Aliblahba- Same

Raliv - Keep me posted

Guys, I'm not even kidding, this forum helped me stick it out.

Roosh - There is almost no retail space out in Williston. TTG came out here and tried to get an agent to show him properties and the guy just said "there aren't any". But that is a damn good idea. There's also almost no housing. People are sleeping in cars and RV's. The city just passed an ordinance that if they catch you within city limits sleeping in your vehicle you can get a 500 dollar fine, even if you're on someone's private property, same with the RV if I'm not mistaken.