If anyone wants to meet up at the Calgary Stampede this weekend, I'll be near the stampede grounds. Pm me

I can't wait to meet all of you, its a very exciting time in my life. Transitioning to a trades position and having it really pay off, this is a dream come true. I'll be lining anyone up with Chinese/Mexican wives and girlfriends [and places to stay abroad] in exchange for links to jobs. By the time I get there I'll have some sort of trade so hopefully, there will be jobs for that.

Having a job that both pays money and allows me to be with men who think as I do whilst being married to a foreign woman... that gentleman is true paradise.

Hey Guys,

First off, hats off to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I have read all the 112 pages, and for ANYONE thinking of making a move out west, reading the first 50 pages would be enough, but to really sow that seed in your head, reading the entire thread would really do justice !

As for me, 2 years ago I decided to make my move to Alberta in August with $1500 to my name, no job, no place to stay - had my sister living there, but my pride was and is still, too big to ask for help. First mistake I made was to rent a hotel for $110 for one night, the next day I rented a car and fired off resumes to all the drilling offices in Nisku. Every one pretty much had me filling out an application and was told to give them a call back in 2 weeks. Having the pressure of running out of money, I found a room in Red Deer for $300 per month (it was a pretty decent place actually), and took my first greyhound bus there. Long story short, I ended up taking jobs after jobs in hope of making more and more money. The problem with that was that I ended up switching jobs so much, rather than committing myself to one gig, that I lost all my motivation and ended up broke by February, and had to come back to PEI - as Scotian said "with my tail between the legs". Since then Iv moved to Ontario working Security, and its shit.

I dont know what made me google 'production testing', but im glad I did, because I stumbled on this forum a week ago, and since then I have been reading/thinking non stop about going back !

So now I have made up my mind to fly to Etown on the 8th or the 9th to chase my dream of working on a drilling rig, as before lol BUT this time, reading this thread, I've invented a momentum that will never slow me down, and will be in a go-go-go mode !!

People who are thinking of taking this step, and not sure what or how to do it ? Its simple, get on that plane and theres no looking back ! For reference, here is my game plan !

8th/9th : Arrive in Etown (hopefully will book a flight for the 8th, to check in Hi Edmonton for two weeks/or buy a beater truck and spend a few nights in it.
10th-11th : Booked my rig fall arrest course.
12th: Get a P.O Box, Alberta License, switch phone number.
From that onwards, I'll fire away resume's (again) to all the drilling offices in Nisku/Leduc, and while I wait for them to answer, get a construction and a bar job security job to keep myself above water ! Net savings when I arrive to Etown would be $3000 this time, so lets see how it goes ! Any advice is appreciated. As compared to before, I was totally alone, which contributed alittle to my loss of ambition, but knowing that alot of people from here are already there, and can be super helpful, has added to my momentum !! As I embark on my adventure to make a life in Alberta, I chant "LET THE GAMES BEGIN" !

Get a cheap car as soon as you can. Edmonton's transit is shitty, especially going out to Nisku.

I paid 800$ for my car and it's still running after 4 months.

Thats exactly what my plan is ! End goal is to get on a drilling rig ! But the hustle till that goal will be on going and tough ! But you know what they say, "you will grow through, what you will go through"

Will someone please link me to to a section of this thread that explains the process an American must go through to get a welding cert and move to Canada to work in the oil sands.

Also, a section on which welding certs are most in demand in alberta would be great too. I tried to search for these things but it's difficult amongst so much information.

In the meantime, ill start from the beginning and begin reading the entire thread.

(07-06-2014 08:40 PM)Citizen Shark Wrote:  Will someone please link me to to a section of this thread that explains the process an American must go through to get a welding cert and move to Canada to work in the oil sands.

Also, a section on which welding certs are most in demand in alberta would be great too. I tried to search for these things but it's difficult amongst so much information.

In the meantime, ill start from the beginning and begin reading the entire thread.

Why would you want to go to Canada? It's been stated a few times, with no experience....you have no chance of getting in. Even with exp, it's difficult.

Try West Texas (Midland/Odessa), South Texas (San Antonio-Laredo), or North Dakota (Bakken Oil Fields in Willingston).

(07-06-2014 07:47 PM)PakiRambo Wrote:  Thats exactly what my plan is ! End goal is to get on a drilling rig ! But the hustle till that goal will be on going and tough ! But you know what they say, "you will grow through, what you will go through"

Not drilling season at the moment, but you can still find a job. I drive around Nisku daily and there are quite a few hiring signs out in front of the companies. Seen one in front of Ensign for quite a while.

(07-06-2014 08:54 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(07-06-2014 08:40 PM)Citizen Shark Wrote:  Will someone please link me to to a section of this thread that explains the process an American must go through to get a welding cert and move to Canada to work in the oil sands.

Also, a section on which welding certs are most in demand in alberta would be great too. I tried to search for these things but it's difficult amongst so much information.

In the meantime, ill start from the beginning and begin reading the entire thread.

Why would you want to go to Canada? It's been stated a few times, with no experience....you have no chance of getting in. Even with exp, it's difficult.

Try West Texas (Midland/Odessa), South Texas (San Antonio-Laredo), or North Dakota (Bakken Oil Fields in Willingston).

Thanks for the info. And like I said, I'm making my way through this thread, but it's over 100 pages long so still catching up.

I was curious about Americans migrating to Canada for work, because, if I remember right the OP of this discussion works in Canada and he's from Ireland.

(07-06-2014 10:21 PM)Citizen Shark Wrote:  

(07-06-2014 08:54 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(07-06-2014 08:40 PM)Citizen Shark Wrote:  Will someone please link me to to a section of this thread that explains the process an American must go through to get a welding cert and move to Canada to work in the oil sands.

Also, a section on which welding certs are most in demand in alberta would be great too. I tried to search for these things but it's difficult amongst so much information.

In the meantime, ill start from the beginning and begin reading the entire thread.

Why would you want to go to Canada? It's been stated a few times, with no experience....you have no chance of getting in. Even with exp, it's difficult.

Try West Texas (Midland/Odessa), South Texas (San Antonio-Laredo), or North Dakota (Bakken Oil Fields in Willingston).

Thanks for the info. And like I said, I'm making my way through this thread, but it's over 100 pages long so still catching up.

I was curious about Americans migrating to Canada for work, because, if I remember right the OP of this discussion works in Canada and he's from Ireland.

No worries, I read the the entire thread last year and can't even remember stuff that was posted 2 days ago.

There's a special program for Europeans migrating to Canada for work, I think it's Irish in particular but not sure. Unfortunately the US doesn't have the same program, there's a program that might let you stay there for a year if you're a college student or recent grad.

Anyone else dealing with the golden handcuff syndrome?

The more and more I work and toil away in the patch, the less and less fulfilled I feel from seeing my paychecks. I'm already starting to think on how to make 200k + a year as 100 ain't enough...

It doesn't make sense to me because my spending habits haven't changed much since making the move. I don't have any fancy toys, don't blow money on blow, hoes or blow n go's, or haven't made any significant financial commitments.

Im stuck between trying to make as much as possible or quitting entirely, spending it all and starting over.

Strange times.

I know exactly what your talking about. Two years ago when I was working up in FortMac as a skilled labourer, getting a net sum of $2200 a week, the money in my bank became just numbers for me which all I wanted to see, was to grow larger and larger. For four months straight I worked and accumulated everything I could earn, before blowing it on stuff I cant even remember (or too ashamed to speak off lol).

Its a very wierd feeling. I think its only geared towards single men, with no responsibilities at all. I mean if someone making 120k+ plus with a family on the side, thats a different thing to begin with. But being single, and just watching the bank numbers grow, its an orgasmic feeling; atleast for me

What an awful problem to have, yeah?

I find that I must have a focus outside of work - my business - to chase after and keep me grounded, focused, reasonable.

Making good money is really the easy part vs proper usage and ensuring it doesn't go to waste.

Make no mistake, this is a sacrifice. Albeit, one I would make 100 times over...but you need to ensure this sacrifice is not made in vain. Most of us are in our 20s & 30s...these are years we won't get back.

Or become a donk like 95% of the other players in this business and just keep the cycle going with your vices - bad women, drugs, alcohol, balling/poor money management, marriage (divorce), etc.

(07-07-2014 07:22 AM)?Kick Wrote:  Anyone else dealing with the golden handcuff syndrome?

The more and more I work and toil away in the patch, the less and less fulfilled I feel from seeing my paychecks. I'm already starting to think on how to make 200k + a year as 100 ain't enough...

It doesn't make sense to me because my spending habits haven't changed much since making the move. I don't have any fancy toys, don't blow money on blow, hoes or blow n go's, or haven't made any significant financial commitments.

Im stuck between trying to make as much as possible or quitting entirely, spending it all and starting over.

Strange times.

(07-07-2014 09:02 AM)sammybiker Wrote:  What an awful problem to have, yeah?

I find that I must have a focus outside of work - my business - to chase after and keep me grounded, focused, reasonable.

Making good money is really the easy part vs proper usage and ensuring it doesn't go to waste.

Make no mistake, this is a sacrifice. Albeit, one I would make 100 times over...but you need to ensure this sacrifice is not made in vain. Most of us are in our 20s & 30s...these are years we won't get back.

Or become a donk like 95% of the other players in this business and just keep the cycle going with your vices - bad women, drugs, alcohol, balling/poor money management, marriage (divorce), etc.

(07-07-2014 07:22 AM)?Kick Wrote:  Anyone else dealing with the golden handcuff syndrome?

The more and more I work and toil away in the patch, the less and less fulfilled I feel from seeing my paychecks. I'm already starting to think on how to make 200k + a year as 100 ain't enough...

It doesn't make sense to me because my spending habits haven't changed much since making the move. I don't have any fancy toys, don't blow money on blow, hoes or blow n go's, or haven't made any significant financial commitments.

Im stuck between trying to make as much as possible or quitting entirely, spending it all and starting over.

Strange times.

Reinvest in self and your business.

Make the ultimate goal to work for yourself and use the cash as a stepping stone.

I have a mild version of the golden handcuffs syndrome, I make such good money in Fort McMurray that I can't see myself working anywhere else since I'd only make a fraction of what I do up here. I often think of moving back to Edmonton and working in the city, but then I'd probably have to work 10-11 months out of the year in order to make the same amount up north in half the time. Since I don't like to work all year, especially during the brutal Alberta winters, I think I'm going to continue working up north for a few months each year and keep traveling.

The best advice I can give is to keep working as much as you can, keep banking money and get enough tickets and certification until you're comfortable and confident that if you take a few months off, you'll be hired back on without a problem, Kick, I think that you're probably almost there. Then take a few months off and travel or do whatever you want, even just telling your company that you don't want to work out of town anymore and you're willing to work less hours in the city so you can enjoy life. Traveling, especially to cheap places such as SE Asia or South America will readjust your priorities and make you realize that you don't have to work all year and make 200K+ to have a nice lifestyle and still achieve whatever financial goals you have.

I know guys who work like dogs and make 300K+ but a lot of them are fucked in the head and they don't know why, working so much and not having a life becomes normal and spending tons of cash on material things (trucks, sleds, boats, etc) and/or partying hard is the way many of them cope with the shitty lifestyle. Don't become one of those guys!

I really don't know what to do...

Option 1) Work 5 years insanely hard, save 500k overall and just invest it all and retire with 25 making 50k/year through investments.

Option 2) Work 4-6 months per year.

Either option I have a business idea that I'd like to start.

(07-07-2014 06:18 PM)Tresdus Wrote:  I really don't know what to do...

Option 1) Work 5 years insanely hard, save 500k overall and just invest it all and retire with 25 making 50k/year through investments.

Option 2) Work 4-6 months per year.

Either option I have a business idea that I'd like to start.

Option one sounds right. If you can save 500k in 5 years you should be set for life. Fuck, if I had 500k I would never work again. Matter fact you just gave me a new idea.

@scotian

Yea I hear that.
It's the daily grind of constantly being on the road and not knowing where I'll be the following week that's killing my motivation. Working out of own for a year with no stability is worse than death. Social suicide for sure anyway. I'm giving the request to work in town actually. Banked enough this year to chill .. Work in a coffee shop and take it eeeeaaasssy, eagles style.

@tres

I think a lot of guys have that same plan as option 1.. Don't know how realistic it is. Meh, maybe I'm projecting but I thought the same when I started working in the oil sands , and I've met a lot of guys who say that's how they felt when they first moved here. Doesn't happen. Hope you prove us wrong

I don't drink, I don't do drugs, so if I live in a camp for pretty much the whole year there's not much I can spend money on.

I kinda wanna own sportscars (drove behind a Ferrari 458 yesterday, hnnnnngh) though so maybe I have to work more.

I'm in the exact same boat really torn between the two options. On one hand, I want to stay here work non stop for 2-3 years, get as many tickets as possible and bank as much money as possible. But on the other hand, I just can't get myself to stay here during the winter.

I also don't do drugs, try my best to limit the boozing to once a week and don't waste any money on useless stuff or trucks, so I should be able to save a good chunk by the fall. I also have a few good business ideas in the back of my mind. Then see how how long I can last in the frozen winter of Hellberta before I hit the eject button for Asia.

Kick, how's going amigo? Take some much needed and deserved vacation for at least a month and hit one of the many tropical pussy paradises as frequently discussed in here. That will recharge your mind and body for good. But be careful, once you've got a taste of the good life there, you may not want to return to this frozen and barren land...

(07-07-2014 06:18 PM)Tresdus Wrote:  I really don't know what to do...

Option 1) Work 5 years insanely hard, save 500k overall and just invest it all and retire with 25 making 50k/year through investments.

Option 2) Work 4-6 months per year.

Either option I have a business idea that I'd like to start.

Welcome back ?Kick.

Great discussion with some excellent points.

Glad to see I am not the only person to feel like they are going crazy sometimes. My answer would depend on what day you ask me.

The patch can really make or break a person. I think the two things that have helped me the most are having a super clear vision of what you want in the near future and also balancing work with things that mend your mind, body and soul.

For the first I would really look at what you want most out of life. You are definitely a super smart, chill guy so maybe owning a little bar, restaurant or running your own gym somewhere cool? I would work on creating that vision and then setting a goal for what it takes to achieve that. Use the patch to make it happen and then get out.

While working towards that keep as much balance as possible: eat clean, meditate, work out, yoga, read, occasional trips, tight young pussy - whatever it takes to keep your sanity and soul in check.

I have really worked on both of these and found a huge increase in mood, satisfaction and outlook. That being said I still have many shitty days and moments of doubt. I also found quitting drinking really helped but that might just be relevant to me and I don't want to preach.

I think a lot of us are starting to go through the same things given the similar amount of time we have been here.

(07-03-2014 07:42 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(07-03-2014 05:27 PM)vanisle Wrote:  Hey Guys, couple questions...
I applied to a JM Carpenter position via Indeed back in the beginning of June as they were looking for 45 JM carpenters in the Fort Mac area with flights and camp benefits paid by employer.

I got a call from a recruiter last Friday and answered a bunch of questions regarding the position and they said I was put on the selected candidate list. They said they were going to email me requesting my red seal certificate scans as well as CSTS scan and they would then call me with further instructions.

I received the email right away and replied immediately thanking them for consideration and attached all my ticket scans but I have yet to hear from them and its been almost 7 days.

My trade certificates are legit inter-provincial red-seal and I did the Alberta CSTS. When they called they said they were recruiting Carpenters for next month, but it was June when they called (last Friday) and now Its July (next month).

Am I expected to follow up? They said they would call me with further instructions. Am I being impatient?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much guys.

Sometimes these companies really lead guys on and fuck them around, I know a couple of guys in Edmonton were complaining about that. The reality is that in the oil patch, the job scopes often change on a weekly, or daily basis and all of a sudden the client (oil company) changes their manpower needs and scales back, or in some cases, needs more guys. The best way to avoid being jerked around by these companies is to have "boots on the ground" in Alberta, as we've all said a lot throughout this thread. Even if you're a JM tradesman like yourself, you will get a lot more offers and chances for interviews in you're actually in Alberta, if you're an inexperienced newbie then times that by a 1000.

My best advice would be to relocate to Alberta, Edmonton would probably be the best place to base yourself out of but there's other decent places to live in as well, depending on what type of lifestyle you're after. Then find work, which won't be hard, make some cash, make some connections and after 6-12 months, if you want to move back to BC, go for it. Another way to go about it would be to drive or fly to Alberta and stay here for a week or two and hit up every carpentry company all over the province and see what happens. I'd recommend going to Calgary, Red Deer, GP, Lloyd, Etown and the Big Dirty, Fort McMurray (we can meet up for beers if you want).

Sitting in BC and trying to find work is probably the most difficult option, by no means impossible, but you're chance of finding something will definitely increase if you come to Alberta to hand out resumes in person. Also, have you applied for any jobs going on in BC? Apparently Kitimat is blowing up and there's lots of work in Sparwood/Fernie, Fort Nelson and Fort St John.

Thanks man, They got back to me and said they are just waiting for an update on the project and to wait for further instructions...At least they got back to me, and they are looking for 45 men so I think thats good.

I want the job but its not like I'm starving, there is work here but I want the fort mac $$$.
Couple more quick questions...She asked if I could join a union? I said yes as I don't see why I couldn't unless I'm missing something here? Never been in the union before though.
About the D&A testing, I'm a carpenter and we drink beer, lots of beer. How do they test for alcohol consumption? How long do I have to quit drinking prior to testing?

Thanks again.

Exactly my question. The last I heard joining a union is difficult for a newbie in any field ? Or does it depend on the union itself ?

Im not too sure about getting alcohol out of the system, but iv definately stopped smoking weed since last two weeks for my trip to Hellbarta in early August ! Not a difficult thing to do at all especially if you have a clear goal in mind and what you want to achieve and how to go about achieving it.

(07-07-2014 10:28 PM)vanisle Wrote:  

(07-03-2014 07:42 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(07-03-2014 05:27 PM)vanisle Wrote:  Hey Guys, couple questions...
I applied to a JM Carpenter position via Indeed back in the beginning of June as they were looking for 45 JM carpenters in the Fort Mac area with flights and camp benefits paid by employer.

I got a call from a recruiter last Friday and answered a bunch of questions regarding the position and they said I was put on the selected candidate list. They said they were going to email me requesting my red seal certificate scans as well as CSTS scan and they would then call me with further instructions.

I received the email right away and replied immediately thanking them for consideration and attached all my ticket scans but I have yet to hear from them and its been almost 7 days.

My trade certificates are legit inter-provincial red-seal and I did the Alberta CSTS. When they called they said they were recruiting Carpenters for next month, but it was June when they called (last Friday) and now Its July (next month).

Am I expected to follow up? They said they would call me with further instructions. Am I being impatient?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks so much guys.

Sometimes these companies really lead guys on and fuck them around, I know a couple of guys in Edmonton were complaining about that. The reality is that in the oil patch, the job scopes often change on a weekly, or daily basis and all of a sudden the client (oil company) changes their manpower needs and scales back, or in some cases, needs more guys. The best way to avoid being jerked around by these companies is to have "boots on the ground" in Alberta, as we've all said a lot throughout this thread. Even if you're a JM tradesman like yourself, you will get a lot more offers and chances for interviews in you're actually in Alberta, if you're an inexperienced newbie then times that by a 1000.

My best advice would be to relocate to Alberta, Edmonton would probably be the best place to base yourself out of but there's other decent places to live in as well, depending on what type of lifestyle you're after. Then find work, which won't be hard, make some cash, make some connections and after 6-12 months, if you want to move back to BC, go for it. Another way to go about it would be to drive or fly to Alberta and stay here for a week or two and hit up every carpentry company all over the province and see what happens. I'd recommend going to Calgary, Red Deer, GP, Lloyd, Etown and the Big Dirty, Fort McMurray (we can meet up for beers if you want).

Sitting in BC and trying to find work is probably the most difficult option, by no means impossible, but you're chance of finding something will definitely increase if you come to Alberta to hand out resumes in person. Also, have you applied for any jobs going on in BC? Apparently Kitimat is blowing up and there's lots of work in Sparwood/Fernie, Fort Nelson and Fort St John.

Thanks man, They got back to me and said they are just waiting for an update on the project and to wait for further instructions...At least they got back to me, and they are looking for 45 men so I think thats good.

I want the job but its not like I'm starving, there is work here but I want the fort mac $$$.
Couple more quick questions...She asked if I could join a union? I said yes as I don't see why I couldn't unless I'm missing something here? Never been in the union before though.
About the D&A testing, I'm a carpenter and we drink beer, lots of beer. How do they test for alcohol consumption? How long do I have to quit drinking prior to testing?

Thanks again.

She probably asked if you could join a union because if you're already in another union, you'd have to sever ties with that one before joining another one. I've never heard of it being an issues with carpenters, but it can be an issue for trades like welders who can belong to the pipefitters, boilermakers or electrical union, you should be okay.

You'll be required to do a pre-employment drug and alcohol test, if booze is all that you're worried about then you shouldn't have a problem, unless you're a severe alcoholic and can't go a morning without booze, in that case, you probably shouldn't be working in camps, as most are dry. Basically you show up at whatever time they schedule you in for and they take you into a small room, you sign some papers and begin with the alcohol test, you blow into a small machine for as long as you can and it tests your breath for alcohol. To be sure, just don't drink too much the night before, you can still have a few beers if your test is at 8am and your last drink is before midnight, or even more if your test is in the afternoon, I wouldn't push it though. Failing a drug and alcohol test means that you don't get hired and that company will never call you back. If you have any worries about passing for drugs, just PM me, I know all the tricks!

you guys notice that scaffolders have the hottest girls in the trades? Granted, they're weathered and have calloused hands, but god damn, imagine that functional vice grip they must have from swinging hammers and carrying shit all day. Yup, I've officially lost my marbles haha


@VP

The every elusive carrot at the the end of stick, pooooosy paradise. You have the right idea, South America maybe...or Thailand? Heard the work miracles with those Thai massages! Either way , living year round in Alberta is not an option. Last winter was my last, looking forward to taking a bunch of time off.

@atlantic

Good to see I'm not the only one going squirrely out here. There's an inverse relationship to my posting frequency and my mental health.
Believe it or not, I'm taking up bird photography of all things to keep me in check. Also reading every day, and hitting the gym have helped for sure. Tight, young pussy is always a motivating factor - emphasis on tight. Alas, there's no pussy in the patch.

What really takes a toll when it comes to working out of town is how your real life - whether it's in Edmonton or wherever it is you call home, gets put on hold for days, if not weeks at a time. Simple things like booking a doctors appointment, starting a garden on the balcony or meeting up with a friend who's passing through town, all seem like great feats to pull off.