First of all thanks so much to Scotian and all the other contributes to this thread. Long time lurker on this thread, and without it I wouldn't even have though of the oil sands!

So, I'm in a co-op program and spam applied to many engineering co-op positions, and just found out I got an interview with Suncor. I was wondering if any of you have any tips for interviews with these companies in general or with suncor specifically? I remember hearing from someone that they're not looking as much about your technical skills as they are for whether you'll "get along" with the crew. Like are you "rough / tough" enough to fit in and stuff like that. I realize most jobs require you to "fit it", but just though maybe it was more so for the oil sands. So if they do, any tips from people who've worked in the industry?

and for the record, it's a phone interview for a reliability engineering position.

Thanks a bunch!

(06-01-2015 01:10 AM)kotae Wrote:  First of all thanks so much to Scotian and all the other contributes to this thread. Long time lurker on this thread, and without it I wouldn't even have though of the oil sands!

So, I'm in a co-op program and spam applied to many engineering co-op positions, and just found out I got an interview with Suncor. I was wondering if any of you have any tips for interviews with these companies in general or with suncor specifically? I remember hearing from someone that they're not looking as much about your technical skills as they are for whether you'll "get along" with the crew. Like are you "rough / tough" enough to fit in and stuff like that. I realize most jobs require you to "fit it", but just though maybe it was more so for the oil sands. So if they do, any tips from people who've worked in the industry?

and for the record, it's a phone interview for a reliability engineering position.

Thanks a bunch!

I had a co-op interview in campus with Suncor back when I was in university. No technical questions were asked whatsoever, all the questions were situational "Tell me about a time where you blah blah blah". They picked co-op interns based on their GPA and how they answered the situational questions. Good luck

I've worked at Suncor but never directly for them, one tip I would say is to mention that you're a safety oriented person and take safety very seriously blah blah blah, team player, all that shit.

Awesome kotae.

This will absolutely be a BDI style interview. Read you resume thoroughly and have 5-6 different example stories that complement your resume. You'll get asked 3-4 questions like:

Describe a conflict you were in and how you successfully resolved it.
Tell me about the most technically challenging project you've worked on.
Describe a situation where you improved or developed a new process at you previous jobs.

Emphasise any/all oil sands, Alberta, remote, industrial, construction experience you've had. Don't talk about anything else if you don't have to (assuming this is a fort Mac position). One idiot I interviewed spent the whole time talking about his volunteer experience in China. Wasn't till the end of the interview did he let slip that he had actual work experience in fort Mac! Retard.

Try and have all your stories be about work events instead of school. Work>school.

Try and keep your response to each question to about 2 minutes. Enough detail but not boring. Remember they are interviewing people all day long.

There will probably be two or three people interviewing you. One HR rep and or or two engineers.

Good luck!!

Oil prices may be on their way back up. If you want quick money in an oil region I would watch this thread.

I am in town (Edmonton) for an interview next week and hitting up offices like crazy. If anyone wants to meet up please let me know via PM.

Anyone down for the Chicks' FIFA Soccer World Cup opening match this Saturday between Canada and China?

Thanks so much MiddleEastern, Scotian and christpuncher!

So I prepared myself for the types of questions they'd ask, and as christpuncher said, jotted down a few stories that I could pick and choose from to use for my examples when they asked me a question, and the interview went smooth as ice! They even asked all three questions christpuncher listed, and when I heard each of them, I couldn't help but answer with a smirk

And today when I called my school's coop guys to rearrange my classes for the job, they told me I got an offer! Seriously couldn't thank you guys enough for the tips. If we meet up in Fort Mac, I know I'll be owing you guys quite a few beers =)

Hi all,

I have been passively following this thread and now that I am tired of working corporate America I am wondering if this could give me some breathing room to open an online store or something. The questions I have (and forgive me if these have been answered but this is a 161 page thread) are:
I currently live in New York are there any barriers to getting into this type of career in say Canada from the US or should I only focus on US places?
I have a computer science degree would this matter?
And if I am willing to give up about 18 months of my life doing this would I have enough breathing room to take my time and figure out a business model that would give me location freedom?

Thanks in advance.

(06-04-2015 10:35 PM)cap213 Wrote:  Hi all,

I have been passively following this thread and now that I am tired of working corporate America I am wondering if this could give me some breathing room to open an online store or something. The questions I have (and forgive me if these have been answered but this is a 161 page thread) are:
I currently live in New York are there any barriers to getting into this type of career in say Canada from the US or should I only focus on US places?
I have a computer science degree would this matter?
And if I am willing to give up about 18 months of my life doing this would I have enough breathing room to take my time and figure out a business model that would give me location freedom?

Thanks in advance.

I would say it's easier as an American to get a job in the US.

On top of that things have slowed down in Canada, especially if you don't have a trade.

I don't know a lot about the American market. I do know that Haliburton is a big player in oilfield services. Clean Harbors is a big player in oilfield services and exploration.

I would start with those two companies or look into getting in to a trade. Getting a driver's license to drive bigger trucks would also be a possibility.

I am back next weekend. If anyone wants to meet up (new or old) get in touch via PM. Maybe a meet up soon?

(06-04-2015 11:05 PM)Darius Wrote:  

(06-04-2015 10:35 PM)cap213 Wrote:  Hi all,

I have been passively following this thread and now that I am tired of working corporate America I am wondering if this could give me some breathing room to open an online store or something. The questions I have (and forgive me if these have been answered but this is a 161 page thread) are:
I currently live in New York are there any barriers to getting into this type of career in say Canada from the US or should I only focus on US places?
I have a computer science degree would this matter?
And if I am willing to give up about 18 months of my life doing this would I have enough breathing room to take my time and figure out a business model that would give me location freedom?

Thanks in advance.

I would say it's easier as an American to get a job in the US.

On top of that things have slowed down in Canada, especially if you don't have a trade.

I don't know a lot about the American market. I do know that Haliburton is a big player in oilfield services. Clean Harbors is a big player in oilfield services and exploration.

I would start with those two companies or look into getting in to a trade. Getting a driver's license to drive bigger trucks would also be a possibility.

Thanks for the info, I will look into Haliburton.

delete

If this means anything one of my good friends just flew to Canada for vacation and he has felony charges that read two or more pages. No problem.

(06-05-2015 02:45 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  If this means anything one of my good friends just flew to Canada for vacation and he has felony charges that read two or more pages. No problem.

Whats Ali-B doing up in Canada?

#WORK RANT# Well despite the slump in oil prices companies are still hiring dead beat losers, case in point: my co-worker who I was sent up north with (ten hours drive from Edmonton), this is our third day and he blew the first two shifts, yesterday being a double time day which I will only get be paid five hours for instead of ten, this fucking prick is costing me money! I worked my first two week rotation up here with a guy who was new to the company, he's been around for years and knows people who I know and we worked well together, it was all good until he got in a huge fight with his ex-wife on our days off and he called in to inform our company that he couldn't come into work at all, the day before we were to head back to camp. So I missed a shift because of that dickhead and the company was left scrambling to find a replacement, I don't know where they found this moron but who the fuck goes to a job site and won't leave his camp room for two days Anyway, the client was pissed, I'm pissed and my company isn't too impressed with this idiot so they have a 3rd guy driving up tomorrow to work with me. It will be all good as I worked with this guy a few years ago and he's really good at his job and is a responsible person, all I want to do is work and make money, I've been sitting in camp doing fuck all and its driving me crazy!

In other news, the Irving ship yard of Halifax is having a job fair in Alberta, can you fucking believe it, a Maritime company out west to find workers! http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/12...s.-alberta

So boys I may be saying fuck this and packin er up and driving my little shit box car back east, we'll see what happens, I"m gonna be sending out CVs this week, check out the fab shop they put up in Halifax to build those big navy and coast guard boats, there's gonna be 25-30 years of steady work there in my home city, you may never see my ass in Alberta again!

(06-07-2015 05:02 PM)scotian Wrote:  #WORK RANT# Well despite the slump in oil prices companies are still hiring dead beat losers, case in point: my co-worker who I was sent up north with (ten hours drive from Edmonton), this is our third day and he blew the first two shifts, yesterday being a double time day which I will only get be paid five hours for instead of ten, this fucking prick is costing me money! I worked my first two week rotation up here with a guy who was new to the company, he's been around for years and knows people who I know and we worked well together, it was all good until he got in a huge fight with his ex-wife on our days off and he called in to inform our company that he couldn't come into work at all, the day before we were to head back to camp. So I missed a shift because of that dickhead and the company was left scrambling to find a replacement, I don't know where they found this moron but who the fuck goes to a job site and won't leave his camp room for two days Anyway, the client was pissed, I'm pissed and my company isn't too impressed with this idiot so they have a 3rd guy driving up tomorrow to work with me. It will be all good as I worked with this guy a few years ago and he's really good at his job and is a responsible person, all I want to do is work and make money, I've been sitting in camp doing fuck all and its driving me crazy!

In other news, the Irving ship yard of Halifax is having a job fair in Alberta, can you fucking believe it, a Maritime company out west to find workers! http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/12...s.-alberta

So boys I may be saying fuck this and packin er up and driving my little shit box car back east, we'll see what happens, I"m gonna be sending out CVs this week, check out the fab shop they put up in Halifax to build those big navy and coast guard boats, there's gonna be 25-30 years of steady work there in my home city, you may never see my ass in Alberta again!

You east coast guys are like no one else, its like goal #1 regardless of how many years you've been somewhere else is to get back 'home' to the east coast. There used to be a bunch of newfies and new brunswickers and I remember this one newf just dropped his 200k/yr job to make 50k back in gander and he was the happiest person you'd ever seen. Its not like he had wife or kids back home, thats just where he wanted to be.

(06-08-2015 09:35 AM)Dr. Howard Wrote:  

(06-07-2015 05:02 PM)scotian Wrote:  #WORK RANT# Well despite the slump in oil prices companies are still hiring dead beat losers, case in point: my co-worker who I was sent up north with (ten hours drive from Edmonton), this is our third day and he blew the first two shifts, yesterday being a double time day which I will only get be paid five hours for instead of ten, this fucking prick is costing me money! I worked my first two week rotation up here with a guy who was new to the company, he's been around for years and knows people who I know and we worked well together, it was all good until he got in a huge fight with his ex-wife on our days off and he called in to inform our company that he couldn't come into work at all, the day before we were to head back to camp. So I missed a shift because of that dickhead and the company was left scrambling to find a replacement, I don't know where they found this moron but who the fuck goes to a job site and won't leave his camp room for two days Anyway, the client was pissed, I'm pissed and my company isn't too impressed with this idiot so they have a 3rd guy driving up tomorrow to work with me. It will be all good as I worked with this guy a few years ago and he's really good at his job and is a responsible person, all I want to do is work and make money, I've been sitting in camp doing fuck all and its driving me crazy!

In other news, the Irving ship yard of Halifax is having a job fair in Alberta, can you fucking believe it, a Maritime company out west to find workers! http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/12...s.-alberta

So boys I may be saying fuck this and packin er up and driving my little shit box car back east, we'll see what happens, I"m gonna be sending out CVs this week, check out the fab shop they put up in Halifax to build those big navy and coast guard boats, there's gonna be 25-30 years of steady work there in my home city, you may never see my ass in Alberta again!

You east coast guys are like no one else, its like goal #1 regardless of how many years you've been somewhere else is to get back 'home' to the east coast. There used to be a bunch of newfies and new brunswickers and I remember this one newf just dropped his 200k/yr job to make 50k back in gander and he was the happiest person you'd ever seen. Its not like he had wife or kids back home, thats just where he wanted to be.

The worst are the guys who have 2-3 weeks off each year and where do they go every time, back east of course, I know a lot of guys who've only been to two places in their lives: their home town and Fort McMurray!

Well I'm back in town after rotting in the states for quite a while. Hopefully things are looking better since I was last here in March.

Might go back to swamping rig moves if the hours aren't insane.

Anyone know how to check if your Alberta Health card is still valid? I misplaced it quite a long time ago so I have no idea if its still current.

I'm curious, has any American/US citizen moved up there and gotten work as a result of reading this thread? I could be wrong, but it seems to me unless you are already experienced (mid career, qualified), getting a work visa for an American is unlikely to happen.

I was talking to a buddy at the gym today and he is bored with his work, and my advice to him was that Canada is not easy for Americans and ND is the better option. Was I wrong? I mean, I know you make more money in Canada, but I just haven't heard of Americans doing it.

(06-09-2015 10:30 AM)Atlantic Wrote:  Anyone know how to check if your Alberta Health card is still valid? I misplaced it quite a long time ago so I have no idea if its still current.

Aren't they good for life? They are as far as I know. Maybe just call them and tell them you misplaced it.

(06-09-2015 10:37 AM)VolandoVengoVolandoVoy Wrote:  I'm curious, has any American/US citizen moved up there and gotten work as a result of reading this thread? I could be wrong, but it seems to me unless you are already experienced (mid career, qualified), getting a work visa for an American is unlikely to happen.

I was talking to a buddy at the gym today and he is bored with his work, and my advice to him was that Canada is not easy for Americans and ND is the better option. Was I wrong? I mean, I know you make more money in Canada, but I just haven't heard of Americans doing it.

As long as he can get a company here to sponsor him. The company would also need to provide proof to the Canadian government that they have tried and failed to find a qualified Canadian to fill the position (called a labour market opinion.) It can cost a few thousand dollars for the company to do so. Coming in on an open visa like a lot of the other guys on this thread do is much easier, but from what I understand isn't easy for Americans to obtain. Every time my buddy comes up here from the states he is interrogated by customs, and last time was given only a two-week visa that turns to a warrant for his arrest once it expires. And yet this city is overflowing with every other nationality.

tl;dr You're basically correct.

(06-09-2015 10:37 AM)VolandoVengoVolandoVoy Wrote:  I'm curious, has any American/US citizen moved up there and gotten work as a result of reading this thread? I could be wrong, but it seems to me unless you are already experienced (mid career, qualified), getting a work visa for an American is unlikely to happen.

I was talking to a buddy at the gym today and he is bored with his work, and my advice to him was that Canada is not easy for Americans and ND is the better option. Was I wrong? I mean, I know you make more money in Canada, but I just haven't heard of Americans doing it.

Have you seen the exchange rate? if you work here your paid in canadian dollars. When oil was booming and USD/CAD was at parity yes you made more. But you also have to factor higher taxes and increased cost of living which takes away from the increased wages.

The oil boom is over, the glory days are gone: basically we had a ten year run from about 2004 until late 2014 (with a 6-12 month slow down in 08/09') and who knows if we'll have another one. With the price of oil where its at, the industry seems to have lost a lot of confidence in the market and plenty of companies have put projects on hold or simply won't be going forward with them. It sucks but that's the way she goes, its a cyclical industry and there's ups and downs, I'm optimistic that oil will go up some more but not too confident that we'll be seeing $100/barrel anytime soon but if we do, then great. There is still work in the oil patch for qualified guys and there will always be work for guys like me who are willing to work in shit conditions in the middle of nowhere, there just isn't a lot of opportunity for new guys in Alberta these days but every guy I know who has tickets its working, so it can't be that bad.

I've been saying since the early days of this thread that I encourage guys to get into a skilled trade like welding or pipefitting for this exact reason, when oil shits the bed, at least you'll have something to fall back on, a transferable skill that you can take anywhere in Canada and even abroad. I've wrote about some of the projects that are happening across Canada before, but here's a few off the top of my head in case you guys want to consider leaving Alberta: Site C Dam in BC, Muskrat Falls Hydroelectric project in Nfld/NS, Navy/Coast Guard vessel builds in Victoria/Quebec/Halifax, Nuclear plant rebuilds and refurbishments in Ontario, offshore oil and gas Nfld, Long Harbour nickle plant in Nfld.

I'm considering leaving Alberta for awhile just to spend some time back in my home city and be around family and friends, if I do find work there I will move for 6-12 months to see how I like it, I'll still keep my condo in Edmonton just in case I don't like living a "normal" life, I can always move back to Alberta.

Half the girls on tinder here look like they have down syndrome.