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Working in the Canadian oil sands: 6 figures in 6 months!

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Vacancier Permanent 路 2013-09-26 16:07:00 路 #1726
Jourguenson,
Do you have existing tickets along a solid experience of working in the oil/gas and or trades? If not no chance at all for you to get hired from far away. If you're a rookie, only way to get in is to be physically in AB! No way around that.
Jourgensen 路 2013-09-26 17:48:00 路 #1727
(09-26-2013 04:07 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Jourguenson,
Do you have existing tickets along a solid experience of working in the oil/gas and or trades? If not no chance at all for you to get hired from far away. If you're a rookie, only way to get in is to be physically in AB! No way around that.


No man, i'm not coming to Canada,don't have visa, i'm from eastern europe.

As i stated in my previous posts a good friend of mine has become chief electrician on a off shore platform somewhere between Scotland and Norway. And now he's gonna try to use some of his connections to land me a gig.
Seadog 路 2013-09-26 20:37:00 路 #1728
(09-26-2013 09:14 AM)pitt Wrote:  A bit off topic here:

To all you guys staying long periods away from home, do you see yourselves in a serious relationship? How would you have a serious relationship when you spend a lot of time away from home? Do you see yourself trusting a woman even though you work long periods away from home?

Honestly this is *the* downside to this lifestyle. Not just with women either. Any sort of relationship with friends, outside business, sports, hobbies, ect, all of that takes a back seat to your job. I can't count the number of weddings, birthday parties, big events I've missed.

Serious relationships are damn near impossible, in my job where there are some female engineers, a lot of people end up pairing up inside the company. But also due to the nature of the job these invariably end up being long distance relationships. I've pursued more than one taken girl inside the company where the bf was half a world away (great idea I know).

A lot of people I've met in this line of work/company operate on the premise that "this isn't their real life, so nothing you do counts". Which I think is true. Everyone is only here for a short time, has grand plans of going back to school, early retirement, working 5 months of the year so they can fuck off for 7 etc. If you're not a retard with money you can quickly get to the point where you don't need the job, you work only because it's an efficient way to make money, but the consequences of burning every bridge, and burning it quite spectacularly are pretty minor.

I've met people suspended without pay for catastrophic hundred thousand dollar fuckups, but then called back after two days, and being offered double pay, because they need ppl. that badly.
Seadog 路 2013-09-26 21:07:00 路 #1729
(09-12-2013 08:23 AM)Jourgensen Wrote:  Help help help!!

Ok, here's the deal fellas. As i said, my pal works somewhere in Norwegian waters on a off shore platform as a chief electrician. Finally went out for a dinner with him last night. And here's the deal. He says there's great chance in hiring me for a basic positions (rostaabout, roughneck or whatever) but everyone is asking for at least minimum expirience, so therefore we made a conclusion that the best solution is to lie, i.e. to write bunch of bullshit in my CV. Now, he's not sure how we should manage that. How much should we lie? Are they checking every damn thing in CV? Should we lie that i also have all those safety, medical courses (it's difficult for me to travel from Croatia to Great Britain to get em if i'm still not sure will i get a job or not, and it's expensive as well). Please anyone who were in similiar situation, or knows anything about it, help and give a few hints!!

Honestly the best advice is already here. Get out to where the hiring happens, get at least basic safety certs, apply in person. Yes it costs money, yes its far, but some of the best rewards in life come from taking a risk. Its out there, but you basically need to get real lucky to find a company who will shoulder 100% of the risk for you, sight unseen.

Not trying to sound like a dick, but right now you're a continent away, no experience, and don't even know if you're fit for the job (turnover for these jobs is huge due to lifestyle, hence the attractive pay). Why should an employer take a chance on you? Fly you out, spend thousands of dollars on courses and pay, only to have you quit a month in? Not saying you will, but saying that story has happened a hundred times, even after people put up all the money for flights and courses themselves.

If you want to work Norwegian North Sea, I'd also probably not bother trying to lie your way in. Smaller land operators you could probably get away with it, but from what I've heard from friends who work North Sea, is that that place generally has their shit together, big companies, following all the rules, making sure people are safe and certified.
MicTyson 路 2013-09-27 04:11:00 路 #1730
(09-26-2013 05:48 PM)Jourgensen Wrote:  
(09-26-2013 04:07 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Jourguenson,
Do you have existing tickets along a solid experience of working in the oil/gas and or trades? If not no chance at all for you to get hired from far away. If you're a rookie, only way to get in is to be physically in AB! No way around that.


No man, i'm not coming to Canada,don't have visa, i'm from eastern europe.

As i stated in my previous posts a good friend of mine has become chief electrician on a off shore platform somewhere between Scotland and Norway. And now he's gonna try to use some of his connections to land me a gig.

Ya you don't stand a chance even with his recommendation. From what I understand off shore rigs are dangerous so you'd need training, tickets and possibly experience. Unless you can go to the offices to apply and get your tickets/training you're sol
buko 路 2013-09-28 23:28:00 路 #1731
On Wednesday is a Job Fair in Grande Prairie. Many Oil and Gas Companies participate there.

http://gpjobfair.com/

I'm currently in Calgary, do you guys think it makes sense for me to go there to try my luck?
I have all the certificates First Aid, H2S, PST, WHMIS and TDG but no oil field experience.
MiddleEastern 路 2013-09-29 02:52:00 路 #1732
(09-28-2013 11:28 PM)buko Wrote:  On Wednesday is a Job Fair in Grande Prairie. Many Oil and Gas Companies participate there.

http://gpjobfair.com/

I'm currently in Calgary, do you guys think it makes sense for me to go there to try my luck?
I have all the certificates First Aid, H2S, PST, WHMIS and TDG but no oil field experience.

Of course dude! Show up in person with your tickets and I am positive you will leave with a job offer.
Jourgensen 路 2013-09-29 15:01:00 路 #1733
Thanks for all the imput people but can anyone answer me this;

Quote:Ok, i got another question. My pal went back to platform and forwarded my CV and all to some higher people on the board. Now, how long does it take for one to get invited after that? What's the procedure? How long can i expect to wait at home, a couple of weeks, moths or at worst couple of years?

Please someone answer cause sitting at home not knowing what's going on and when will something happen is nerve breaking.
NorthernPete 路 2013-09-29 23:21:00 路 #1734
Hey fellow Roosh Forum Members.

I'd like to introduce myself - My name is Pete and I am an Edmonton Native. I am currently working in the Oil sands of Fort Mcmurray and am in Edmonton on short term leave (open to local meetups). I've been working in the industry up north (Arctic as well as Civil SAGD) for about 3 years and am well acclimatized to Edmonton as a market as well.

I'm a civil Engineer by trade - studied here in Edmonton and am looking forward to contributing to this thread as well as others in the progression of this forum's mandates. Though I'm not looking particularly for a mandate myself Smile, I'm open like I said to local meetups in and around Edmonton and look forward to connecting with some of you personally in the area - PM me and we can go from there.

Regards,
Pete
Ferro 路 2013-09-30 22:59:00 路 #1735
Best perk of this thread: whenever a girl asks me what I do, I hit her with "I shovel snow." Their panties just melt. I say it so much that I accidentally told the US Customs officer that in the Summer.

Now that I have given up renting in Calgary, I also hit them with "I'm homeless."

Just follow the advice in this thread and you too can be a homeless snow shoveller.
Temm 路 2013-10-01 09:38:00 路 #1736
This thread is pure GOLD. Thanks to Scotian and all the other contributers--this is the most information I have seen on the web about heading to Alberta for work.

I'm an American citizen/Canadian permanent resident (married a fine Canadian lass ha ha). I've been in Saskatchewan for almost 11 years and feel it's time for a change--this place is so lame. I'm heading to Edmonton on the 20th if anyone wants to meet up. I have a few tickets already (H2S and First Aid) so once I get there, I want to hit up the union halls, the industrial parks, and maybe Red Deer.

I'd like to get something with a rotation (21/7, 14/7, 20/10), but don't want to be picky. I'll take what I can get. A trades helper would be ideal.
Jay_Bird 路 2013-10-01 14:24:00 路 #1737
Got home from work yesterday and my father says "hey did you apply for some job in Alberta or something?"
Finally got the call. I have a phone interview in a few days I hope I can get out there.

To northern pete,
what kind of jobs are they doing in the Arctic, what were you working on? sounds interesting.
MicTyson 路 2013-10-01 15:17:00 路 #1738
So the place I'm supposed to be just pushing a broom at came out of left field and started to train me as a machinist. Can that type of training do much in the oil sands? Been running the lathe like a boss for a few days but I've been asking them to train me in welding instead. Both seem pretty good so far but which has more opportunity in Alberta?
PanzerTape 路 2013-10-01 15:58:00 路 #1739
i keep seeing postings for welders if thats any help. wages seem very high, but that stuff looks very bad on your health too so that's your call.

the offer i got near edmonton turns out to be not so interesting, so i'm heading out up north to see what's up.
Cattle Rustler 路 2013-10-01 16:25:00 路 #1740
I don't know if welding is any better now but I have two extended family members who welded back in the 80s. They've had vision problems from working as welders, the least time I heard about them they were wearing harry potter glasses and couldn't see much.
MicTyson 路 2013-10-01 16:45:00 路 #1741
(10-01-2013 04:25 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  I don't know if welding is any better now but I have two extended family members who welded back in the 80s. They've had vision problems from working as welders, the least time I heard about them they were wearing harry potter glasses and couldn't see much.

Apparently the helmets are better nowadays and according to my shops lead hand you only have to worry about parkinsons. The main thing I'm worried about is when I get to Alberta which of the 2 will get me a job the fastest.
scotian 路 2013-10-01 21:48:00 路 #1742
(09-29-2013 11:21 PM)NorthernPete Wrote:  Hey fellow Roosh Forum Members.

I'd like to introduce myself - My name is Pete and I am an Edmonton Native. I am currently working in the Oil sands of Fort Mcmurray and am in Edmonton on short term leave (open to local meetups). I've been working in the industry up north (Arctic as well as Civil SAGD) for about 3 years and am well acclimatized to Edmonton as a market as well.

I'm a civil Engineer by trade - studied here in Edmonton and am looking forward to contributing to this thread as well as others in the progression of this forum's mandates. Though I'm not looking particularly for a mandate myself Smile, I'm open like I said to local meetups in and around Edmonton and look forward to connecting with some of you personally in the area - PM me and we can go from there.

Regards,
Pete

Welcome to the thread Pete, glad to have an engineer on here to contribute a perspective from "the other side", we had a guy on here called Ecksie who is an engineer but I don't know what happened to him. I'll be in Edmonton on the 12th of October so if you want to meet up for a drink, I"m down.

(10-01-2013 09:38 AM)Temm Wrote:  This thread is pure GOLD. Thanks to Scotian and all the other contributers--this is the most information I have seen on the web about heading to Alberta for work.

I'm an American citizen/Canadian permanent resident (married a fine Canadian lass ha ha). I've been in Saskatchewan for almost 11 years and feel it's time for a change--this place is so lame. I'm heading to Edmonton on the 20th if anyone wants to meet up. I have a few tickets already (H2S and First Aid) so once I get there, I want to hit up the union halls, the industrial parks, and maybe Red Deer.

I'd like to get something with a rotation (21/7, 14/7, 20/10), but don't want to be picky. I'll take what I can get. A trades helper would be ideal.

I can't say I blame you for wanting to get out of Saskghanistan, how did you survive 11 years there? I recently finished up a three month stint there in Estevan, which I thought was the most boring place on Earth but now I have to go to an even bigger dump called Coronach (population 300) later this month. Thank God its only for three weeks, hopefully it'll be my last job of the year then I'm getting the hell out.

Sounds like you have the right attitude, you're right to not be too picky but I can tell you right now that the fact that you have a USA passport and permanent residency will make you VERY attractive to companies that have operations in both countries, which is pretty much all large contractors. There's another RVF member who has dual citizenship who I've corresponded with via PM and on the phone, he got a great job with an oil field services company and is doing very well with his new career.

(10-01-2013 03:17 PM)MicTyson Wrote:  So the place I'm supposed to be just pushing a broom at came out of left field and started to train me as a machinist. Can that type of training do much in the oil sands? Been running the lathe like a boss for a few days but I've been asking them to train me in welding instead. Both seem pretty good so far but which has more opportunity in Alberta?

That's how the oil patch works man, you get hired on to dig ditches or shovel shit then the company realizes that you have half a brain and aren't strung out on drugs and next thing you know they're training you in a trade that'll make you huge money in no time. Machinist is a legit gig, there's a lot of work for it in shops around Edmonton, so it could be ideal if you're looking to have a "normal" life. There's not as much field work or up north rotations as in a trade such as welding, but it exists, actually my company has a mechanical division and the guys working for them make great money working all over Western Canada, PM if you want more info.

Welding gets a pretty bad rep, there's definitely big money in it, especially if you run your own truck and self-contract, those guys make $100+/hour, but as has been pointed out a million times on here, its hard on the health. However, like any trade, just because you become a welder, doesn't mean that you'll be burning rod for 40 years. It takes roughly 3-5 years to become a welder, at that point you can decide if you want to continue welding (and making huge money) or you can say fuck it and go into Quality Assurance/Quality control, or you can become a welding foreman, welding supervisor, welding engineer, safety officer or if you want an office job, you could work for a welding company or something like that doing sales or site audits, etc.

Here's an example: I just went to the website of a huge international welding manufacturer called Miller, I see their gear on job sites every day. So I took a look at their job openings, most are in the USA but low and behold, I found one is Canada (BC) for an Industrial District Manager, here's the details:


Basic Description:

ITW Welding North America, a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of Miller welding equipment and Hobart filler metals, believes that the most valuable asset within the organization is the strength of its employees. Currently, we are searching for a dynamic self-starter to perform the role of District Manager for the greater Vancouver, British Columbia territory.

Our ideal candidate is technically oriented and has an extraordinary commitment to customer service. This applicant must enjoy the challenge and reward of securing new customers, managing a current customer portfolio, and working with an internal team to implement the best welding solution for the customer. This candidate鈥檚 peers would describe the individual as persistent, driven, highly organized, having excellent communication skills, the ability to manage multiple time constraints, and remain calm and resilient under pressure.


Key Job Objectives:

To promote, sell, and support the ITW Welding brands including Miller, Hobart, Bernard, Tregaskiss, Smith, and Weldcraft to the end-user market and welding distribution channel.
Grow sales through solution selling, product demonstration, and product training.


Key Job Requirements:

Travel throughout the assigned territory calling on existing and prospective customers promoting all ITW Welding brands
Capable of traveling 50% of the time
Set objectives for account coverage and to reach specific business development objectives through regular call coverage and account plan execution
Develop/practice a process-oriented sales strategy
Identify relationship-building and sales opportunities
Practice consultative selling
Provide quotations; develop and present cost scenario justifications
Maintain up-to-date relevant technical knowledge
Support Marketing in the execution of programs; promote ITW Welding brands at tradeshows and conferences as required
Works with inside and outside sales representatives to keep them informed of new product developments and coordinate training as required
Implement an account maintenance plan
Represent the company with integrity
Other duties may reasonably be assigned from time to time


Administrative Requirements:

Build customer profiles
Enter and maintain current and accurate customer information in CRM database; report on important customer related issues and sales leads
Maintain a target account list
Develop a monthly schedule
Manage time spent on a call (80/20)
Submit weekly business activity reports, gains/loss, market development (SIC codes)
Submit complete and organized expense reports in a timely manner


Position Requirements
Minimum Requirements:


College graduate in a welding technology program or a minimum of five years related welding production experience and/or training; OR equivalent combination of education
and experience
Capable of traveling 50% of the time, and have a valid driver鈥檚 license
Must be fluent in English. Required to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers,
and the general public.
To perform this job successfully, an individual will have a comprehensive knowledge of spreadsheet, word processing, internet, and cost analysis tools software
Planning, organization and leadership skills, interpersonal and communication skills, knowledge and familiarization of product line/application processes


Values

Customer service oriented
Self-motivated
Honesty
Integrity


You see that guys, a nice sales job and all that you need is five years of welding experience, so go work your ass off in some industrial shit hole like I'm doing, save a bunch of cash then take one of these cushy office jobs, if that's what you want. What they don't mention in this add is that whoever does this job probably gets:

-A nice, late model company truck with gas card that can be used on personal time.
-Meal allowances on the road
-expense account for wining and dining clients
-Other perks such as profit sharing, etc.

Don't pass up an opportunity to get into the oil industry or into trade just because you don't want to be in that role for the rest of your life, You don't have to be! Also, don't limit your self to one trade or one line of work, just the other day I worked with an older fella who was a dual ticketed journeyman in pipe fitting/welding, he was on the tools for 20 years then he got into QA/QC and has been at it since and has a ton of experience, certifications and tickets. The guy is so busy that he's turning down job offers every other day and he regularly charges $100-120/hour.

See what I'm saying here guys?

Just because you get a job shoveling shit, doesn't mean you'll be shoveling shit next week.

Just because you become a scaffolder, doesn't mean you'll be banging tubes for the next 50 years.

Just because you get an entry level safety job, doesn't mean that you're actually a homosexual, just kidding, of course it does!
PanzerTape 路 2013-10-01 22:26:00 路 #1743
the snow shoveler gig sounds legit, what's the journeyman rate?
MicTyson 路 2013-10-02 05:03:00 路 #1744
Thanks Scotian, as always you are a fountain of knowledge. I'm going to ask the bossman today if I can start welding. I saw a number of jobs so it seems like it's in demand. Will be in Edmonton Feb or March, whiskey and tequila time boys
Jourgensen 路 2013-10-02 06:59:00 路 #1745
If one has a connections to get invited for a job interview, has all the tickets but no expirience, what are the odds for him to get a job (i'm talking about starting positions, such as roughneck and such)?
Vacancier Permanent 路 2013-10-02 07:13:00 路 #1746
Jourgensen:
As we told you several times before:
You need to be there to have a shot at getting hired as a newbie with no experience. No one is going to hire you from online. Get your ass there and you will find something!
Good luck man!
Vacancier Permanent 路 2013-10-02 07:16:00 路 #1747
Flying to Edmonton today. Landing in the afternoon there. If anyone is there, lets have a drink tonight at OByrne on Whyte ave! Pm me your # and I'll call you once I get there!

See you there boys!
Jourgensen 路 2013-10-02 08:17:00 路 #1748
VP, as i said, i have a strong connections (my pals know the women who invites the people for the interviews), so that's why i'm saying what are the odds for someone with all the tickets but no expirience? If they invited you, does that means you're most probably IN, unless you're total retard who can barely speak?
Temm 路 2013-10-02 10:24:00 路 #1749
(10-02-2013 07:16 AM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Flying to Edmonton today. Landing in the afternoon there. If anyone is there, lets have a drink tonight at OByrne on Whyte ave! Pm me your # and I'll call you once I get there!

See you there boys!

Good luck VP and fly safe. Let us know what you're seeing and hearing when you get on the ground!
Zeus 路 2013-10-02 11:16:00 路 #1750
Guys,

Do you want to know how they guys out here got their jobs? Irishman, Ferro, Djemba etc.

They did

They stopped asking about semantics. They never asked what about this or that. They made the decision they wanted to make coin and dipped out of their former home and did.

That's the difference between making it. Just doing rather than trying to find out every answer that has no answer.

If you think you're going to cover all bases before getting out here, maybe you need an office job.
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