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Working in the Canadian oil sands: 6 figures in 6 months!
09-08-2012, 04:36 PM
Guys its crazy in Fort Mac now with shut downs, I wasn't supposed to go back there for another week as I'm on vacation down east, but my company begged me to come back early so they booked me a flight and I'm heading back in 2 days.
I got another random call today from a shut down coordinator at another company, apparently someone gave him my number and he was calling to see if I'd go work for them.
I'm going up there for one last stint, then I'm getting the fuck out!
Come November I should getting on a plane and heading somewhere as far from Alberta as possible, I've had enough of that place.
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09-09-2012, 04:13 PM
I feel Scotian, right now in E-town, I'm not really feeling it. It's sad when I'm actually looking to getting back to work. I'm not sure how long I can live here, I might move to Calgary in a year if shit still ain't poppin.
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Working in the Canadian oil sands: 6 figures in 6 months!
09-10-2012, 01:35 PM
Thanks for all the help Scotian
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Working in the Canadian oil sands: 6 figures in 6 months!
09-17-2012, 10:30 PM
Right everyone!
I have landed and everything is going great so far:
First night I slept at the airport since they lost my bags but wasn’t the worst. Got the Red Arrow from the airport the next morning which was like 65 dollars to Edmonton. Booked into the HI Hostel just of Whtye Ave which is the one Scotian recommend. This place is like ground zero for oil guys coming and going so its great to find stuff out and network.
I collected my bike for getting around the first night. Got a great deal on a '52 Peugeot bike that the guy brought back from Europe. He was a really cool ex-army pilot who was based in Frankfurt and gave me a lift back to the hostel since it took me like 2 hours to get to his house. People here are so friendly its crazy.
So with my bike sorted I got my bank account set up with the Bank of Montreal the next day. Only picked that bank cause I want to travel there haha plus the girl signing me up was really cute. Also got my SIN number which took only like half an hour and I got a phone from the girls at City Mall. Rodgers I think the network is. Go with them if you are foreign cause they don’t push for your SIN number like other places did. I was told not to give it out to anyone except employers and other phone places wanted to see it before I could get on contract.
Chilled for the weekend. Did a bit of day game on the bike. Ask girls for directions and drop hints like 'I keep getting lost since I got here' or 'its so different from back home' till they bite and then take it from there. Got a few numbers and this mum even said she would hook me up with her daughters haha.
She also put me in touch with her friend who I am moving in with tomorrow. Its a spare room in there house for 700 a month including bills which seems alright plus if I have to move on they will give me back what weeks I didn’t stay plus no deposit and its fully furnished. They seem like really nice people too.
Did the H2S Alive course today which was a good laugh. The instructor guy was hilarious. He did a good job of scaring the f*ck out of me about sour gas too. It kills, explodes, burns and its everywhere! Sweet...
Signed up for my First Aid, Hazardous Material course and the CSTS so by Monday I will have them all. Also have an interview lined up tomorrow for a Graduate Management program with a big enough crowd so hopefully that goes well. I think that is based in Red Deer.
Plus also met ?kick- really cool, friendly sharp guy. Was meant to meet him out that night but he stayed in one of his girls. I had a solo mission which was fun but not much luck. Clubs are way too loud here to get a good conversation going. Going to pick a more social place next time. Think it was called Encore or something.
Well hopefully the above inspires some more people to make the move. Loads of jobs out here guys and the locals are super cool and I really like the city. More to follow soon hopefully.....
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09-18-2012, 03:21 AM
Glad to hear that you've arrived in Etown Irishman, sounds like things are going well so far, I'm sure you'll do well, keep us posted with your progress. I'll be down in Edmonton October 13th for a couple of weeks, if you're not already working out of town, we'll have too meet up for some drinks.
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09-18-2012, 06:28 AM
Irishman glad things are going well, thanks for breaking down everything.
I will be following your story here.
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09-20-2012, 07:09 AM
Awesome stuff Irishman! I'm sure you will find something good soon and you will start banking very soon. I may be joining you guys in the next week or 2...can't wait!
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09-21-2012, 01:42 PM
I wasn't considering it until a friend of mine told me Suncor flew him out there for 2 days for an interview. They put him up in a hotel and gave him a rent a car. No he is not some big oil exec, just a regular joe.
Seems like half of Ontario is starting to make the move to Alberta.