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Ok, I want to bring up a few things. First of all, if you come up here and you're only willing to accept $20/hr or it's not worth your time... don't come up. You and every other Joe out there wants $20/hr so you're all going to apply for the same jobs.
Second, there are lots of entry level positions still available. Do they pay $20/hr? No, but here's the thing with the oilfield... sometimes you have to start off at the very bottom. This means making less, but over the long run if you want to make this a career then that means you sometimes have to do things you don't want to do. Will you be making $15-$17/hr instead of $20? Sure. My husband started off making $65-70k a year, but he kept his head down and learned as much as he could so that now he's bringing well over $100k a year.
Third, a lot of entry level positions are hired through staffing agencies. SOS Staffing, Executive Services, USC Staffing and more are ALL still hiring entry level workers. Worst comes to worst you get a position with one of the staffing agencies not paying as much as you'd like until you get a position somewhere else.
Fourth, no one said you'd walk in and get a job handed to you. There are literally HUNDREDS of companies up here. You can't possibly apply to every single one that's hiring within a couple days or even a week. It takes a lot of time.
Fifth, watch your attitude. I'm not saying anyone on here has a bad attitude, but if you're difficult or have an attitude you won't find a job. And even if you did, the guys working the fields up here would chase you away FAST. I know, I've seen it happen over and over. A crappy attitude will get you nothing but grief and a hard time up here. Everyone is tired, everyone is working more than they want, everyone is experiencing these things. You either deal with it, or you leave.
Now for those who are struggling, I just searched Baker Hughes website (Baker Hughes Taleo -- External), they're looking for wireline operators. They want experience, but they'll hire you without it. It's not a position that requires experience.
NOV has a position that requires that you have some mechanical and electronical aptitude but experience is NOT required:
It helps if you have your CDL permit, a lot of companies are willing to work with you or train you if you have that.
You may not be able to start immediately. Most hire in groups and do training classes once a month or so. If you get on and don't start for awhile, you can get on with a temp agency and work before you start.
There are a TON of options up here if you know where to look. Don't write off staffing agencies either because you think it's a "temp" place, all of them are hiring full time permanent employees. Because office space is sparse up here a LOOOOOOT of companies use these agencies to do their hiring.
I'm glad this information is coming up now. I'm about to leave the weekend of the 18th. I was already planning on taking a few jobs outside the oil field, until I was able to get in.
Ok, I want to bring up a few things. First of all, if you come up here and you're only willing to accept $20/hr or it's not worth your time... don't come up. You and every other Joe out there wants $20/hr so you're all going to apply for the same jobs.
Second, there are lots of entry level positions still available. Do they pay $20/hr? No, but here's the thing with the oilfield... sometimes you have to start off at the very bottom. This means making less, but over the long run if you want to make this a career then that means you sometimes have to do things you don't want to do. Will you be making $15-$17/hr instead of $20? Sure. My husband started off making $65-70k a year, but he kept his head down and learned as much as he could so that now he's bringing well over $100k a year.
Third, a lot of entry level positions are hired through staffing agencies. SOS Staffing, Executive Services, USC Staffing and more are ALL still hiring entry level workers. Worst comes to worst you get a position with one of the staffing agencies not paying as much as you'd like until you get a position somewhere else.
Fourth, no one said you'd walk in and get a job handed to you. There are literally HUNDREDS of companies up here. You can't possibly apply to every single one that's hiring within a couple days or even a week. It takes a lot of time.
Fifth, watch your attitude. I'm not saying anyone on here has a bad attitude, but if you're difficult or have an attitude you won't find a job. And even if you did, the guys working the fields up here would chase you away FAST. I know, I've seen it happen over and over. A crappy attitude will get you nothing but grief and a hard time up here. Everyone is tired, everyone is working more than they want, everyone is experiencing these things. You either deal with it, or you leave.
Now for those who are struggling, I just searched Baker Hughes website (Baker Hughes Taleo -- External), they're looking for wireline operators. They want experience, but they'll hire you without it. It's not a position that requires experience.
NOV has a position that requires that you have some mechanical and electronical aptitude but experience is NOT required:
It helps if you have your CDL permit, a lot of companies are willing to work with you or train you if you have that.
You may not be able to start immediately. Most hire in groups and do training classes once a month or so. If you get on and don't start for awhile, you can get on with a temp agency and work before you start.
There are a TON of options up here if you know where to look. Don't write off staffing agencies either because you think it's a "temp" place, all of them are hiring full time permanent employees. Because office space is sparse up here a LOOOOOOT of companies use these agencies to do their hiring.
I fear many are counting on $20+ starting wage and might have tough time making it with higher cost of living. Best to go with a decent stash of cash to get by for a while.
I fear many are counting on $20+ starting wage and might have tough time making it with higher cost of living. Best to go with a decent stash of cash to get by for a while.
Jasper
If someone can't mitigate the high cost of living through their housing situation (i.e. camp, lease, car, whathaveyou) and lots of overtime (which is the only way, at least in my mind, that even $20/hr works), then I would guess the oil patch is not the place to be, unless you simply have no other options.
If someone can't mitigate the high cost of living through their housing situation (i.e. camp, lease, car, whathaveyou) and lots of overtime (which is the only way, at least in my mind, that even $20/hr works), then I would guess the oil patch is not the place to be, unless you simply have no other options.
Lisa cause of your advice back in August I made my husband get that CDL permit, it wasn't overnight actuallyhe had studied it years ago,lol but he has it now, yayyyy.....As for the temp agencies. I think I asked you on another thread but don't remember which one so not sure if you saw it. My ? was at SOS do they make everyone do those standard English, Math computer skills tests? Also is the hired person working for SOS for a certain period of time how does that work? Considered temp or temp to hire? For say the bigger companies.
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