The "Land-of-Opportunity?" (Anchorage, Fairbanks: homes, find a job, college)

[shawn88]

Hello everyone, my name is Shawn from Buffalo, New York. Recently, I spoke with someone from Alaska who pretty much stated, "Alaska is the last American land-of-opportunity," because of the billion-dollar oil, fish, and gold industries, and the lack of population. Also, he stated that if I wanted, I could easily find a job working at the North Slope for an oil company which I would practically sit there and do nothing. In addition, I would get paid 54 an hour, and the oil company will pay for my trips back and forth to Buffalo, New York since I'd work a 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off shift. Is this true? If so, who should I contact and what type of jobs should I apply for? Finally, I am a 21 years-old white male who currently is a senior at Buffalo State College majoring in criminal justice. How credible is this information and what are the odds of me finding a job?

[Alaskapat528]

$54 an hour LMAO ... sorry but you've been lied to.

[shawn88]

Yeah I figured it was a lie. He said oil companies pay so much to justify their billions.

[shawn88]

Disregarding the hourly wage; is the rest a lie?

[Moose Whisperer]

Not necessarily a "lie", just highly over exaggerated. Entry level jobs on the slope do pay good for blue collar work, but not $54 an hour - however, due to the built in overtime associated with a 12hr shifts on a 2X2 schedule, it may look close to equivalent to $50 an hour averaged over a standard 2000 hour work year. The jobs are physically demanding, you don't just sit around. They pay for travel to the slope to and from your designated "point of departure" which is usually Anchorage or Fairbanks. Any other travel beyond that is your responsibility.

[heathen]

Oil production is in decline. Getting an entry level, unskilled job on the slope seems nearly impossible. North Dakota is the hot spot in the US for oil jobs at the moment.

[Alaskapat528]

Also Kansas is a new hotspot for oil.

[roadfamily6now]

Not sure what kind of Oil Job you could land with an education in criminal justice. Perhaps a job with the Troopers or Police? We are also building the US's largest CSI here in Anchorage. Perhaps they will have some openings very soon?

[shawn88]

Yeah I heard all aboutNorth Dakota but no offense to any north Dakotans but there's nothing up there; people live in trailers because they have no one to build homes/ infrastructure. At least in Alaska there's free housing at the slope and beautiful nature even though it's freezing.

[Metlakatla]

Shawn, I don't think that slope jobs are that easy to come by these days.