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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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 Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 5:12 am Post subject: |
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| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
Money-wise, it's the guys in the trades (on average)that earn the big bucks in Fort Mac.
Apprenticeships: <1 year in class, the rest of the time you're working
Engineering tech.: 2 year program with several months of paid co-op
Engineering: 4+ years in class, 1 year co-op |
Problem is a lot of university educated people in Korea are not excited about the idea of putting their earnings on hold again and increasing their debt loads so they can go back to school and learn how to be an industrial worker.
BTW how's the weather there? |
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| Stan Rogers wrote: |
| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
Money-wise, it's the guys in the trades (on average)that earn the big bucks in Fort Mac.
Apprenticeships: <1 year in class, the rest of the time you're working
Engineering tech.: 2 year program with several months of paid co-op
Engineering: 4+ years in class, 1 year co-op |
Problem is a lot of university educated people in Korea are not excited about the idea of putting their earnings on hold again and increasing their debt loads so they can go back to school and learn how to be an industrial worker.
BTW how's the weather there? |
I hear you on that. Working in the oilfield certainly isn't for everyone. I chose to go into engineering (not eng. tech.) for precisely that reason. I do go out into the field/plant from time to time, but for the most part I work in an office. The thing about the trades and eng. tech. is that it is a much smaller investment of time/money, but with a potentially huge payoff. There is another thread here somewhere where user 'matesol' describes his experience in Northern Alberta. I believe he took a Power Engineering program and is now making $200K+ per year. If I were doing things over again, I'd probably go that route instead of taking 5+ years to get an actual engineering degree. But, then again, now that I'm almost done it will start paying for itself soon.
Weather-wise, Fort Mac isn't so bad. Winter is cold, summer is hot, spring and fall are too short. It's similar to everywhere else in Canada (except the Vancouver area). |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
| Stan Rogers wrote: |
| Ginormousaurus wrote: |
Money-wise, it's the guys in the trades (on average)that earn the big bucks in Fort Mac.
Apprenticeships: <1 year in class, the rest of the time you're working
Engineering tech.: 2 year program with several months of paid co-op
Engineering: 4+ years in class, 1 year co-op |
Problem is a lot of university educated people in Korea are not excited about the idea of putting their earnings on hold again and increasing their debt loads so they can go back to school and learn how to be an industrial worker.
BTW how's the weather there? |
I hear you on that. Working in the oilfield certainly isn't for everyone. I chose to go into engineering (not eng. tech.) for precisely that reason. I do go out into the field/plant from time to time, but for the most part I work in an office. The thing about the trades and eng. tech. is that it is a much smaller investment of time/money, but with a potentially huge payoff. There is another thread here somewhere where user 'matesol' describes his experience in Northern Alberta. I believe he took a Power Engineering program and is now making $200K+ per year. If I were doing things over again, I'd probably go that route instead of taking 5+ years to get an actual engineering degree. But, then again, now that I'm almost done it will start paying for itself soon.
Weather-wise, Fort Mac isn't so bad. Winter is cold, summer is hot, spring and fall are too short. It's similar to everywhere else in Canada (except the Vancouver area). |
Something to think about. I think I'd prefer the cold over the heat. I mean the heat here. Don't know when you left, but the past couple of years the government has been on this save energy kick. Rather than make buildings energy efficient, they decided to restrict air conditioning so that it's never turned on and when it is, it's only 28 degrees. I think sub zero temperatures are looking pretty good to me right about now.
One of my cousins got his class one drivers licence and hauls around different sites. I think he just told me you work good for a company for a couple years as a laborer and they'll train you for a field. Sounds good as wages in Korea are similiar to what they were 10 years ago. Maybe going up a bit compared to the past couple of years but still not the cash cow it was.
I assume in these places the downside is lack of hot chicks? But if you went back, you probably missed it back home and found Korea grinding on you, perhaps? |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 7:23 am Post subject: |
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A good idea would be to offer Canadians paid internships or paid on the job training like companies in many other countries do. Canadian companies are remarkablly stingy when it comes to paying for worker training.
But hey, I hear the foreign worker program has been replacing all you overpriced Canadians anyway. They don't want to pay anyone eff all. |
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| Stan Rogers wrote: |
A good idea would be to offer Canadians paid internships or paid on the job training like companies in many other countries do. Canadian companies are remarkablly stingy when it comes to paying for worker training.
But hey, I hear the foreign worker program has been replacing all you overpriced Canadians anyway. They don't want to pay anyone eff all. |
All co-ops are essentially paid internships (and they pay well). The catch is that you must be a student. Any trades program or engineering tech. program at SAIT will include paid internships. I assume NAIT would be similar. If you can afford to move to Fort McMurray and take something at Keyano College, I think you could be reasonably confident about landing a job as soon as you complete whatever it is your taking. The school works closely with industry to fill demand.
Last edited by Ginormousaurus on Tue May 27, 2014 9:21 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 8:45 am Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
One of my cousins got his class one drivers licence and hauls around different sites. I think he just told me you work good for a company for a couple years as a laborer and they'll train you for a field. |
This is what I've heard as well. You start at the bottom with no experience, but a good work ethic and you can rise quite quickly and get all your training/education on the company's dime.
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| I assume in these places the downside is lack of hot chicks? But if you went back, you probably missed it back home and found Korea grinding on you, perhaps? |
There's definitely a lack of eye candy...especially when compared to Korea! I'm fortunate enough to be married and so this is less of an issue with me, but I wouldn't really want to be a single guy up there trying to find a girlfriend. You're going to be up against a lot of competition...big guys with more money than they know what to do with. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Stan Rogers wrote: |
A good idea would be to offer Canadians paid internships or paid on the job training like companies in many other countries do. Canadian companies are remarkably stingy when it comes to paying for worker training.
But hey, I hear the foreign worker program has been replacing all you overpriced Canadians anyway. They don't want to pay anyone eff all. |
That might be true back east .....
up in the patch.... 30 days training gets you onto a rig.
4 years paid apprentice ship ($20+/hr) (down south - not even up north in fort mac).
end as a journeyman rig tech making 100k+/year.
Couple years at that and your pulling in 200k or working 8 months a year and spending your holidays in Mexico or Cuba like my little brother.
More than enough (decently paid) work for anyone with a strong back and a good work ethic.
If you want to get into the trades - again, a 4 year paid apprenticeship and more work than you can handle.
Cheap companies don't run private airlines giving free flights back and forth from Alberta to Newfoundland as a perk to keep workers on the job.
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Enduro
Joined: 26 Apr 2014
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Is there an age cutoff for this field of work? I would think age doesn't matter as long as one is in great physical condition. |
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bmaw01
Joined: 13 May 2013
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Everybody is focused on the money. I can understand why. There is a lot of money to be made in the oil patch. Still, the work isn't for everybody.
You can expect to put in 12-14 hour days seven days a week. Let's discuss the dangers. This job is very dangerous, and what about the cancer risk? You're exposed to dangerous chemicals on a daily basis.
https://theoilmen.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/the-dangers-of-the-oil-field/comment-page-1/
*An average of 15 workers die every day from job injuries. There are over 4 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses that are reported, and of course, many that aren’t reported.
*Slips, trips and falls account for 15 percent of accidental deaths on the job. According to our teacher Dave, slipping on ice could happen nine months out of the year in North Dakota. “I’ve seen snow every month except July,” he says.
*One worker is electrified on the job every day.
*Fires and explosions kill more than 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers each year. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Stan Rogers wrote: |
A good idea would be to offer Canadians paid internships or paid on the job training like companies in many other countries do. Canadian companies are remarkably stingy when it comes to paying for worker training.
But hey, I hear the foreign worker program has been replacing all you overpriced Canadians anyway. They don't want to pay anyone eff all. |
That might be true back east .....
up in the patch.... 30 days training gets you onto a rig.
4 years paid apprentice ship ($20+/hr) (down south - not even up north in fort mac).
end as a journeyman rig tech making 100k+/year.
Couple years at that and your pulling in 200k or working 8 months a year and spending your holidays in Mexico or Cuba like my little brother.
More than enough (decently paid) work for anyone with a strong back and a good work ethic.
If you want to get into the trades - again, a 4 year paid apprenticeship and more work than you can handle.
Cheap companies don't run private airlines giving free flights back and forth from Alberta to Newfoundland as a perk to keep workers on the job.
. |
How much are these 30 day training seminars? Though I'd prob just go out there. Not looking for a career. I'd just like to make some good coin and bank some dough before deciding what to do with my life. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
| *An average of 15 workers die every day from job injuries. |
The stats refer to workers as a whole across the U.S., not oil workers.
That (the deaths and injuries) sucks big time, but you have to keep in mind the U.S. is a big country.
In South Korea today, 21 people died in a hospital fire. While Korea has lower safety standards than the U.S., it's still pretty safe here. (Both here and in the U.S.) It's not worth it to live one's life in fear. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
Everybody is focused on the money. I can understand why. There is a lot of money to be made in the oil patch. Still, the work isn't for everybody.
You can expect to put in 12-14 hour days seven days a week. Let's discuss the dangers. This job is very dangerous, and what about the cancer risk? You're exposed to dangerous chemicals on a daily basis.
https://theoilmen.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/the-dangers-of-the-oil-field/comment-page-1/
*An average of 15 workers die every day from job injuries. There are over 4 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses that are reported, and of course, many that aren’t reported.
*Slips, trips and falls account for 15 percent of accidental deaths on the job. According to our teacher Dave, slipping on ice could happen nine months out of the year in North Dakota. “I’ve seen snow every month except July,” he says.
*One worker is electrified on the job every day.
*Fires and explosions kill more than 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers each year. |
14 hour days ($25/hr *8 + $36*6) ($420/day) is nice bank.
At that rate it won't take long to pay off the mortgage, then spend a month on the beach and repeat.
Stats for the US are NOT stats for Canada.
In ALBERTA, there were 2 (not 15 per day - 2 per year) workplace related fatalities in 2012 (from CanOSH):
2012 Fatality Reports
Worker Struck by Pipe
Date of Incident: February 2, 2012
Worker Contacted by Lathe
Date of Incident: July 17, 2012
*Occupational Health and Safety investigates workplace incidents. Motor vehicle incidents are normally investigated by local police authorities and deaths due to occupational disease are reported by a physician.
There were 10 workplace related fatalities in 2011 (1 in the oilpatch - H2S exposure).
http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/781.html
Cancer risks.... 3 fatalities with workplace related cancers from the petroleum industry in 2013. Universal healthcare has its advantages.
http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/2573.html
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| bmaw01 wrote: |
Everybody is focused on the money. I can understand why. There is a lot of money to be made in the oil patch. Still, the work isn't for everybody.
You can expect to put in 12-14 hour days seven days a week. Let's discuss the dangers. This job is very dangerous, and what about the cancer risk? You're exposed to dangerous chemicals on a daily basis.
https://theoilmen.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/the-dangers-of-the-oil-field/comment-page-1/
*An average of 15 workers die every day from job injuries. There are over 4 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses that are reported, and of course, many that aren’t reported.
*Slips, trips and falls account for 15 percent of accidental deaths on the job. According to our teacher Dave, slipping on ice could happen nine months out of the year in North Dakota. “I’ve seen snow every month except July,” he says.
*One worker is electrified on the job every day.
*Fires and explosions kill more than 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers each year. |
14 hour days ($25/hr *8 + $36*6) ($420/day) is nice bank.
At that rate it won't take long to pay off the mortgage, then spend a month on the beach and repeat.
Stats for the US are NOT stats for Canada.
In ALBERTA, there were 2 (not 15 per day - 2 per year) workplace related fatalities in 2012 (from CanOSH):
2012 Fatality Reports
Worker Struck by Pipe
Date of Incident: February 2, 2012
Worker Contacted by Lathe
Date of Incident: July 17, 2012
*Occupational Health and Safety investigates workplace incidents. Motor vehicle incidents are normally investigated by local police authorities and deaths due to occupational disease are reported by a physician.
There were 10 workplace related fatalities in 2011 (1 in the oilpatch - H2S exposure).
http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/781.html
Cancer risks.... 3 fatalities with workplace related cancers from the petroleum industry in 2013. Universal healthcare has its advantages.
http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/2573.html
. |
Makes sense. I did recall a friend working in AB a few years ago. He went down to the States with his job once to Montana. He said the lack of safety procedures and the lack of common sense on some work sites and some of the things guys would do with little regard to safety was shocking. He said that they'll have lots of guys on a site to do heavy lifting in Alberta and safety is taken seriously.
I'll take his word for it as I have no clue one way or the other. Not sure if this is what you guys hear too. My cousin working there now said it's not a lot of work. There's a lot of standing around waiting for jobs to do. |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 3:18 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| bmaw01 wrote: |
Everybody is focused on the money. I can understand why. There is a lot of money to be made in the oil patch. Still, the work isn't for everybody.
You can expect to put in 12-14 hour days seven days a week. Let's discuss the dangers. This job is very dangerous, and what about the cancer risk? You're exposed to dangerous chemicals on a daily basis.
https://theoilmen.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/the-dangers-of-the-oil-field/comment-page-1/
*An average of 15 workers die every day from job injuries. There are over 4 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses that are reported, and of course, many that aren’t reported.
*Slips, trips and falls account for 15 percent of accidental deaths on the job. According to our teacher Dave, slipping on ice could happen nine months out of the year in North Dakota. “I’ve seen snow every month except July,” he says.
*One worker is electrified on the job every day.
*Fires and explosions kill more than 200 and injure more than 5,000 workers each year. |
14 hour days ($25/hr *8 + $36*6) ($420/day) is nice bank.
At that rate it won't take long to pay off the mortgage, then spend a month on the beach and repeat.
Stats for the US are NOT stats for Canada.
In ALBERTA, there were 2 (not 15 per day - 2 per year) workplace related fatalities in 2012 (from CanOSH):
2012 Fatality Reports
Worker Struck by Pipe
Date of Incident: February 2, 2012
Worker Contacted by Lathe
Date of Incident: July 17, 2012
*Occupational Health and Safety investigates workplace incidents. Motor vehicle incidents are normally investigated by local police authorities and deaths due to occupational disease are reported by a physician.
There were 10 workplace related fatalities in 2011 (1 in the oilpatch - H2S exposure).
http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/781.html
Cancer risks.... 3 fatalities with workplace related cancers from the petroleum industry in 2013. Universal healthcare has its advantages.
http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/2573.html
. |
My brother worked in the Alberta oil patch for 10 years making the big money too and now has a broken back from an on the job injury. He has 12 months of the year off suffering from incredible pain.
Lots of skilled dangerous idiots out there to work with, and work for.
The money is there but you have to consider your chances of coming out of there without smashed hands, crushed legs and so forth. I don't wish that on anyone but it's a dangerous place there. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:33 am Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| How much are these 30 day training seminars? Though I'd prob just go out there. Not looking for a career. I'd just like to make some good coin and bank some dough before deciding what to do with my life. |
They vary from a few hundred (first aid and H2S) to a couple thousand.
http://www.precisiondrilling.com/files/PD%20Booklet%20for%20Web.pdf
Depending on who you work for and what you do (drilling or service) it is often free.
| Enduro wrote: |
| Is there an age cutoff for this field of work? I would think age doesn't matter as long as one is in great physical condition. |
No age limit as long as you can do the work.
Be in the coffee shop at 4am with your hardhat and steel toe boots when the push comes through and is short 2 leasehands and you are off to work at 4:10.
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