What do you do for work?

kstruckcountry · March 5, 2013

I'm in school for engineering. Well I guess my job is running a combine. The company I was looking at was Schlumberger, I'm not really sure how I'd like working for a real big company.

I talked to a company rep last semester, when I asked about directional drilling his eyes lit up. Apparently intern positions are few and far between though.

VMaxtastic · March 5, 2013

Yeah my advice.... Try to get on with a smaller company. Those big ones will give you s**t pay, and expect you to be happy with it. Especially with no rig experience. And trying to learn how to Directional drill without rig experience, is like trying to paint without brushes.

The guy training you will either want to kill himself, or you. Its a very challenging job. You need to understand how it all works down hole, how the rig works, how the crews work. As an engineering student, I'd imagine you are a pretty smart guy, so the math will be a breeze for you. But the mechanics downhole are a big part of it.

If you intend on getting into it, I'd do a lot of research, and I highly recommend working on a rig for at least a year, or no driller will respect you when you try to tell him what to do on the rig floor.

kstruckcountry · March 5, 2013

Yeah my advice.... Try to get on with a smaller company. Those big ones will give you s**t pay, and expect you to be happy with it. Especially with no rig experience. And trying to learn how to Directional drill without rig experience, is like trying to paint without brushes.

The guy training you will either want to kill himself, or you. Its a very challenging job. You need to understand how it all works down hole, how the rig works, how the crews work. As an engineering student, I'd imagine you are a pretty smart guy, so the math will be a breeze for you. But the mechanics downhole are a big part of it.

If you intend on getting into it, I'd do a lot of research, and I highly recommend working on a rig for at least a year, or no driller will respect you when you try to tell him what to do on the rig floor.

Thanks for all the tips! I'm not dead set on any particular career, I'm in Mech Engg, so I have quite a few options. It would be nice to get a job "out there" for a few years, as much as I like where I grew up, I think it would be a mistake for me to not get out to other states for a while. Another option is construction science, but I'm already over qualified in terms of math so I don't want to quit now!

Chris · March 5, 2013

Almost anything to do with oil brings home a good check. Some give you a base salary + x +per day)+ per diem+ truck allowance

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VMaxtastic · March 5, 2013

The oil patch is a pretty unreliable industry to work in. I'd suggest avoiding it. Especially with the route you have taken. You will have much better opportunities. . Down in the States it is different though. Most oil companies are USA based, so they sink more money into drilling programs down there, than up here.

I went riggin' because I had no choice. My parents were divorced and broke, I had zero opportunities before me. Couldn't get a student loan, nothing. Off to Alberta i went, on Greyhound, with like 200 bucks to my name. But jumping into directional drilling out of school is quite different, than the way I ended up where I am.

It's a lifestyle. You spend more time at work, than you do at home. But the things I've seen and experienced are awesome to say the least. It depends what you're after. I plan on going overseas in a couple years, just to say I did.

The coolest experience so far has been working in the Arctic, with -65 degree Celsius temperatures, and polar bears. Whole other world up there.

VMaxtastic · March 5, 2013

Almost anything to do with oil brings home a good check. Some give you a base salary + x +per day)+ per diem+ truck allowance Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX using Xparent Red Tapatalk 2

Yeah, with my line of work, they give you that option. You can be a staff hand, get a salary+day rate+truck allowance etc.. Or you can consult under your own company, which is what most of us do, as you give less tax money to The Man, and can write off lots of stuff as well. My company actually bought my truck, and its a 100% write off.

06_GMC · March 8, 2013

Hey Danny I would suggest the railroad after you graduate. if you understand electrical and are great in math you could start out making great money. UP is setting records in the industry and we are being pretty well compensated for it

kstruckcountry · March 8, 2013

Actually I'm pretty sure I could get an internship with UP. Rails and cableways both are interesting to me.

My dream job would probably be something on cableways, lets you travel some. But I have lots of dream jobs.

06_GMC · March 8, 2013

either would be good. I know we are looking for young students and graduates like you for Engineering Associate positions and trust me you will get to travel a lot too. Just some info to help you out

brotherBONES · March 8, 2013

I have to know everything here by the end of the month for training haha!

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Chris · March 8, 2013

What plane?

brotherBONES · March 9, 2013

What plane?

T-6

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SarahsGMC · March 9, 2013

i wish my job was meaningful

j-ten-ner · March 9, 2013

i wish my job was meaningful

It is. It pays your bills.

so long

j-ten-ner

BlackZ71Silverado · March 9, 2013

Good if you know someone. I know someone, but I have a bad back

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I know about the bad back thing. Was injured in the line of duty, had 2 different back surg's.....Was back to work after 6 months.

You can still work if you were injured at one point in your life. We have purple heart vets in my line of work that don't use it as an excuse. Get yourself a job you are good at, you'll be glad you did.

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