Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

[BadJuju]

Any ideas on how I might find employment in the oil boom going on in the USA? I have experience doing industrial electrical work and I hold an Electromechanical Technology degree.

[Bundi]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

Any ideas on how I might find employment in the oil boom going on in the USA? I have experience doing industrial electrical work and I hold an Electromechanical Technology degree.

Hey Juju.

You may want to dig a bit into the localities experiencing the boom times. Obviously Bakken and Eagle Ford come to mind. I have also heard that Monterey in CA. may heat up and another one getting a lot of press is Cline Texas.

I would just startpage search these fields in an attempt to identify companies involved. Cold call them. Make a few dozen calls and I bet you get some leads.

I would also call the Chamber’s of Commerce in these towns and ask for contact people that are doing hiring. These folks should know what is actually happening on the ground in their respective areas and also who the movers and shakers involved.

You could also call the State regulatory bodies and ask for a list of licensed companies, perhaps contacts. You never know what employment resources are being offered by local governments attempting to support these efforts.

I’m sure others here would have better ideas but these just came to mind.

Good luck if you choose to pursue it.

[BadJuju]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

Thanks, Bundi! A lot of great advice.

[GRG55]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

Any ideas on how I might find employment in the oil boom going on in the USA? I have experience doing industrial electrical work and I hold an Electromechanical Technology degree.

As long as you are willing to relocate the chances of finding work if you have some experience are likely quite good. Focus on the oil play jurisdictions, like the Bakken in North Dakota. Be a bit careful about natural gas at the production end, however, you might find good employment in natural gas at the fabricating end. The Gulf Coast area, including Houston (and a bit inland such as Tulsa), have a big concentration of equipment suppliers to the oil and gas industry (compressor packages, modular processing facilities, heat exchangers, and so forth). Many of those companies need electrical and control system expertise at the design, fabrication and field installation level.

A lot of the field operations action in the oil patch is set up on camp locations and rotational shiftwork...a few weeks in and then a block of time off. This doesn't work well for people with young kids, but if you are early in your career, or your kids are grown and gone a lot of people don't mind the commute as it avoids relocating family and giving up friends and and so forth. The blocks of time off are great for travel with a spouse, or seriously working on the golf game.
Good luck with your search!

[don]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

A lot of the field operations action in the oil patch is set up on camp locations and rotational shiftwork

Expect sky-high costs for the basics, draining you of your high wages. Typical boom town economy. Plenty has been written about this.

equipment suppliers to the oil and gas industry (compressor packages, modular processing facilities, heat exchangers, and so forth). Many of those companies need electrical and control system expertise at the design, fabrication and field installation level.

+1 History shows it mucho better to supply the boom than "dig for gold.' Fortunes were made on shovels and tents in the Yukon

[BadJuju]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

Thanks, CRG! Lots of good thoughts in there. I'll heed them best as I can.

Also, thank you, don! My dad works as an electrician, so I know all the tricks of travel work. First thing to do will be to get a hitchable trailer.

[BadJuju]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

Looks like I might be getting hired to do electrical work at a local plant that is switching from coal to natural gas. Not exactly what I had in mind with the shale boom, but if it rhymes!

[GRG55]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

Looks like I might be getting hired to do electrical work at a local plant that is switching from coal to natural gas. Not exactly what I had in mind with the shale boom, but if it rhymes!

Congrats!!

[BadJuju]

Re: Getting Personal with the Shale Boom

Thanks, GRG!