Are the Oil Field Jobs Real?

 While looking over the Oil Field Jobs that are listed on different sites I find one big thing in common.  The requirement of experience usually three to four years.  In Ohio this experience is not profound! 

 I said OK self where are these employers going to find the candidates at then, why would there be a need? It seems as if the oil patch has a high turn over rate which tells me something must be wrong.  So are these companies  just bouncing employees back and forth, it kind of appears to be the case, as if not they will will be out of employees very soon. 

  The outlook for high paying oil field jobs in Ohio I believe is a myth with a few exception mainly in the engineering sector. We have to much unemployment for the companies to willing to pay wages like in ND with a small work force in comparison.

   You might say with CHK screwing up, the economy screwed up, the EPA like a buzzard awaiting kind of puts a shadow of doubt on the whole boom.

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Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 22, 2012 at 3:17pm

Three out of twenty? With CDL holders being subject to random drug testing I find that figure a bit hard to believe. Not saying it's impossible but a CDL is not something you get from a box of cracker jacks and keeping it spotless with new DOT is a task!

Permalink Reply by craig on July 22, 2012 at 3:36pm

The guy I know who took a 2 month class to start on a frac crew said that in his class almost 50% washed out by drug tests and physicals. This guy had lost his job and was on unemployment for awhile then decided to do something about it. The  state basically paid for the classes. He got a job as soon as he finished the classes. This is in Western Pa about 1 1/2 years ago. 

Most of those that truly want to work could be working, maybe not doing what they want, but that gives you an incentive to keep trying to better yourself. 

Permalink Reply by lynn on July 23, 2012 at 11:46am

Class b preferred but didn't specify that you had to have the endorsement in hand-training available.  You're right about random testing-my husband drove for 30+ years so I know how hard it is to get the endorsement.  I'm repeating what I was told by customer.  Main point was they are having the same problem many companies in YO area are having-finding drug free applicants.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 23, 2012 at 12:10pm

 I was a USCG Charter Boat Captain. The test for it was four hours long with a first time failure of 95% for testers. The CDL test for all endorsements School Bus, Passengers, Doubles & Triples, Tanker, Hazmat  I thought would take a day to take. Took about 20 minutes to take all of the test! CLASS "A" can drive a Class "B" vehicle but a Class "B" can not drive a Class "A"vehicle.

Permalink Reply by lynn on July 25, 2012 at 3:36pm

Must have been a while ago.  School bus tests (class B) take a lot longer now and are a lot more complicated, three separate tests.   Individual endorsements now are separate tests.  I'm amazed at the schools that claim you can have your CDL and be driving in six weeks.

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on July 22, 2012 at 3:39pm

There are lots of people in Pa working entry level work.  Slippery Rock U, New Castle School of Trades and others have worked with the Gascos to put together training programs. You pay about 4-5 grand for a six week class and start right away. pay averages 65G/yr with all the overtime. Check out shalenet.org as they have several programs and schools listed.

Keep in mind this is dangerous and technical work.  They need experienced people on hand. Imagine the outcry if a well blew up killing workers and neighbors because they had an inexperienced crew. The antis would use it to shut down the industry.

This is just getting started.  As time goes by, more and more locals will be worked into the mix. Eventually it will be mostly locals along with some that will move here and become locals them selves.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 22, 2012 at 5:03pm

  I agree with the aspect of the safety and training  having worked on aircraft and missile guidance systems that carry nuclear weapons  I took the work seriously. Rig work is more than just rough neck somewhere there is transition of technology.  The big question is where?

  

Permalink Reply by C Middleton on July 23, 2012 at 3:56am

My brother is a 36 year old residential and commercial painter and has lived in eastern Ohio for three years.  He has little formal education, but is smart and hardworking.  He has been talking about changing careers and getting in on  the shale boom. He has a family to support so going to school full time isn't something he wants to do right now. Does anyone have any suggestions on where he can start? Or do you think he'd be better off painting and business will pick up with the boom? He doesn't own the company and gets no benefits. Thanks in advance for your ideas!

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on July 23, 2012 at 5:21am

C Middleton;  have him look at shalenet.org to get an idea of what they want and what training is available. Slippery Rock U has a six week training that will get him qualified to work on rigs at $65,000/yr. Contact local community colleges, trade schools, Vo-Techs and more. Contact local Chambers of Commerce to see what they are doing to assist people.

Maybe schools have grants, especially if he is a veteran.

Good luck

Permalink Reply by hillbilly on July 26, 2012 at 11:46am

He could start off as a scrub hand making over 20 an hour or a solids hand making the high teens an hour. Dont worry about the tech schools, just start off in one of those positions that require no experience and work your way up. Some of the higher up, more technical jobs do require schooling, but that takes years to work yourself into. With a good attitude, and good work ethic, he could work his way into a 6 figure job in due time. But there are plenty of jobs out there that require no experience. Look into the bigger companies like Haliburton, Baker Hughes, Schlumbeger, and wetherford. Or any of the contractors like patterson, UDI, presicion or any of those companies. As long as he is willing to work hard and can pass a drug screen, he should have no problems.

Permalink Reply by Dan on July 25, 2012 at 3:45am

Billy,

I spend six days a week traveling Eastern OH, Northern WV and South Western PA.  There are caravans of pickups with Ohio plates traveling East on I70 and S on I79 everyday, as many as Pa plates traveling west to Ohio.  Every week I here stories of companies having 90 to 100% of applicants fail or just drive off when the drug test is mentioned.  I have personally looked for a licenced electrician for the company I work for and have given up and left it to the main office.  I have met couples in their 70's and 80's paying their kids and their families bills because they are too lazy or won't quit the drugs long enough to get a job.  Employers nationwide are having trouble filling positions.  Three times since 2003 my employers went out of business, all three times I secured a job within 48 hours.  Twice I was one of two applicants and in 2003 I was the only applicant and my field does not require experience.  Billboards on the Interstates advertise for drivers, laborers and oilfeild services.  My son just graduated from mechenics school moved back home with his family and got a good job with benifits within three days.  We can blame the economy, the president, the congress and outsourcing for high unemployment untill our nation is bankrupt, but all that is really needed is for folks to get off their lazy, drugged, f#! a$$ and GO GET A JOB!  

Permalink Reply by Amanda on July 25, 2012 at 4:36am

Where's the "like" button? 

I was driving through Warren, OH yesterday and saw 4 different "HIRING NOW" signs.  I asked my Mom, "Why are people saying it's impossible to get a job in this economy, when I see these signs everywhere?"  Her response, "They're not going to settle for a $9/hr job when they get more sitting at home doing nothing (either collecting welfare/medical/foodstamps or unemployment benefits)."  I know I have to pay for insurance and make just above that, but I'm going to school in the fall for Nursing so I can better myself and my son.  (single mom)  It's going to be difficult, but I've done it before; I can do it again.  I already have an Associate's degree in Computer Networking.

My son just applied for work at the local ice cream parlor yesterday.  He's 14!  The work ethic is gone, and it is encouraged, unfortunately.  The jobs are out there.  People just don't want to work.

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