alaska oilfield work

Just drive up there and see

 

Any luck? I just got cdl and want to go big like you.

 

Who told you that? Anything I've read or heard implies it's an even stronger good ole boy network than Texas and that the only realistic way of getting hired was by someone you know or transferring within a company already working on the slope. Or possibly being in one of the local union shop at the right time.

Of course there are exceptions but I've never seen any evidence to suggest the opposite extreme

 

There are a zillion good paying oilfield jobs in the lower 48. You have ND,NM,SD,MT,TX,CA,CO,MI and PA, just name a few. Oh, and Canada too.

Why would you even bother with traveling 2000+ miles for a couple extra bucks? It just ain't that much better pay-wise up there. Get a job with a Canadian firm. It's a lot closer and the people are friendlier, and they pay better. Just don't ##### about the taxes.

Why would you want to deal with the brutal weather conditions? There are fields in AK that in the winter make ND seem like Acapulco.

I'm sure there are other good reasons not to go. Like bears, heavily-armed and drunk locals who hate outsiders, astronomical gas, grocery, and housing prices, etc.

I guess you get that check from the state if you're a resident for like five years or something, so I guess that's a plus.

Going up there makes no sense unless you're already there or your company is force-transferring you, in which case I would probably be looking for another job. Screw living in neck-deep snow.

I spent a week in Alaska once. Took me something like nine hours to fly there and nine going back. It was beautiful, but it was also the middle of summer. I enjoyed myself, but I have never had any desire to re-visit, much less live and work there. The town I visited was downright primitive, and it was only two hours north of Anchorage. I mean thirty-years behind-the-times primitive. I don't think they even had cable and ATMs yet. And this was in the early 90s.

No offense, but if you're having problems finding a good-paying gig in the industry down here, then how do you think things are going to work out up there? There may be jobs, but there aren't near as many there as there are down here, and I'll bet there's more than enough locals and specialists imported to cover them.

Sorry, but I don't think this is worth contemplating. Too many other good jobs right outside your back door.

 

Alaska is a GREAT place to make money, I don't know where you heard it isn't. I have made a killing there as a fisherman, stevedore, and even a cook. I was just there in Dutch Harbor and if you can believe I got a job offer making 45 hr driving truck hauling asphalt for construction. I wanted that job so bad but had to deny it do to housing situation, was only gonna be 6 months, and wifey situation(she wanted to get out) we spent many year there and made really good money. Union truck drivers make 50 hour moving containers but is hard to become a top driver, whom are the only ones who actually turn work away. Is always better pay in rural areas as oppose to cities there.

As for the slope. I was just there for 2 days in Anchorage when passing through and I have very mixed feelings. I felt it isn't all that anymore. As matter of fact a lot of those workers have went to work in ND from what I heard. I applied at Nabors, Carlisle, BP, and some temp agencies and they didn't give me impression they needed drivers. They also want more experienced drivers who have driven in snow. I only had a year driving experience in Texas. I have a friend who just got CdL in Alaska and works as environmental something and does good. I may consider looking in future if it booms again but for now I will stick around here. A great source is the state job workforce called Alexys system. They have good info on all the companies on the slope and gives good 411 on process of getting into there. Is free just create account.

 

To get any real information from Alexsys you need to be a resident of AK

 

Alaska has different climates and not all areas are cold. Where I was theRe temps never get below freezing. Man, Alaska is a place of outsiders. You meet more people there who are not from Alaska. I have never felt like a outsider. Is a great place and I feel lucky to have spent some time there. Met awesome people.
The perm dividend is a plus but not really something people who go there to work aspire to get. If one does it takes a FULL year (dec 31st to following dec 31 st)of residence there not 5.

Yes people drink, haha, but in my experience is all fun(not all) and have never been assaulted with a gun toting drunk, lol. Majority actually bond together and become like family there,been a lot of places and have never experienced that like there. Also Alaska as a worker can be addictive. Many have went there intending to do short contract or meet goals, but end up there a long time or even forever. However is not for everyone, there are those who just don't like it there.

 

I had a address so am not sure. You can prob use the one from workforce in Anchorage. The people there are so cool they knew I had my residence address from San Antonio and actually uploaded my resume with SA address. Shouldn't be a issue.

 

Well, if people are leaving AK to go to ND, what does that tell you?

You can have it. I can make $100K in south TX, and I don't have to kill myself to do it. If that ain't enough, then I'm the problem, not the job.

Edit: The weather? I'm getting ready to go for a swim in the Gulf of Mexico right now. It's above freezing here too.