Job leads/advice on positions for a woman to apply thats entry level in/near Oilfield

Hey forum,

I've been reading this forum for awhile and LOVE the insight that it's given me and the husband. We've posted and got some great info for my husband. I hope it's ok to post this query in the trucker forum as it seems relative to any other scenarios where a trucker is trying to figure out how to continue to support his family and make the transfer:

I am a married 38 yr old woman and I've been laid off for over a year now. I have been unable to get even an interview in Washington State. My field is data entry and clerking, but i have been applying for anything. My husband is an OTR driver with one of the bigger companies that just don't give their employees enough work to do much more than survive.


We want my husband to get in on one of the oilfield/frack sites who are looking for CDL drivers. Most of the advice we get is to get on the ground and start applying personally. Unfortunately, with only one income, it's really hard to just drop his job and go searching. Since I'm not working and desperately want to work, we're thinking of changing the game plan and instead of him just blindly going in while I stay home and then move me later, it would be better if I make the initial foray and potentially set up the home base and secure a decent paying job while he is out on the road keeping our funds coming in. This would make it possible for him to come in afterwards and start applying like a fiend. k:


I'm not looking for a job in my previous work field as those jobs are limited on hrs per week and have a lower hrly wage. I'd really like to work my tail off and make $$ like any other person coming to these locations. You know, the kind of money that would support a family independently. On another forum site, a single woman (with no labor background) hauled up to North Dakota and found work as a roller for a road construction site and within a short time worked her way to a really nice hourly income. I want to be her!!


So, in summary, I'm looking for an area that might be hiring the most aggressively and give a person a chance to get on for entry level work with potential to make a real decent wage. Any advice on best areas, inside scoop on companies, ways to network with folk, and tips on housing would be forever appreciated. Or if you have any suggestions on what job titles i should be looking for that are entry level and can be done by a female of average strength. LOL! I have no problem with labor or harsh weather and I'll be ok with working any shift. We're ok with either North Dakota or Texas.


This won't be the first time that I've scouted and relocated our household on my own. I've driven from Alabama to Washington State with a huge trailer attached w/ all our worldly possessions, over mountains, up and down grade 10 inclines, all by my onesies, while my husband was out driving tractor trailers to keep funds coming for the move. I'm a little nervous, though, so any little advantage would go a long way!


I'd be grateful for any tips or info!

 

Thanks everyone for the info! The husband does have 2 years OTR and we've been filling out apps like crazy but, like so many have posted, it seems like being on location directly is the lucky charm.

For myself, I'm not adverse to white collar work but unless you've got a major degree you can look to cap out at $15 an hour in the best of fields. Now, in a situation like DRTDEVL's post, the lower pay will totally be worth it if I can get some housing and/or a relocation package...Application submit, I say! I'm also not adverse to good hard labor and it looks like if you can get your foot in the door, you can make up to $20+ an hour plus overtime during the right seasons. The woman I used in the example, at 40 and working an office type job w/ no labor experience, went out to ND and scored a job learning/working a road roller and after a short time is using those big scrapers. From $15 at start and $25 to end and she gets to play in the dirt. That also sounds fun! I kinda get a buzz thinking about being an earth moving machine operator!! Lol!

So the big goal for me is 1.) Get my self over there 2.) Get a job, asap. and then the big one. The ultimate one. The white unicorn one is 3.) Get a job that is comparable, in income, to my husband's. I've raised the daughter and I'm ready to stop being the "secondary" or "pocket book" income.

BTW, here is a list of some other suggestions I've gotten and if anyone knows any thing about them and can give me some input, I'd welcome any info.

PIC Safety person (provides you with a truck and gas pays 16-20 hr approx) ...I think this is the category DRTDEVL's reference falls under.
Site Security (provides you with a place to live, pays only $13 but your paid for sleeping hours)
Field Assistant measuring oil
Floor hand on a rig latching pipe $26 hr 70 hrs week...Not sure how labor intensive this is or if a 5ft nothing will qualify. <shrug>
Flag carrier at 20hr...Not sure about ND but in my state you have to get a flag cert to be any kind of flagger.
Construction heavy equipment operator: In the "real world" you have to have licenses and experience to get on as this but it seems like the construction boom is snatching people up.
Oil/Gas Landman: This is highly specialized admin work and it's got some big bucks if you can get into it...like 6 digits. Entry level seekers should try to get on w/ lease flipper or a broker as a secretary to learn the ropes.

 

Yep! That's the plan once I get our foot in the door! Impossible right now because we're two states away from ND and several away from TX but buddy, once I get my feet on ground zero, it's going to look like the tazmanian devil has landed. Lol!