North Dakota Jobs??

Dam Dave · Jan 17, 2012

Dogmeat said:
Here is the best thing you can do if you want to go to work in the patch in a boom town and have zero applicable experience whatsoever.

Hire on with one of the big service companies. This means Halliburton, Schlumberger, BJ, Baker, whoever. You will start out as the worm on whatever crew you're on. You stand the best shot at getting hired on immediately on a frac crew most likely, possibly cement. Again, if you have ZERO experience, I would highly recommend looking at a company like Big Red or Big Blue. You're going to start out with ****ty pay working 100+ hour weeks, but if you flat out bust your *** and don't bitch they'll move you up. Then you'll be making slightly less ****ty pay and still working 100+ hour weeks living in motel rooms. Keep in mind, you'll be working so many hours you'll probably at least still pull $70k your first year, if not closer to $90k. Depends on you. You can make supervisor in a year or two if you bust your ***, but you need to understand, its almost like joining the army.

You might also consider relocating to somewhere like Rock Springs or Casper WY and going through one of the oil field vocational certification programs they have. It'd take you 6 months to get through it but you would almost assuredly be a shoe-in for most jobs like I speak above and be started out at a higher pay rate than those guys who are just 'looking for something' or whatever. Also, get the written portion of your CDL done before you apply to anyone ...... please note, I'm trying to set you up here to actually go for a career at one of the bigger companies, not just get a job with a fly by night operation. If you're just starting out, I would definatley say its better to start with a big company and get trained the right way to do **** than with a smaller one that also has no benefits.

Whatever you do, be ready to work work work work work work.

polarisfornow said:
minot weather report... cold today... colder tomorrow.... high of -5 degrees Fahrenheit on wednesday.

I work for Midcontinent (regional cable company) up here and get shipped all over the Dakotas by them to where ever its busy. I've been in Minot for 6 months now. my 2 bed 2 bath twin home is 2600 a month. its ok but nothing special. I got this because the company was tired of paying 3600 a month for the crappiest hotel room in Minot. Oh and that was the best corporate rate in town. Its a **** show up here and the flood made everything that much worse.

Don't take lightly what people are saying. Its probably as hard to make it here right now as anywhere in the U.S. Don't let the high wages fool you. The streets are not paved with gold here. Hell they aren't really paved with anything.

listen to theses guys

Goin For Snow · Jan 17, 2012

good theory or not, i tell the guys that work in my shop, consistancy will make you poor or comfortable retirement age.
Consistantly showing up for work every day, consistant paychecks, retirement, benefits, living expenses, investing ect ect or consistantly chasing the "right now dollar".

togwotee9 · Jan 18, 2012

We worked in Williston and Minot in 2006-2007 on the new Wal-Marts that were being built. In Minot we had to stay at the local nursing home that had rooms available, that was very strange. In Williston we had to drive half way to Bismarck each day to stay.

snowmobilesrme · Jan 18, 2012

im gonna put in a request with my travel company to start a WV fundraiser to build shelters for the people in North Dakota to stay warm and dry. my friend paul and a buddy of his are sleeping over there in a tent right now and i know its more than just then that are sleeping in tents and cars. we did it fir orpahanages in mexico and south america, surely we can do it for the american people who are trying to survive.

moonshiner · Jan 18, 2012

snowmobilesrme said:
im gonna put in a request with my travel company to start a WV fundraiser to build shelters for the people in North Dakota to stay warm and dry. my friend paul and a buddy of his are sleeping over there in a tent right now and i know its more than just then that are sleeping in tents and cars. we did it fir orpahanages in mexico and south america, surely we can do it for the american people who are trying to survive.

These people are choosing to work there, sure there is a desperate need for housing, but I am not sure I wold compare it to an orphanage in Mexico. None the less, if your friends really are in tents up there they will be frozen after tonight:

pointerdog · Jan 18, 2012

Just a bit of info on what is going on here:

A meeting was held of the ND Sheriff’s & Deputies Association in Bismarck, as part of this meeting we had an opportunity to sit down with Law Enforcement from western ND to discuss what they are going through with oil impact. Here is a summary of points made:

1. Currently there are a total of 84 companies involved in the oil industry in western ND.

2. It takes between 2000 and 2200 semi loads of water per well. Currently there are 258 wells in progress with so many scheduled it is hard to determine the exact amount.

3. Traffic accidents, especially fatal traffic accidents are of very high concern. At one location on Highway 85 south of Williston, a traffic count was conducted in October of 2011. In one 24 hour period of time there where 29,000 vehicle through the intersection looked at with 60% of the traffic being semi’s.

4. Traffic is typically backed up for ½ to ¾ of a mile. One of the guys stated that one day last week he sat at an intersection on Highway 85 for about 30 minutes to get a big enough opening to cross over.

5. They have closed the weigh scale house because it was causing such a traffic jamb that it was closing the roadway.

6. Rent in Williston currently is: $ 2000 for a one bedroom to $ 3400 for a three bedroom.

7. They have no more hook ups for campers any where in the area.

8. Williams County allows three campers per farmstead, the farmers almost all have three campers on their property and are charging $ 800 per camper per month for rent.

9. Wal Mart in Williston no longer stocks shelves, they bring out pallets of merchandise at night, and set it in the isles, people then take off the pallets what they want.

10. On 1-1-12, the Williston Wal Mart had 148 campers overnight in their parking lot.

11. Willams County wrecked a pickup and ended up bringing it to Bismarck for repairs because there no available body shops to do the work. Williams County has purchased a trailer and has started to bring vehicles to the Bismarck area for repairs. Willaims County took a pickup in for ball joints and front brakes, the shop charged them $ 2800 for the repairs.

12. Williston and Williams County now produces more taxable sales than any other area in ND.

13. The Williams County jail has increased booking by 150%. With a 100% increase in inmate population. Bonds of $ 5k to $ 10 K are typically paid with cash out of pocket. The Williams County Sheriff stated that a couple of week ago he received a $ 63,000 bond in cash carried into the jail in a plastic Wal Mart bag.

14. Williams County Sheriff’s Department has more than doubled in staff over the last two years, they are now buying trailer houses that come up for sale to rent to newly hired deputies.

15. Williams County new starting salary with the academy is $ 46,000 plus 100% of all benefits paid.

16. They are in a continuous hiring cycle, they have no set budget at this time, the Sheriff has been told to manage his office to the best of his abilities and keep the Commission updated, but do not worry about the budget.

17. The Williston McDonalds just announced that they will pay $ 15 an hour, a $ 500 immediate sign on bonus and a single medical plan paid for.

18. The restaurants are full and with limited staff to work in them they usually just have the drive through open. The restaurants that have inside seating are now an hour wait at all times.

19. Law Enforcement in the Williams County area cannot provide training to staff due to time constraints and no location to hold training.

20. The local Motel 6 in Williston now rents rooms fro $ 129.95 per night.

21. Law Enforcement no longer does any proactive work (school programs, community services, house checks) they do very little traffic related issues as well, they just to from call to call. Bars fights are one of the biggest issues.

22. Other law enforcement issues include the strip clubs. The local clubs have now started what is called “babe buses”. These buses go out to areas and pick up people and bus them back and forth to the strip clubs, the buses have poles on them as well as live entertainment.

23. Drug problems are immense, and they are seeing narcotics that they have never seen in the area before, like black tar heroin.

24. The civil process section of the Sheriff’s Department use to average 1800 paper a year, they are now doing 4500 processes a year.

25. Law Enforcement said that they make as many Driving under the influence arrest at 10 Am as they do at midnight.

26. Illegal aliens have become a huge problem, especially getting the proper authorities do remove them from the Country.

27. The current thought from the oil companies is that the area will continue to grow as it has over the past two years for the next five years and stay for ten years. At the end of the ten years they feel the communities will drop in population somewhat.

28. The current thought is that the oil companies will be drilling wells on every 1280 acres of leased land, this way they have tied up the land and do not have to release the property.

29. The Williston General Motors dealership has now become the number 1 seller of Corvettes in the upper Midwest.

30. The bigger oil companies are doing very well in hiring good people. They run checks and make sure the people they hire are drug free; it is the smaller companies that are having trouble-hiring people that will look the other way on hiring issues.

31. They said they do not know anybody anymore. The Sheriff of Williams County he use to be able to go to Wal Mart and not be walk very far without knowing somebody, now he does not know any of the people in there.

32. Many of the local citizens are taking retirement and moving out of the area.

33. They have an extreme amount of alcohol abuse going on. They have more calls than ever of drunk people trying to get into houses, to find out they are at the wrong place.

34. Minot population has grown by a projected 9000 people since the completion of the census. Minot is expecting to reach a population of 75,000 in the nest five years.

Trinity Hospital in Minot has just hired 115 nurses from the Philippians to work at the hospital, as they cannot get enough local nurses to apply.

woodzy · Jan 18, 2012

Let me know what the fine is for building housing where it is not zoned. It's not the construction that is the hard part, it's the zoning and the available land of where you can build. You coming in to build the next shanty slums is not gonna happen unless this travel company owns a ton of land and somehow get zoning authority ahead of multi-billion dollar groups putting up land for their employees or ahead of locals who probably have the biggest pull.

Forecast for -20 tonight and high winds, you might want to bring an extra sleeping bag for your car.

tdblakes · Jan 18, 2012

Ok I started reading this then got bored so I'll reply now... Instead of renting and working 15hrs a day... buy a decent sized RV or Bus, equip with living equipment so it sleeps and can feed like 5 people comfortably... And rent that TO people... You can pick them up outside their work place, park somewhere, let them sleep and eat and whatever, then drop them off at work in the morning. charge a cool $2000 for rent. drive yourself to McDonalds and work your 8hr shift flippin burgers for $15/hr then repeat. that should bring you in about $3000 a month... want more? jack up rent.

you can be SRM Mobile APTs.

(2000+15*160)*.66= 2900 ~ 3000... just in case anyone thought I couldn't add

snowmobilesrme · Jan 18, 2012

im not comparing them to mexican orphanages. its an idea, and if ts a possibility, then great. Especially if its neat, and temporary housing or even heated one of those neat hunting tents. The mexican orphanage statement eas only an example of how the company is willing to use large amounts of money for people in need. we raised $25k in 3 hrs. im sure the same can be done ( if allowed of course ) for americans. $25k can provide plenty of temporary heate tents.

and i hear theyre building housing anyways, but as far as temporary on the jobs sites, or close by, or a lease of land for the temporary housing, maybe its possible that money does a little talking.

just an idea for doing good deeds is all. either way im going over there and working. and within my off time, ill either be on vacation somewhere nice, or snowmobiling. to me, that sounds like a pretty good basic plan for MY living standards. and please try not to forget that theres housing provided by a good number of employers so im not sure if "slums" is an appropriate word to use.

snowmobilesrme · Jan 18, 2012

and this travel company is rather large, and has alot of power, so if they wanted to pursue my idea, obviously they would be taking all the legal courses.

do you think theyd be sneaky about it, or just start building? i would hope you guys dont think that way.

tdblakes · Jan 18, 2012

dude if this is what you want to do then go out there and make it happen. Thats what America is supposed to be about right? Livin the dream? If this is your dream then go live it! in 5, 10, or 20 years you might look back and make a different choice or the exact same one but if you don't you'll sit and wonder what if. Like dogmeat said, look at big companies and get your foot in the door. Everyone is just giving you what advice they have to offer, take what you can into consideration and adjust you plan if you have to. Good luck to ya.

steepandeep · Jan 18, 2012

There is tons of job opportunity out in ND and if you want to head to work go do it, all i can say is take to heart what everyone in this post has said because their absolutely correct. I have worked the rigs since I was 19 and it has provided me with a good living ever since. It has its highs and lows like any other job but the picture your trying to paint is a little off. There is not housing available, and the majority of companies don't provide housing, more employers are beginning to because of the shortage, its just definitely not something you should count on. Even if they do provide housing, it'll cost you. My employer provides me housing, but only because I'm now in supervisory position, and it costs me $2400 a month for a one bedroom apartment. Everything is expensive, gas to groceries. Pay is good bit for an individual in your position with no experience, your pay will start low, work will suck for you, and odds of you being run off from a couple jobs are pretty high. Not all, but most of the jobs require you to work and work hard, your first post says you work 12-14 hours a day, which is a lot, but its not work compared to what you'll be doing on the rigs. 14 hours in the oilfield is a less than average day. I could ramble on about the highs and lows but in short, its not an easy going, glorious job. Your away from your friends and family, you miss everything, you work rain or shine. Km not saying you can't do it or that you shouldn't, in fact I think you should, its definitely and experience and takes a tough person to stick it out. My companies hiring as fast as they can, say the word and ill tell you who to call. (With the wind chill its -47 on my location and the nights just beginning).

snowmobilesrme · Jan 18, 2012

steepandeep said:
There is tons of job opportunity out in ND and if you want to head to work go do it, all i can say is take to heart what everyone in this post has said because their absolutely correct. I have worked the rigs since I was 19 and it has provided me with a good living ever since. It has its highs and lows like any other job but the picture your trying to paint is a little off. There is not housing available, and the majority of companies don't provide housing, more employers are beginning to because of the shortage, its just definitely not something you should count on. Even if they do provide housing, it'll cost you. My employer provides me housing, but only because I'm now in supervisory position, and it costs me $2400 a month for a one bedroom apartment. Everything is expensive, gas to groceries. Pay is good bit for an individual in your position with no experience, your pay will start low, work will suck for you, and odds of you being run off from a couple jobs are pretty high. Not all, but most of the jobs require you to work and work hard, your first post says you work 12-14 hours a day, which is a lot, but its not work compared to what you'll be doing on the rigs. 14 hours in the oilfield is a less than average day. I could ramble on about the highs and lows but in short, its not an easy going, glorious job. Your away from your friends and family, you miss everything, you work rain or shine. Km not saying you can't do it or that you shouldn't, in fact I think you should, its definitely and experience and takes a tough person to stick it out. My companies hiring as fast as they can, say the word and ill tell you who to call. (With the wind chill its -47 on my location and the nights just beginning).

see i like posts like this and the other 4 5 posts that dont undermind me. im taking the posts about the conditions seriously, obviously since you guys that are over there know.

thanks for all the good advice without the insults.

my next question is will my experience in operatig excavators and ither equipment and my experience building baracks and being hilti certified help mu start pay any? Or is it more along the lines of with no experience in the oil fields you start at the lowest rate?

skidoorulz · Jan 18, 2012