Seeking Jobs. Is the 'boom' in Williston, N.D. legit?

[phill4paul]

I've heard amazing things about the boom. Anyone from N.D. that can verify the claims of 2% unemployment. Entry level jobs at $60k?

 

[Danke]

I've heard amazing things about the boom. Anyone from N.D. that can verify the claims of 2% unemployment. Entry level jobs at $60k?

Strippers are supposedly making $2k/night.

 

[SL89]

The claims are true. I live in Montana and have been over there several times. Several of my friends went over there after the construction crash hit here. They are making 75k+ as truck drivers and construction type stuff. Heck if you do some quick job searches in the area you will see that the yellow arches and Wally World are offering at least 16$ an hour to start.

 

[driller80545]

I can speak for the oil field. The jobs are there and the pay is good, but getting on without experience is difficult. Not impossible, but you'd have to want it. Also, be careful, the work is cold, dirty and hard. That is why the pay is good. Driller

 

[KCIndy]

While I can't speak for Williston in particular, I can vouch for the "boom" in western North Dakota in general. I drive through Minot a few times a week, and things there are going nuts. There are Halliburton trucks everywhere, and not enough parking for truck drivers passing through. Last year a truck wash cost around $90, now a truck wash *starts* at $175 and goes up from there. I've had locals complaining that it's hard to find employees to work at low end jobs like supermarkets, convenience stores, waiter/waitres jobs, etc.

Phill4Paul, if you're considering a move, make sure you do some research and determine if you have the skill set(s) that are in high demand. Also check on housing - from what I understand, *any* sort of housing in the area is going for an extreme premium.

In short, look before you leap and understand you'll be moving into an area with an extremely high cost of living.

 

[SL89]

I can speak for the oil field. The jobs are there and the pay is good, but getting on without experience is difficult. Not impossible, but you'd have to want it. Also, be careful, the work is cold, dirty and hard. That is why the pay is good. Driller

True. But, the supporting industries are in need of people bad. And Haliberton and some others are hiring trainees for oil field operations.

Oh yeah, even in a support type of job, they work you hard.

 

[SL89]

While I can't speak for Williston in particular, I can vouch for the "boom" in western North Dakota in general. I drive through Minot a few times a week, and things there are going nuts. There are Halliburton trucks everywhere, and not enough parking for truck drivers passing through. Last year a truck wash cost around $90, now a truck wash *starts* at $175 and goes up from there. I've had locals complaining that it's hard to find employees to work at low end jobs like supermarkets, convenience stores, waiter/waitres jobs, etc.

Phill4Paul, if you're considering a move, make sure you do some research and determine if you have the skill set(s) that are in high demand. Also check on housing - from what I understand, *any* sort of housing in the area is going for an extreme premium.

In short, look before you leap and understand you'll be moving into an area with an extremely high cost of living.

I agree. From talking to people that are over there now and the ones that already came back. Rent is outrageous. One friend has to pay 400$ a month just to park his camper with no facilities (some have told me that is cheap ). Some companies provide lodging but, really nothing for families. The majority of people working there have no intention of staying. They just want to put in a few years and take home a fat chunk of change. One way around the high rent is to buy a place an hour or so out from where you work. If you are willing to commute, good houses with land can be had for a good price. A friend of mine did just that. He has no kids and rents out the extra bedrooms and that covers the mortgage.

But, if you plan carefully, there is tons of opportunity there.

 

[phill4paul]

I can speak for the oil field. The jobs are there and the pay is good, but getting on without experience is difficult. Not impossible, but you'd have to want it. Also, be careful, the work is cold, dirty and hard. That is why the pay is good. Driller

I'm aware that the work is shit. Cold, dirty and hard. Also long shifts. I don't have a problem w/ working. I DO have a problem w/ lack of work. I'm 46 and can run circles around most 20 somethings in the general construction field. Because, I have learned how to work smarter. Not harder.

All the same. I have a full size, dependable, pickup and every construction tool I could need in either carpentry or plumbing and the knowledge (not the licensing) to back them.

Saw an ad for Satellite dish installer that claimed $1500k a week if someone had their own equipment and vehicle. Sounds like that might be up my alley though I would rather get into the oil business directly. From what I researched there is another strike down in the the Co. area that will be the boom after N.D.

 

[driller80545]

North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana are all booming in the shale plays. There are opportunities if you are willing to use them. Not a piece of cake, but real.

 

[phill4paul]

North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana are all booming in the shale plays. There are opportunities if you are willing to use them. Not a piece of cake, but real.

PM me with leads if ya got them. I'll guarantee 10% of weekly to Paul up to the first month. Upped to 15% from there on out till max.

 

[phill4paul]

Phill4Paul, if you're considering a move, make sure you do some research and determine if you have the skill set(s) that are in high demand. Also check on housing - from what I understand, *any* sort of housing in the area is going for an extreme premium.

In short, look before you leap and understand you'll be moving into an area with an extremely high cost of living.

Thanks. And that is exactly what I am doing. Looking before I leap.

I think I have the skill set. A lifetime of manual labour. Enhanced by cognitive awareness. As to the high cost of living it seems the rage for someone on there own. Like myself with no family. Are the "Man Camps." $400 a month divided between two will get ya this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDZzGIhsVDg

I've lived on an aircraft carrier. This is luxury for the price and pay.

 

[SL89]

The man camps are cheaper. I can find and send you info on 3-4 contractors I have worked with if you wish.

 

[phill4paul]

The man camps are cheaper. I can find and send you info on 3-4 contractors I have worked with if you wish.

I'll P.M. you. I do wish. I do have a trouble with work history on applications as I have worked mostly on my own as a handi-man but I do have excellent references from those I have served.

 

[Keith and stuff]

I do not recommend moving to ND in the winter in you are not from a northern state. ND has by far the worst overall winter weather in the lower 48. Also, I don't recommend even trying to live an hour (in good weather from where you work) in ND (during winter) without studded winter tired.

If you do move, try to be cheap and enjoy watching your savings go up.

 

[psi2941]

if rent is so crazy why not just buy a RV? and just park it at the job site.

 

[SL89]

if rent is so crazy why not just buy a RV? and just park it at the job site.

All of the job sites charge rent.

 

[phill4paul]

I do not recommend moving to ND in the winter in you are not from a northern state. ND has by far the worst overall winter weather in the lower 48. Also, I don't recommend even trying to live an hour (in good weather from where you work) in ND (during winter) without studded winter tired.

If you do move, try to be cheap and enjoy watching your savings go up.

All good advise. I've been looking at that also. The positives I see are this....

The boom has been going on a while. Those that have been there a coupla years are gonna take a few months off. In spring there will be a 'Hillbilly highway' headed that way.

I'm thinking if I show up in winter my employment prospects are better. Cold weather? I've spent sponson watches of the coast of S. Korea w/out half the ECWS gear available at online supply houses. Hated it. Lived through it.

Now my truck is different. My Dad told me about Alaska and how they use to have oil dipsticks that were tied to something like a parking meter. You put in some coin and replaced your dipstick w/ a heating one. I'm sure there is other measures now and am researching them.

 

[KCIndy]

I do not recommend moving to ND in the winter in you are not from a northern state. ND has by far the worst overall winter weather in the lower 48.

lol - I can vouch for that one too. Last winter, I got caught in a blizzard that was blowing snow so hard that visibility was literally zero. I had to get out in a for a bit and the wind sucked the breath right out of me. I was trying to talk to someone in a nearby car and all I could do was gasp and shake my head.

Later that same season central ND got hit with a snowstorm so bad that the road I normally drove to the border crossing at Portal, ND was closed for several days.

Winters in the area can be a 14 karat bitch, no doubt about it.

 

[driller80545]

Many companies provide on site housing. If you have a family, leave them at home.

 

[phill4paul]

All of the job sites charge rent.

I've heard some companies provide for it. The biggest employer is Halliburton as I understand it. They also are the leader in the "Man Camp" business.