Heeeeey,
For those Canadians in the crowd, or possibly US people -
You hear about "working on the oil rigs" or "working up north"
You know - the type of job where you pretty much need to be single and willing to work hard.
Six days a week, sometimes seven. Long days, 12-14 hours on average.
And apparently lots of money?

I'm still pretty young, but I got a lot of debt (*cough* brand new truck)
I was kinda rushed into buying it and regret going into so much debt so early.
But that's besides the point!

I want to study at University next fall, and need to save up a huge amount of money to do so.
I hear there is all kinds of work up north if your willing to live up there in small towns full of nothing exciting.
There is a company hiring Bobcat operators with paid training to work in northern Saskatchewan doing landscaping stuff, they pay your room and board too. And you can clear $4000 a month after taxes starting out easily.

I'm basically starting a discussion if anyone has done such a thing.
What they did, how they found the job, was it in any way enjoyable/worth it?

Have you ever worked your ass off for some quick cash?

After highschool I worked on a fish processing boat in Alaska for the summer and it was probably one of the worst jobs I've ever had, but I made quite a bit of money because I couldn't spend any of it.

It's also where I picked up a nasty smoking habit!

i was thinking of doing something like this. where is a good place to start looking for these kind of jobs?

I was a road worker for a week before I quit. It's pretty hard work, and I regret doing it. It ain't worth da extra $$$

I hear tree restoration/planting pays out a lot of cash too.

i live 4 $$$...

That's kinda the reason I wanted to start a discussion,
I'm looking as well for good places to search.
I heard about this landscaping job in Grande Prairie AB - once I get a number or email from the company I'll let ya know.

find the names of companies that do the staffing stuff and look for the careers part of their web page.
Usually you just send an application or resume and you go to a group interview with about 10-15 other dudes and they basically hire everyone unless they've got some violent criminal record.

Shit, I piss-tested positive for pot and they still hired me with a warning that I better not bring any dope on the boat.

Where would one look for the names of companies that do the staffing stuff.
I don't know where to begin.

Where would one look for the names of companies that do the staffing stuff.
I don't know where to begin.

find the companies that have oil rigs or whatever and call them or something

I don't know about oil rigs. But You could probably try to get hired with a company on a tanker ship or maybe some tug boats carrying fuel barges back and forth around Alaska.

Thats sort of what I was trying to do. Get hired with a local tug company hauling oil rig parts back and forth around Louisiana and the gulf.

Its really really good money and you only have to go out for a couple weeks or a month or two at a time. Also what dietcoke said when you make money out there like that you live onboard and don't really spend it.

They probably got some stuff going between Canada and Alaska but I'm not sure about that, you'd have to check it out.

Are these jobs generally risky, and do they have any health benefits whatsoever? I dunno if it's worth it if you've blown off your hand doing something stupid.

sure they're risky. On the processing boat, about 1 in every 10 guys who had been doing it for more than a couple years were missing fingers from working with the slicing machines. They basically make you sign a waver saying that you won't sue them and make you buy an insurance package which covers your health while you're onboard.

if you can put yourself through what is basically the longest and most boring work "week" ever and have a little hair on your chest, you can make it through unharmed with a fat wallet at the end.

factory work is usually good pay (shitty jobs though...)

after highschool i joined the military and i have an associates degree in business or something i really don't know the details because you sign your life away and college credits are just thrown at you

Are these jobs generally risky, and do they have any health benefits whatsoever? I dunno if it's worth it if you've blown off your hand doing something stupid.

No mine was a fuckin breeze but I got hurt a few times, It wasn't bad at all though just nicks and scrapes. As long as you're careful you should be fine.

I got a pretty good health plan too. As long as you get the sea time in you should be covered.

Okay, I don't post here much any more, but I should say something. I grew up in Grande Prairie, and if you want to make money, you can certainly make money there. That said, the city sucks and you'll probably become frusterated there. It used to be awesome, but it is now a prime example of a city where everyone has TOO much money. Expect to see a lot of people on drugs and drunk.

I'm probably making it sound worse than it is, but I don't think I would ever move back there. 20 years there was enough for me.

EDIT: Oh wait, you're from winnipeg? You might not hate it as much as some other people then.

Also, if you're REALLY crazy, go up to Fort Macmurray in northern Alberta. That is where the biggest oil industry in Alberta is. I haven't been there myself, but I hear it's a shit hole. But full of money.

Thanks for this!
I have an interview (phone call) with a drilling company today, they asked me to relocate to Grand Prairie should I accept the job.
Where I live really won't matter since you don't do much other than work.
I found the job in your local newspaper,
So if anyone else is looking for such work - look in the online local newspapers for the smaller towns up north. FULL of jobs there.

Also, what's wrong with Winnipeg?
(joke, everything is wrong with Winnipeg)