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03-22-2017, 03:22 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,003
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Thinking of changing careers! What do the fine folk of AO think?
Hi im thinking of becoming a power engineer. Can anyone give me any advice on where to start. I heard its just an awesome thing to get into.
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03-22-2017, 03:28 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lacombe, AB
Posts: 1,404
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There is a PE thread every week on AO so if you do a search you will find lots of info.
The jist of it is that, yes it can be a good career, can pay well and you can get a good rotation. Currently the market is saturated with people trying to get into the field though.
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03-22-2017, 03:38 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,003
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What woukd you suggest instead
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03-22-2017, 03:40 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,081
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Bot builder/programmer
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03-22-2017, 03:58 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,326
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Find something in automation. 10 years from now most of our careers will be defunct.
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03-22-2017, 04:09 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 133
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burglecut83
What woukd you suggest instead
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Get a degree in Medicine, specialize in Radiology. Serious shortage, system's crying out for them.
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03-22-2017, 04:20 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 254
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Tradesmen
Have been trying to get estimates from various tradespeople and all of them I talk to are swamped in work and charging through the nose. Electricians, plumbers, concrete dudes all charging a fortune for their time.
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03-22-2017, 05:09 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,051
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeyjim
Have been trying to get estimates from various tradespeople and all of them I talk to are swamped in work and charging through the nose. Electricians, plumbers, concrete dudes all charging a fortune for their time.
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That is a fact!! Was talking to my drywall guy, I was looking for a plumber. He said that their expensive. Most won't touch a job for less than $150.00/Hr. Couple plumbers I had in for estimates, one was $1100 and $1600. I said there is no way am I paying that much for amount of work needed so I did it myself and I am no plumber but fairly handy. Spent about $80-100 on parts and 2-3 hours of my time.
So ya be a plumber cuz people are paying stupid rates!!
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03-22-2017, 05:22 PM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: West of Edmonton
Posts: 2,284
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Women can't get enough of Power Engineers. It's like a non-stop Axe commercial!
The only problem is your a decade late to the party. Unless you have some strong ins, I'd follow the earlier suggestions.
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03-22-2017, 05:34 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 3,948
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Male exotic dancing!!!!!
No seriously, you get to sleep in every day til noon, Everyone is HAPPY TO SEE YOU, and you get to meet friendly people who put 20's in your G string just for being you! No one is demanding of you for work deadlines, or expectations about performance, and the list of benefits just goes on and on.
Now it can be a bit of a problem if you are married or in a relationship, so you have to learn to say with a straight face "it makes me feel so dirty, but I suffer so I can keep you in a comfortable lifestyle". Just keep practicing that line and things will be OK at home.
I took the straight and narrow path, and have to get up every day at 6 AM to start the grind, only to look forward to the same thing, day after day. No one pays me for my looks!
Oh by the way, just make sure you are not allergic to baby oil and lipstick, there are occupational hazards in this job you know! (And have lots of condoms handy for those "moonlighting jobs").
But really, a Power Engineer? Sitting at a control desk looking at computer screens all day long, gaining weight and suffering eye strain? There are better occupations than that.
Drewski
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03-22-2017, 05:46 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 102
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Tradesman, people seem to want a stupid amount to do anything. I do it myself rather than paying outrageous amounts for pretty much general work. Nobody wants to work anymore.
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03-22-2017, 05:48 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 7,350
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burglecut83
Hi im thinking of becoming a power engineer. Can anyone give me any advice on where to start. I heard its just an awesome thing to get into.
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Start at the top. Eliminates the climb.
__________________
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eat a snickers
made in Alberta__ born n raised.
FS-Tinfool hats by the roll.  
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03-22-2017, 05:52 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,449
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Teach drama and the next step is running the country. Set for life yo.
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03-22-2017, 05:56 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,787
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Walmart engineer ... door greeter ...lol ..always amazing me when I see one ... good on them
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03-22-2017, 06:43 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 162
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Im a 2nd class power engineer, trained on the control room and all plant areas. I recommend an electrical/instrumentation ticket over operating.
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03-22-2017, 06:59 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Peace River, BC
Posts: 630
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sigma1
Tradesman, people seem to want a stupid amount to do anything. I do it myself rather than paying outrageous amounts for pretty much general work. Nobody wants to work anymore.
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Typically physically demanding, 4 years minimum apprenticeship, and if done incorrectly can cause many $$$ damage or even danger to life....
Trades & certification in them exist for a reason.
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03-22-2017, 09:34 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11,858
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huntsfurfish
Start at the top. Eliminates the climb.
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Agreed - be a career student, get a engineering undergraduate degree, a few professional designations, then an MBA and become a boss.
You don't need to know squat. Execs love hiring highly educated people with zero experience and zero ability to apply in any real life situation.
Become an executive in your late 20's.
Make way more money compared to Senior Managers in the company with 30 years of experience who have more knowledge in their little toe compared to what you know now, and what you might learn the rest of your life and be their boss.
That's the best hatched plan. Trust me - it's real.
Worked for me ...... now go get me my cup of coffee or else your fired!
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03-22-2017, 11:07 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Quesnel BC Canada
Posts: 5,599
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EZM
Agreed - be a career student, get a engineering undergraduate degree, a few professional designations, then an MBA and become a boss.
You don't need to know squat. Execs love hiring highly educated people with zero experience and zero ability to apply in any real life situation.
Become an executive in your late 20's.
Make way more money compared to Senior Managers in the company with 30 years of experience who have more knowledge in their little toe compared to what you know now, and what you might learn the rest of your life and be their boss.
That's the best hatched plan. Trust me - it's real.
Worked for me ...... now go get me my cup of coffee or else your fired!
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Pffft,,,run for public office, provincially or federally, get elected for a couple of terms and you retire early set for life. 
Panel jobs are great once you get older [I'm on the five or less year countdown right now]...not so much fun if that is all you have to look forward to doing for 20/30 or more years till retirement.
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03-22-2017, 11:16 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 413
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City bus driver , $30 bucks an hr , no layoffs , your own boss most of the time , pension plan, union benifits , great job , clean uniform supplied , meet lotsa girls , can stop for coffee and donut anytime you want , cant get much better then that , nice raise every year , free bus pass , ther ya go , and l think their hiring now too.
Get application online , city of Calgary carreers
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03-22-2017, 11:22 PM
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Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 188
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I am a plumber. I'm good and I'm cheap. PM for details.
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03-23-2017, 12:20 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coastalhunter
Typically physically demanding, 4 years minimum apprenticeship, and if done incorrectly can cause many $$$ damage or even danger to life....
Trades & certification in them exist for a reason.
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Are you trying to justify the gouging? I was a contract Floorcovering Installer for 25 yrs so I know all about putting in a days work and how others will feed off the guy that actually is getting the job done. If your the guy that can complete the job you will always have work. Many gouge so they only have to work 3 days a week then go to the lake. Lots of room for the new guy to set up shop and do an honest business.
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03-23-2017, 03:56 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: 00
Posts: 507
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I agree with Drewski, long as you're ok with drunk and wild women (and the occasional dude) groping and fondling you, you can make some decent coin for not doing a lot of work!
Last edited by Little red riding hood; 03-23-2017 at 03:57 AM.
Reason: Wrong spelling
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03-23-2017, 05:04 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 5,144
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Trades pay well for no other reason than supply and demand. A lot of weekend warriors out there over estimate (And brag-up) their abilities and end up calling in a pro. Talk to a city bus driver and ask him about "8 hours pay for a 12 hour day". If the technical trades aren't your bag consider the biggest growth industry in the world. Caring for the ageing population.
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Former Ford Fan
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03-23-2017, 05:48 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 24,581
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Well,it starts with a fourth class ...don't stop there though...third class...all with steam time...a few papers written in the 2nds and doors open....unlike what is mentioned here about not getting work....meh...very versatile trade just have to have the ability to work in Canada not just here in the oil industry...trust me I know two young people that went this route right out of high school and are doing very well, I mean very well!
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Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent... 
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03-23-2017, 06:02 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Wakaw SK
Posts: 789
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Sure, I know a couple guys that hit the jackpot right out of school too, but I also know a whole pile more that cant find anything. Sure there is always a chance things will go great right out of college, but to dismiss the fact that every 2 bit college across Canada is spitting out PEs is just not a good idea.
OP if you do this sign up for a 2 year program that will give you half your papers on your 2nd upon leaving. A 4th is useless now, and a 3rd is also not a shoo in like it used to be.
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03-23-2017, 06:10 AM
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 91
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you missed the boat by 5-7 years, 500 coming out of school a year trying for 200 openings, maybe
great career but unless you have a in somewhere itll be 2 years of school and a fancy piece of paper to hang on the wall while you work elseware.
soon (they've been saying that for 5 years now) a batch of the old guys will retire and the openings will be there. to many of the "old boys" I work with 60+ lost to much $ in the last couple crashes so there still sticking around trying to make it back
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03-23-2017, 06:12 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,326
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alephnaught
Get a degree in Medicine, specialize in Radiology. Serious shortage, system's crying out for them.
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X2
Ridiculous $ for the position too.
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03-23-2017, 07:11 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 149
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THIS (as an electrician)
Quote:
Originally Posted by coastalhunter
Typically physically demanding, 4 years minimum apprenticeship, and if done incorrectly can cause many $$$ damage or even danger to life....
Trades & certification in them exist for a reason.
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03-23-2017, 07:12 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 149
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neighbours brother moved out here a year ago for a radiology position...hes making twice what he was offered to start (and accepted) a year ago...If i was to go back, I'd be all over it...working on talking my sister into it
Quote:
Originally Posted by Newview01
X2
Ridiculous $ for the position too.
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03-23-2017, 08:32 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vermilion ab
Posts: 2,289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EZM
Agreed - be a career student, get a engineering undergraduate degree, a few professional designations, then an MBA and become a boss.
You don't need to know squat. Execs love hiring highly educated people with zero experience and zero ability to apply in any real life situation.
Become an executive in your late 20's.
Make way more money compared to Senior Managers in the company with 30 years of experience who have more knowledge in their little toe compared to what you know now, and what you might learn the rest of your life and be their boss.
That's the best hatched plan. Trust me - it's real.
Worked for me ...... now go get me my cup of coffee or else your fired!
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^^^^^^ This is a career path that could lead you to the prime ministers office one day.
__________________
Bring on the Anarchy already !
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