Environmental Management

[ekguy]

Well got laid off and got a nice severance and since I already had two jobs just switched to full time at my other job.

So no downtime and a huge influx of cash so I enrolled in the environmental management program at the downtown u of c campus.

I know this is just a stepping stone since it's only a certificate but I will also be complementing that one with a certificate in HSE as well.

From there I will probably go to school after that as well.

What I want to know is how prevalent is the environmental field in Calgary?

I know Shell is very big in that field, and from google searches it seems like alot of other companies are as well.

But this doesn't mean that there is alot of jobs open.

Any insight would be great from anyone working in this field.

[HO2S]

My dad's company does exactly this, in fact one of his biggest clients is shell cem.
I know right now he is killing for a air modeling specialist and a few more engineers. He is having a rough time finding appropriate candidates.

My 24 year old brother works for him running a infrared pipeline camera. He has his high school diploma and is making 20 sum an hour. And he gets set to all of the God forsaken places in this province. After that besides the receptionist every one else is at least a P.Eng. From my limited knowledge about this I'd skip the certificate course and get into engineering. This way You can make some good cash during a boom and have a bit to cost through the bust.

[ExtraSlow]

Every oil and gas company has an environmental department, AND employs several environmental service companies.

Probably many thousands of people employed in this field in Alberta.

Professional Engineers, Professional Geologists, Surveyors, Biologists, Geographers and GIS professionals are some of the options.

Also availible are Labour or truck driving positions.

Your favourite internet search engine can provide at least a dozen companies to check out on the first page of results.

[ekguy]

I can't afford a full on degree right now. I am in a weird position where I can afford to do this but not much else (time constraints).

My ultimate goal was to find an entry level job at a company that is willing to help along their employees to get an education (as many big companies will).

But it's nice to know some companies do thrive in this industry in Calgary.

Side note my eventual goal is to go to school to be an engineer, but what type I don't know yet, which is why the certificate at least gives me a knowledge base to work from.

[ekguy]

Has to be more input on this from some guys on here. I can't be the only one on beyond going into the environmental field am I???

[tsi_neal]

What are you interested in and where do you want to go? Your asking much to broad of a question me thinks.

Typically there is client, consultant, and service side of the industry.

The client can literally be anybody, usually O&G, but often government, rail, drycleaners, or anyone that has a problem. Standards are governemnt regulated so there will always be work. Work can be water, soil, air, or more. Education will definately decide where you fit into the industry, but usually isnt directly dictating what you will make for $$$. A driller with no education will usually make more money then the P. Eng telling them what to do, but they will have a crappier job and work much harder. Pay in general is a real step down from the production side of O&G, but IMO the job is more recession proof. If you have more specific questions I can try and get you better answers

[ekguy]

Well so far I'd love to work for a company like shell since they do specifically say on their website that they hire students and seem to have a very large environmental focus.

It'll probably be easier to see where I want to go once I start school. Honestly though I would just love to work for a company that is working at lessening their environmental impact, thus why I know I'll probably end up in engineering at some point.

[tch7]

The environmental field is fine to go into. It's relatively stable as so much of it is based on government regulation, and most environmental projects last for years/decades as they're slow processes.

I doubt that certificate program will open many doors for you, but I could be wrong. Many of the people I've encountered in that area have their Masters, and they're doing mainly technologist-level work...


Originally posted by ekguy
Well so far I'd love to work for a company like shell since they do specifically say on their website that they hire students and seem to have a very large environmental focus.
Bah, every company says that so I'd take it with a grain of salt. Same with saying that safety is their number one priority. In reality the majority of it is just doing redundant/repetitive paperwork and training so that the company can avoid lawsuits, prove that they're meeting minimum government regulations, and look good to the public.

[ekguy]

yeah im a bit weary of that as well when just having a certificate but on the flip side of the coin I do know a couple people with just certificates and they are doing amazingly well for themselves.

no matter what way you look at it it's still going in to a place with a piece of paper from a university where lot's of people don't have that at all...if it doesn't pan out for me it's not like i don't have a job anyways to pay my rent.

[tsi_neal]

Originally posted by ekguy
Well so far I'd love to work for a company like shell since they do specifically say on their website that they hire students and seem to have a very large environmental focus.

It'll probably be easier to see where I want to go once I start school. Honestly though I would just love to work for a company that is working at lessening their environmental impact, thus why I know I'll probably end up in engineering at some point.

Sounds like your more interested in the client side of the industry, the area that I know the least about. They do seem to like straight from school people or well experianced people. My wife is a consultant and deals with the client side often, shell being an example. Often the people she works with have either O&G experince from an other aspect and move into the health and environment side or have worked as a consultant and been hired by the O&G company to look after specific project as they have experience from the consultant side. Go forward with your environmental management certificate, it should give you a better perspective on what exactly you want to do in the environmental industry and then you can cater your future education to meeting those goals.


Originally posted by tch7
The environmental field is fine to go into. It's relatively stable as so much of it is based on government regulation, and most environmental projects last for years/decades as they're slow processes.

I doubt that certificate program will open many doors for you, but I could be wrong. Many of the people I've encountered in that area have their Masters, and they're doing mainly technologist-level work...


Bah, every company says that so I'd take it with a grain of salt. Same with saying that safety is their number one priority. In reality the majority of it is just doing redundant/repetitive paperwork and training so that the company can avoid lawsuits, prove that they're meeting minimum government regulations, and look good to the public.

I see lots of people with the 2 year environmental diploma that do just fine but there is a lower glass ceiling. On the flip side I know of plenty of with the diploma that work in the field for their entire career, this may be personal choice tho. A proper degree will take you further up the ladder in the client and consulting areas, in the service area a good work ethic and not being a dumbass will usually be the ticket to success.

[HiSpec]

Do you know which aspect of environmental industry you are seeking?
There are hydrology, wildlife, aquatics, soil... just to name a few.

[Affinityion]

There's a number of companies here that do environmental remediation work mostly for O+G companies. Typical entry level positions for consulting firms are based in the client service side, actual testing an analysis is usually farmed out to small labs around the city. I've got a few friends in the industry, with BScs in Biology/Chemistry. I don't think you'll have trouble finding companies that do that type of work, its more about finding openings as they are currently wrapping up projects.

As an aside, whats your education background like? From what I've seen a BSc in Geology, Environmental Science, Chemistry and Biology seem to be where they typically hire (essentially anything related to the sciences). These seem to be where their target demographics lie in terms of employees. Certificates might give you a boost if you already have a degree

[lint]

if you have questions about environmental consulting I can probably help you out. my wife works for matrix (and golder previously)

[ekguy]

no degree unfortunately but this is hoping I can get an entry level job and then further my education.

[KRyn]

I don't want to sound like an a-hole but good luck getting a job with any major O&G company rocking a neck tattoo (http://forums.beyond.ca/st2/post-your-latest-purchase/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50387&perpage=20&highlight=&pagenumber=342). You crazy!

[ekguy]

if i wear a dress shirt it disappears lol. I made sure. And I know plenty of tattooed employed people btw. I'm not worried about it.

As long as the shirt and tie hide it im good.

:D

[sabad66]

Why not just do an engineering degree instead? I honestly think that this certificate will be useless without any sort of degree to begin with.

[ekguy]

yeah im starting to see that, but i am also doing a certificate in hse which should enable me to find a job. Then I'll know what direction i want to go into by the time im done this.