Quantcast
PART 9 - Your Career Arc through the Alberta downturn - Page 3 - Beyond.ca - Car Forums

View Poll Results: How has your career gone these last 5,6,7 years?

Voters
135. You may not vote on this poll
  • I have voluntarily changed jobs

    36 26.67%
  • I have involuntarily changed jobs or been laid off

    33 24.44%
  • I haven't had major changes

    66 48.89%
Page 3 of 9 FirstFirst ... 2 3 4 ... LastLast
Results 41 to 60 of 171

Thread: PART 9 - Your Career Arc through the Alberta downturn

  1. #41
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Ford, Acura
    Posts
    2,219
    Rep Power
    56

    Default

    I watched many of my friends get laid off from an O&G service company but managed to survive all of the rounds and even carve out my own senior level role. I didn't like the shift in the culture after some big company changes so I left to join a couple of buddies at a small consulting firm. I took an overall pay cut (I'd like to find whoever said contracting/consulting was lucrative and kick them in the nuts) but I have been learning a ton which is what I really wanted to get out of it. Plus I hopefully it makes me more marketable if any full time salaried roles pop up because the stress of contracting is starting to get to me.

    Overall both my wife and myself have thankfully remained employed the whole time but it definitely wasn't without stress and close calls.
    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    ...Last thing I want is someone reading my posts and losing their cock over it...
    Quote Originally Posted by Sugarphreak
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Meh, they all look like Jackie Chan to me
    Quote Originally Posted by ExtraSlow View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    I'm generally cute.

  2. #42
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Somewhere in Prairies
    Posts
    0
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Moved into construction industry last year (I am in States), don't regret a single day.

  3. #43
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    calgary, alberta, canada
    My Ride
    Faux X 4 Mall Crawler
    Posts
    5,678
    Rep Power
    42

    Default

    Laid off in q2 2014, found a job at a services company start of 2015, company went under a year later and I went back to wait for business intelligence and data warehousing. During school I landed a telecom PM roll and have been there for the last 3.5 years. In that time, I’ve got my pmp and prosci, but my wage has been mostly stagnant for the last 5+ years. Up side is that life has been steady enough to get a great deal on a house, and all my friends seem to have found their own stability. I’d hate to be in my 20’s in the city right now, not sure there is a solution for that.

    My career is solid for the immediate to mid term future (despite our ceo telling the press about 5000 layoffs) but it would be nice to see calgary bounce back a bit. A rising tide raises all ships, and I’m not going anywhere as this is home.
    sig deleted by moderator, because they are useless

  4. #44
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Calgary, Ab
    My Ride
    2021 Zonda CRV
    Posts
    1,008
    Rep Power
    18

    Default

    I studied and started in Banking when I landed in Canada. But moved onto Grocery sector for more breadcrumbs. At this time I started seeing friends in O&G getting laid off.
    After two years I got laid off in my role. But I managed to get a role on a different side of the compnay that was entry level admin marketing (gota pay the mortgage and bills yo).
    I tried applying for other jobs, but was getting nowhere. Lots of lay offs happening in Calgary.
    I looked at going to SAIT to study and get some more skills. Possibly healthcare. But after meeting with a information officer, there was blatant cash grab barriers because I was a immigrant.

    I survived two rounds of layoffs then the third round was mass layoffs. I thought my role was safe, but I got laid off due to nepotism. The layoff was not a bad thing, I travelled for two months. I really needed it in this stage of my life.

    So I was out of work for 10 months. I had savings but I cut back as you never know.
    I went to networking events, and bullshit networking events. So many self employed people as marketing consultants.

    I looked at a career in insurance and banking again. I looked at various jobs, applied for entry level roles. But got nowhere. Some of the interview techniques and processes were questionable. It was soo frustrating.
    I ended up studying for Life Insurance and a General 1 Insurance Licence, I got a short contract with a establish company. The contract was extended to longer one as I passed my exams first time.
    I loved the job and helping my clients. I met some great people. There were also vulnerable people I was able to direct. It was very rewarding helping people do better. I could transfer so many of my skills over, especially from the finance sector.
    I was good at what I did, many sub agencies recognised that and tried to hire me.

    I decided to leave to a sister company for a more corporate role. Long story short I went through the books and identified a product that was ripping off a good client. I went out of my way to help them and they valued that. It was a massive deal that would help them over the long run and it was good for business. A Win Win. It was stolen from me.
    I had the last laugh as senior manager who stole it broke one of the cardinal rules and in doing so they could not close the deal.

    I was asked by other agency managers to come work for them. But the above experience left a sour taste in my mouth so I politely declined.
    I took a paycut for my new role (not that I made much anyway). But its more stable, especially the market we are in.

    So all in all, its been rollercoaster ride so far.

    Quote Originally Posted by ercchry View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Text book GQ... simple “double over” or whatever the name is, pull tight with dimple, adjust tie bar for just the right amount of lift
    Tonytiger screams in English...
    Name:  aid71946-v4-728px-Act-Like-an-Anime-or-Manga-Character-Step-2-Version-3.jpg
Views: 732
Size:  68.6 KB

  5. #45
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    C.Dot
    Posts
    1,058
    Rep Power
    17

    Default

    Went from an o&g ancillary role in power gen to hydraulics (voluntary) then back to power gen on the large natural gas/cogeneration side when the right opportunity appeared.

    Turns out that projects come and go, but my desk has largely stayed the same. I count myself in the lucky few that can say this.

    Alberta is different for sure this time. I went through a small recession prior to this big one. to be honest, this go around has demoralized entire segments of our province, not just specific entities.

    All of my fellow brothers and sisters out there, keep your heads up.
    Originally posted by ZenOps
    I say we slow down the spinning of the earth so that there is 25 hours in the day.

    Join me.

  6. #46
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    45
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Went from engineering at a junior O&G producer to full time MBA when times got tough and the company closed its doors. Subsequently moved into a finance role at a bank and then recently jumped to a large producer in a corporate role. There's been no shortage of uncertainty through all that but it forced me to make some career changes that have worked out for the best.

  7. #47
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    calgary
    Posts
    2,028
    Rep Power
    95

    Default

    Bumping this back up.

    Emergency meetings being held today, things look like they could be getting quite rocky again here soon.

  8. #48
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Calgary, AB
    My Ride
    Toyota’s
    Posts
    307
    Rep Power
    12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by vengie View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Bumping this back up.

    Emergency meetings being held today, things look like they could be getting quite rocky again here soon.
    Talk now of well count 3600-3800. Down 1000+ from a month ago. Glad I'll be back on the farm in a couple months.

  9. #49
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    315
    Rep Power
    16

    Default

    Probably going to ask for cash up front from anyone who isn't a long term customer going forward. Can't be too careful these days.

  10. #50
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Ford, Acura
    Posts
    2,219
    Rep Power
    56

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by birdman86 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Talk now of well count 3600-3800. Down 1000+ from a month ago. Glad I'll be back on the farm in a couple months.
    Need a rock picker? You okay if I bring my toddler too? I'm not above child labor in this market.
    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    ...Last thing I want is someone reading my posts and losing their cock over it...
    Quote Originally Posted by Sugarphreak
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Meh, they all look like Jackie Chan to me
    Quote Originally Posted by ExtraSlow View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    I'm generally cute.

  11. #51
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Calgary, AB
    My Ride
    Toyota’s
    Posts
    307
    Rep Power
    12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by schurchill39 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Need a rock picker? You okay if I bring my toddler too? I'm not above child labor in this market.
    No rock problems but you could come pick wild oats. Will pay with free access to the raspberry bush.

  12. #52
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    NA
    Posts
    1,307
    Rep Power
    20

    Default

    .
    Last edited by Rat Fink; 12-06-2020 at 05:18 PM.
    Thanks for the 14 years of LOLs. Govern yourselves accordingly and avoid uppercut reactions!

  13. #53
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Upstairs
    My Ride
    Natural Gas.
    Posts
    13,330
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    Thank you for your service. We all like to shit on anyone who works for the government, but I have massive respect for first responders.
    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    You realize you are talking to the guy who made his own furniture out of salad bowls right?

  14. #54
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    YYC
    My Ride
    06 S2000
    Posts
    5,376
    Rep Power
    47

    Default

    Worked operational O&G IT until 2017. Picked up a project contract for most of 2018, while I applied to LE. Moved back into a short term operational role. Got deferred in early 2019, and moved out of O&G spring 2019 into financial (still IT), where I'm FT.
    Quote Originally Posted by heavyfuel View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    That's why I just say I have a 4" dick and lift weights to make up for it.
    Quote Originally Posted by 89coupe View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    My car sounds like shit.

  15. #55
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Edmonton, Alberta
    My Ride
    '16 F150 Lariat, 17 Shelby GT350, '21 Explorer ST
    Posts
    1,937
    Rep Power
    26

    Default

    I just got out of construction and landed a support role with law enforcement/government. It is a contract gig, but they have regularly carried those contracts through, and have plans to hire contractors full time.

  16. #56
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Calgary, AB
    Posts
    1,636
    Rep Power
    85

    Default

    In IT for 23 years now. System design, programming, devops, networking, databases, yadda yadda.

  17. #57
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Homeless
    My Ride
    Blue Dabadee
    Posts
    9,594
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    And here I always thought IT was just turning computers on and off again and saying no to bigger monitors.
    Originally posted by Thales of Miletus

    If you think I have been trying to present myself as intellectually superior, then you truly are a dimwit.
    Originally posted by Toma
    fact.
    Quote Originally Posted by Yolobimmer View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

    guessing who I might be, psychologizing me with your non existent degree.

  18. #58
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Calgary AB
    My Ride
    V8s
    Posts
    4,570
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    And here I always thought IT was just turning computers on and off again and saying no to bigger monitors.
    That's definitely what IT is.

  19. #59
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Transnistria
    My Ride
    Exploded.
    Posts
    8,205
    Rep Power
    51

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cjblair View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    That's definitely what IT is.
    Someone's OneDrive is going to be corrupt tomorrow.

  20. #60
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Ioniq 5
    Posts
    1,792
    Rep Power
    46

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    And here I always thought IT was just turning computers on and off again and saying no to bigger monitors.
    1) Be an IT person
    2) Swich over to the industrial side of things
    3) Call it automation
    4) Bill twice as much

Page 3 of 9 FirstFirst ... 2 3 4 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 124
    Latest Threads: 02-23-2016, 09:21 AM
  2. What are you doing to cutback during the downturn?

    By Manhattan in forum Real Estate / Finance
    Replies: 218
    Latest Threads: 06-22-2015, 05:25 PM
  3. Nenshi doesn't want to suspend arts budget during downturn

    By rage2 in forum Society / Law / Current Events / Politics
    Replies: 88
    Latest Threads: 02-24-2015, 04:52 PM
  4. FS: ARC TITAN, ARC radiator cap

    By Hirota in forum Automotive Parts [Aero/Styling/Interior]
    Replies: 2
    Latest Threads: 11-09-2012, 07:10 PM
  5. Calgary EGG's downturn?

    By Crymson in forum Careers
    Replies: 14
    Latest Threads: 01-24-2008, 06:26 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •