Power Engineering Questions

CR5 · #1 09-27-2010, 07:22 PM

Had my 3rd class since 1997, operating can be really busy, dirty and phisically intensive or it can be really boring and lazy, just depends where you get a job.
I am a control room operator in FtMac and I find it boring and would like to change career's but I can't think of anything that pays this well that I won't have to go back to school for.

There is way too much competition in Calgary and Edmonton to expect to get a job there without a minimum of a third class and a second would be much better. This is a who you know industry and it can help alot with getting one of the good jobs.
The hours are hard on family and marriages since you will most likely be working 12 hour shifts days and nights including weekends. Most people start in small towns away from family and friends which makes things even harder on the wife or girlfriend.
I find that too many people get into this field for the wrong reasons. It pays well but you are expected to be a jack of all trades and have a certain amount of trouble shooting skills and ability to understand process and correct things. Nothing bothers me more than having to train some snotty jerkoff straight outta school that thinks he knows everything because he got an 80% in prime movers class but he can't even change the oil on his own car.

As a side note. Most injuries seem to be during the first 3 years out of school. So if you do get into it listen to those that have been there a few years, they might just save your life.

Good luck.

rookiemoosehunter · #2 09-27-2010, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CR5

I find that too many people get into this field for the wrong reasons. It pays well but you are expected to be a jack of all trades and have a certain amount of trouble shooting skills and ability to understand process and correct things. Nothing bothers me more than having to train some snotty jerkoff straight outta school that thinks he knows everything because he got an 80% in prime movers class but he can't even change the oil on his own car.
Good luck.

Couldn't of said it better my self.

Power Engineering is a great career to get into but its not for everybody. I am a second class that has been working in the oilsands for around ten years now and love it but like CR5 says it can be dirty and labour intensive at times. It can also have alot of A#S time to it as well.

If you have good troubleshooting skills, jack of all trades, don't mind working shift or away from home than power engineering may be a good choice.

Good luck with your decision.

chris007can · #3 09-27-2010, 09:22 PM

the other two guy's are bang on with what you need, the only thing I would add is go to Nait or Sait and take the two year program. This way when you do your practicum you will really find out if this job is for you. We had one guy drop out after he tried shift work. Also you better be able to get along with guy's you don't really know for long periods of time, because you will spend more time with them than you will your own family.

OutwardBound · #4 09-27-2010, 10:45 PM

I have my 2nd class ticket and have worked south of Calgry for about 6 years

If you search on the forum under power engineering there has been alot of posts on it over the last few months that will help in your decison.

You are right in the order of the tickets although most people start off with a 4th class ticket with any sort of power engineering schooling. You do not have to write a 5th class ticket.

Your best bet for getting into the career is taking the 2 year power engineering course at SAIT, NAIT or Med Hat.

The physical labor part depends on what field you get into. Some require lots of work others require very little.

As far as jobs around Calgary or Edmonton, they are not hard to get, it just depends on how hard you look. I was hired right out of school at a plant south of Calgary as well as numorus other people. Although the odds of getting one with just a 4th are pretty slim in the higher paying plants.

Dustin

Off in the Bushes · #5 09-28-2010, 07:32 AM

One of the biggest problems if you get into a contro room tyoe job where you are monitoring a process is fighting the bordom. If everything is smooth then there is not alot that you have to do.
Also if you measure your self worth by the job you do then this is not for you as it is not very full filling as you never see what it is that you did all day.

tbone616 · #6 09-28-2010, 08:20 AM

I agree with everything everyone has posted so far and highly recomend taking the 2 year course at NAIT or SAIT. It can be quite difficult for alot of people to get steam time for their forth and third, with the two year courses you get all the steam time you need. As well there any many needs for power engineers like others have posted so you can choose a path that will work for you. I work at a chemical plant close to town so i'm home everyday unlike some of my friends who work up north. As some examples i know people who operate the power plant at the hospital, one who runs the steam system on an ocean liner and one of my buddies used to work for Kokanee in their brewery. As you can see it all depends on which way you wanna go and the pay varies widely as well.

827rotax · #7 09-28-2010, 08:55 AM

Great info all and thankyou for sharing. I have too been looking at this. I have tried to do my research everywhere I can, and all say good money, but that is a different amount for each. Coming out of school with a 4th what would be bottom salary and what would be a high salary. And so on 3rd, 2nd class? Shoot a pm if you do not want to put it on a public forum. i am very Mechanical and a very good trouble shooter, been working out of town away from my family all my life. This would even be better as there would bw more time home than I currently have. Again thank you all for sharing your experiences. Dennis

Cutless · #8 09-29-2010, 02:58 AM

Here is some more info from my experience. I have been in industry since 1973, pulp, gas and heavy oil. It has been 12 hour shifts since 1978 and that is good and bad. Our shift shedule is always the same unless you get moved from one shift to another. Our shift shedule was made in a yearly shedule so you new when you worked at what time all year. The 12 hour shift is good for more time off, bad for a long day and you do not see family and friends much after work. Your lifestyle is different because you cannot do everything that 5 day week people do. Usually you work 2 weekends a month so you cut social time with everyone out on working weekends. You may work Xmas for a few years in a row and have it off for a few years in a row. You work long weekends, some built in overtime, and lots of birthdays and celebrations are missed due to the shiftwork. Some companies expect lots of overtime, good money but after awhile you get tired of it. When my kids were young the shift was good because when I was home I spent time with them, when I was at work they had there times with friends and it worked out good. I found now the 7 days on 7 days off is the best shift for me. The other persons comment on control room operating, yes it is dam boring because I was in a control room for 10 plus years and you just accept it or you do something else, you also put on weight unless you are a workout person. You do not have to be a power engineer to work shift work, but I do believe it pays good money. Work for some company that pays double time overtime and has a good benifit package. The pay for a Second Class in 2005 was about $40 per hour, which came in at $90,000.00 a year without overtime. I usually averaged about 200 hours a year at doubletime so that was a nice extra. I retired in 2005 with a decent pension and got bored in 4 months so now I am now a contract operator and I do ok. That is how I describe the lifestyle. I was fortunate to marry a beautiful lady and she accepted a lot of the raising of kids when I was not there. That means somebody had to be sports mom and taxi lots off time. We just had our 32 year together so something worked for us. Now I have grandchildren and they get spoiled. Good luck in your what you decide to do and hope I did not rant on to much.

outdoorcat · #9 09-29-2010, 09:40 PM

The job satisfaction part bothers me. Are all power engineers in general bitter with their chosen profession?

Also, the tasks progressively change as you get more papers, right? Like from 3rd, 2nd, to 1st?

Thanks a lot for the responses guys.

BuckMaster101 · #10 11-23-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbone616

I agree with everything everyone has posted so far and highly recomend taking the 2 year course at NAIT or SAIT. It can be quite difficult for alot of people to get steam time for their forth and third, with the two year courses you get all the steam time you need. As well there any many needs for power engineers like others have posted so you can choose a path that will work for you. I work at a chemical plant close to town so i'm home everyday unlike some of my friends who work up north. As some examples i know people who operate the power plant at the hospital, one who runs the steam system on an ocean liner and one of my buddies used to work for Kokanee in their brewery. As you can see it all depends on which way you wanna go and the pay varies widely as well.

Total agree, also get a lot off time off with shift work. I'm at a chemical plant and work 7 days/7 nights in five weeks. I love shift work, lot of time to play or work OT if you need too.