Labour
Market News
An excellent document to research moving to and finding a
job in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is
the November 2006 issue of the Labour
Market News, entitled Finding a job in Fort McMurray.
High School Diploma or equivalent
The minimum requirement for direct employment at an oilsands
plant is Grade 12 or equivalent General
Educational Development (GED) certificate. You may be
asked for proof of qualifications when called for an interview.
If you do not have your original diploma, information can
be obtained from the provincial department that issued the
diploma.
Wage and Salary Information
- WAGEinfo
– 2007 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey – (Select
Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake)
- Union Wage
Summaries for construction trades
- Professional
association and
unions are sources of good wage, salary and benefit
information.
- Effective
April 1, 2008, minimum wage in Alberta became $8.40 per
hour, but most employers pay above this rate in the Fort
McMurray area.
- For
more Employment Standards information visit the Alberta
Employment and Immigration website.
Driver's Licence
A valid Alberta
driver's licence is often required for employment.
Employers usually request a recent driver's abstract. License
information, including exchanging a out-of-province licence,
is available on the Alberta
Government Services website.
Safety
Safety training is mandatory for all workers at large industrial
construction sites in Alberta and may be required at other
work places.
E-mail
The operating oilsands plants do not have walk-in recruitment
or employment offices. Employment opportunities are posted
and résumés accepted online. An e-mail address is required
to submit résumés or profiles online.
Pre-Employment Testing
Pre-employment drug and alcohol testing is a common requirement.
Résumés
- An excellent résumé with
clear job objectives is necessary for all job seekers.
- Companies
that post job opportunities on their website accept résumés
online. You can read about the
qualifications
for each job opening, then follow the directions
on their websites to send your résumé.
- Employment
service
providers in the RMWB can
help you develop a
résumé and
send it to
prospective employers.
Interviews
Several major employers in the area use Behavior
Description (BD) interview techniques and questions.
Information
is available:
Trades - Compulsory Certification
The highest demand in the trades is for Alberta-registered
apprentices, Alberta-certified journeyman or Interprovincial
Red Seal
certified tradespeople. About 20 trades are compulsory certification
trades in Alberta. Questions about your qualifications can
be answered before you leave home (Alberta
Apprenticeship and Industry Training). Proof of certifications
will be requested by employers—a tradesperson must be
an Alberta-certified journeyman (or working as apprentice)
or have their Interprovincial Red Seal to work for many employers.
Union List
Some tradespeople are dispatched through Alberta
Building Trade Unions to industrial construction and maintenance
turnarounds or shutdowns. Check the union
list for the trades that each union takes and inquire
at union halls about membership, dispatch policies and procedures
as well as employment opportunities.
Housing
When looking for a job in Fort McMurray, the issue of housing must
be considered. Take the cost
of living into consideration
when negotiating wages with your prospective employer. |
