Job Hunting: Boiler, steam engineer, oil and gas job in NW Pa/NE Ohio

[Blakers]

Dear Friends,



In January of 2006, the company for which I am working will be forced

to close due to foreign competition. I will therefore be looking for

new employment possibilities.



In addition to my qualifications as a licensed steam engineer, I also

have education in the oil and gas industry. I would also be very

interested in a position in that field where I could use my skill and education.



Thanks,

Blake Malkamaki



Here's my resume: http://cletrac.org/pages/blakeresume.html

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Any turbine work or just boilers? I know AEP just bought a 750MW plant in Waterford, Ohio and may be looking for people and I have a connection to a plant in Lawrenceburg, Indiana that I could see if they were still looking for some people. These are both Gas Turbine combined cycle plants and make a million and a half to two million pounds per hour of 1800 psi steam. If you wanted to move to NJ I know of 6-7 job openings there at gas turbine plants.



Try expanding into big power generation, take a look at www.merchantpowerplant.com or http://www.energycentraljobs.com/ or http://www.careerpark.com/ these are all pretty good places to look, also check the local utility web sites, I know AEP had quite a few postings a few months back.

 

[Blakers]

Tim, did you get my personal message reply?



Thanks,

Blake

 

[The patriot]

It's a dying job....

Every year the steam plant jobs are becoming harder to come across.

I have the 2nd highest license grade in NJ. Some say that this works AGAINST you if youre looking for work.

If you dont mind working cheap, there are plenty hospitals around here.

My job moved to Me-he-co last year. I havent worked since, but that's due to my disc/back problems.

Good luck.

Eric

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Sorry, I've been busy as heck lately and really haven't even been on here. I don't know anyone with Cinergy but I know they are going to be merging with Duke Energy and are working on coal gasification combined cycle which could be a big future with gas turbines. Duke is pretty good, they used to be a really good company to work for but with tougher times in the market they tend to take care of the CEO's and forget about the workers.



Depending on the plant, location and the company, power genration can be an excellent job, the bigger the company (utility) the better the job usually. I know around me the hospitals usually pay around $10-15 an hour for a very experienced guy whereas the powerplants pay double that or more for a guy with less experience.



I've been working with gas turbines since 1986 (Navy) and in powerplants since 1992 and it's been pretty good to me. Let me know if you need anything, how is your resume? I am working nights starting tonight and going through the weekend so I'll have a little free time to research a few things.

 

[Blakers]

Well things are looking strong on two job leads: one in a power plant, and one in the oil fields. Both pay about the same. One is more structured, scheduled and swing shift, while the other involves travel and getting out in the mud. My education and love is in oil, so I'm leaning in that direction.

 

[The patriot]

skrewed.....

Ya gotta watch the power generating plants.

I forget which it was, but they were really screwing the new hires.

They'd give them an hourly figure. Say $30. 00. Then they'd give them a salaried figure.

Salaried would be about 15%-25% more $$$.

~but~ they'd tell the new hire that they would be getting BIG yearly bonus if hired on as a salaried employee. :-laf That the hourly employeed dont get.

Once hired they find themselves working 75-80 hour workweeks.



Gotta watch these guys. Shysters.



I think it was GE who was then taken over by FPL. ??????? Not sure.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

The company I work for pays the salaried guys OT at a straight rate, they do pretty good right now but I expect in the future the OT will go away for them. I took a salaried management job once and got screwed pretty hard, like The Patriot said 70-80 hours per week. I'm hourly now, I make a really good wage and had all the OT I wanted last year, about 1000 hours.



The power industry can be tough with all of the mergers and selling of plants, if you go that way it is a toss up of which is better, a small company or a big one. If you can land in a still regulated utility power plant especially if it's coal, I would jump on that. Natural gas and oil are tough these days. My plant burns gas or oil and is doing ok right now, actually we are one of the best our company has but it could change in a heart beat depending on prices. I would love to see them do coal gasification at our place.



The other big thing right now is biomass, wind or hydro, with hydro you could have a job for life, the others seem to change with the times. Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[Blakers]

Well guys I got the oil job! Start Feb 13th. I'll be working as a mud logger (geologist) on drilling rigs in the Ohio, Pa. , NY, and WV areas.



Thanks for all your advice!



Blake

 

[The patriot]

Good luck Blake!



TT 1, we would do about 1500 hours yearly. Slacker!! :-laf

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Good luck Blake!



TT 1, we would do about 1500 hours yearly. Slacker!! :-laf

uhhhmm, who is at work right now?????

 

[The patriot]

Typing this while the lingerie bowl is on in the other room.........

uhhhmm, who is at work right now?????

Yea, I havent worked in 2+ years and I'm still beat.

I tell ya what, those hours combined with rotating shift work (14 hr days) really tends to make one heck of a bad attitude.

That and on your own time, you gotta be on call. WTF?

I've mellowed quite nicely with the 2 yrs rest. :-laf

Eric

 

[Sled Puller]

Nice job, Blakers, hope you enjoy it!

 

[Blakers]

Thanks Guys!



I'm sitting here at work on the last night of my old job. Slow lonely night as there is only myself and the lab guy in the whole plant. Snow's drifting high enough that it's hard to walk through. Very weird here on the last night. Kinda sad, but I know it made way for better opportunities.



This week will be a limbo week between old job and new. Lots of questions will come up about the new one. Hard to believe I have a new job coming - never actually met anyone from the company in person. Just online and on the phone.



Gene... . I got the transmission oil. I'll change it this week. Thanks.



Blake

 

[Blakers]

Well I turned down the job offer I was given because the company lied to me about the salary. I do start another job with a local oil and gas company in early March though. Thanks for all your help.



Blake

 

[The patriot]

Sorry to hear that. It's always good to have a backup plan... .

Eric