[Aimee]

So it's time for another one of those "should I move to Alberta?" threads.

Long story short: I'm a BC transplant living in Ontario, studying at U of O and working (or "working" ) for the federal public service.

I've always loved Alberta the few times that I've been there and am thinking of heading out there after I finish my graduate degree.


Any advice would be appreciated, particularly about the labour market. By the time that I'd move out there, I'll have a Masters in Public Administration (essentially a degree that's half MBA, half Political Science) and I have work experience in human resources (recruitment), business analysis, records management, and as an admin assistant.

I'm a petite girl, so rig work really isn't an option.

And after living in Vancouver, I think your real estate is cheap!


Thank you!

[Hyack]

With your academic history and work experience you shouldn't have any problem gaining employment in Alberta, just remember the phrase.....would you like fries with your order?.....

Welcome to the site, hang in there, as I'm sure some real info will be coming your way soon.

[QBC]

Hyack wrote:

With your academic history and work experience you shouldn't have any problem gaining employment in Alberta, just remember the phrase.....would you like fries with your order?.....

Welcome to the site, hang in there, as I'm sure some real info will be coming your way soon.

It's no longer "would you like fries with your order", it's, "would you like that super sized". Get it straight would ya H....

Lotsa work in Alberta. Help wanted signs all over Grande Praire for just about any work you can think of. (But if you're a heavy duty mechanic, you're in like flint.)

[SprCForr]

I'd start cold calling some likely places. Around here there's work and a good part of it doesn't make it into the want ads or job postings.

[bootlegga]

I'd say your best bet is to look for work with the provincial and city governments prior to moving here. Your degree might not have as many applications as professional degrees, but the government is a pretty stable employer (once you get hired) and frequently posts jobs requiring degrees such as yours. Failing that, look for work with large corporations who deal with the government (or even universities) as they sometimes have need for people with your skillset.

[Aimee]

Thanks for all the replies

Yeah I know that my education is a bit more amenable to the public sector instead of the private, but under my degree I've taken courses in HR management, strategic management, environmental economics, natural resource management, economics, statistics etc. so I think (hope?) that could be relevant to the private sector (plus about half my work experience is in the private sector.)

Now for another interesting question ...Edmonton or Calgary?

Don't answer that if there's an intra-city rivalry haha.

Have a great night!

[jeff744]

SprCForr wrote:

I'd start cold calling some likely places. Around here there's work and a good part of it doesn't make it into the want ads or job postings.

Yeah, this is basically the best advice. Most places don't actively look for employees until they actually need them but they are almost always open to taking on another that comes to them or they find by some chance.

[Thanos]

Aimee wrote:

So it's time for another one of those "should I move to Alberta?" threads.

Long story short: I'm a BC transplant living in Ontario, studying at U of O and working (or "working" ) for the federal public service.

I've always loved Alberta the few times that I've been there and am thinking of heading out there after I finish my graduate degree.

Any advice would be appreciated, particularly about the labour market. By the time that I'd move out there, I'll have a Masters in Public Administration (essentially a degree that's half MBA, half Political Science) and I have work experience in human resources (recruitment), business analysis, records management, and as an admin assistant.

Good resume. You shouldn't have to wait too long from any of the governments or major companies if you do a vigourous resume campaign.

Quote:

I'm a petite girl, so rig work really isn't an option.

There's a surprisingly large number of women working on the major construction sites doing the roles you've listed. Camp life really isn't all that bad if you get into one of the good ones (I'm actually in one right now up near Suncor) and you'd probably make at least double what you would in an office in Calgary or Edmonton. Do it for a full year or so and you'd probably be able to put down half the purchase price on a new apartment in either city.

Quote:

And after living in Vancouver, I think your real estate is cheap!

Not so in Ft McMurray. $40000 for a double-wide trailer in one of the parks but the silly little slice of land it sits on is worth $600000 a lot. Totally insane, which is why trying to buy anything in Ft Mac is a waste of money and time. Calgary prices went insane too but have mostly levelled out over the last couple of years.

Quote:

Thank you!

No problem. Go to Calgary and not Edmonton though. Less murders, the Stampede is a non-stop party for the young 'uns, and unlike Edmonton there isn't a permanent stench of rotten onions hanging over the entire city. Plus, we have harmless coke-addicts here whereas Edmonton got stuck with all the crack/meth-heads.

[bootlegga]

Aimee wrote:

Thanks for all the replies

Yeah I know that my education is a bit more amenable to the public sector instead of the private, but under my degree I've taken courses in HR management, strategic management, environmental economics, natural resource management, economics, statistics etc. so I think (hope?) that could be relevant to the private sector (plus about half my work experience is in the private sector.)

Now for another interesting question ...Edmonton or Calgary?

Don't answer that if there's an intra-city rivalry haha.

Have a great night!

The answer to that question is whether you want to work in the public sector or private sector.

Public - go to Edmonton
Private - go to Calgary