Nonetheless, with so many essential business moves being made over the internet, one might think we were living in a world where human to human interaction was not the preferable option. However, relationships in business are more important than ever. And no matter how much work is done online, there are a few things you need to know:

1.) Nothing can replace excellent customer service. Ever get to a website and find that you can’t find a phone number? Anywhere? It’s frustrating to have to sit at a computer and try to decipher what someone else has already deemed the appropriate response to your problem. Maybe that solution isn’t working, maybe that’s not your problem, and maybe you just have no idea what the words in front of you mean.

Having a relationship with your clients means being there for them in a time of need, and refusing to have a help number on your website is not being there (neither is requiring them to go through 46 steps to reach a human being on the other end, contrary to the opinion of Verizon, but who’s counting).

2.) Do what you say you are going to do. When a customer has contacted you with an issue, it is up to you to resolve it. Relying on them to remind you of the problem or giving them a list of things they should try and then call you back is lazy. Sure you can teach a man to fish, but in the business world it’s appreciated if you give that same man a fish or two while he is still learning. Don’t leave your customers out on a limb; once they’ve contacted you take the problem off their hands.

Oh yeah, and fix it.

3.) Facilitate connections. I work with a local photographer here in town, and one day I asked her how much money she spends on advertising for her business. Her answer: $0.00. All of her clients are from colleague recommendations, word of mouth, and social media. Folks all these client sources are facilitated through favorable relationships. If no other photographers in town respect her, if her clients aren’t happy with her work or she ignores the growing trend of social media, her business dies. It’s as simple as that.

Like many of my colleagues, I have found myself in awe of the drastically changing energy landscape around me. Both technologically and economically, the world of energy is not what it used to be. Precious resources that allow the modern world to exist are becoming harder to find and much more difficult to extract, but advances in drilling technology, such as directional drilling, are a tribute to humanity’ ability to innovate when needed. Nowhere on Earth is this more prevalent than in the Bakken Formation of North Dakota, where I have spent the last year working, learning, living and observing as the energy world changes.

After finishing my undergrad–‐‑uate work at the University of Wyoming in 2010, I found myself wondering what was next. The U.S. economy was in shambles and the job market was dismal. I was 26 with no job, wife or kids.   All I had was a head full of raw knowledge and a diploma declaring that I knew a thing or two about how the Earth worked. After years of study, I felt confident in my ability to understand the geologic processes shaping the world around me, but I didn’ have the first clue about how to turn this knowledge into a career.

As fate would have it, I was offered a job in my native central Florida investigating sinkholes for insurance companies. But after less than a year back home, I began to catch wind of how many of my college brethren were taking advantage of the oil and gas boom occurring in North Dakota. I heard stories of geologists earning double or triple what I was making, and living a playboy lifestyle with weeks off at a time. A few phone calls later and without even a single application submitted, I found myself driving across the country with dollar signs in my eyes and all of my possessions in the back of my SUV. Just how much my life was about to change was anyone’ guess.

Tough Work for Tough People

Finding work was easier than expected. A simple inquiry on Facebook revealed half a dozen college friends working in the oilfields, all of whom indicated that their companies were seeking young geologists. A week after submitting my résumé, I was interviewing in Billings, Mont., for a well site geologist position. After an hour long interview and a couple of beers over lunch, I was told to report to Williston, N.D., in early December for training.

A few short months later, I found myself sitting in a trailer in the shadow of a multimillion dollar oil rig, staring at a cluster of computer screens that couldn’ have been more confusing had they been in Greek. From the highway, the rig appeared as a beacon of hope for the future of domestic energy and American oil independence. But inside the work trailer it was a bit of a different story.

Diesel soaked clothing, the constant groaning of the rig, heavy equipment to evade and 90 hour work weeks were the immediate hurdles that had to be negotiated while working and living not a hundred meters from the rig for up to two months at a time. This was certainly a far cry from the comfortable 9 to 5 work day I had become accustomed to in Florida, but the promise of quick fortune extinguished any lingering doubts associated with the work conditions. In addition, before long, I found a strong sense of pride in the hard work and long hours I was putting in with my colleagues in the oilfields. The last hurdle I had to pass in becoming comfortable as a well site geologist was safety. This job can be dangerous:  The equipment is enormous. The 10 hour OSHA training required to become a well site geologist quickly became the cornerstone of self preservation.  Thankfully, safety has become the primary goal these days, even above production, and after a short while the scene grew less intimidating.

To read more on Tyler’s perspective in Earth Magazine October 2012 Click Here

]]> http://synergystation.com/economy/the-bakken-boom-and-the-new-wild-west/feed/ 0 http://synergystation.com/economy/jobs/the-oil-field-work-is-a-human-too/ http://synergystation.com/economy/jobs/the-oil-field-work-is-a-human-too/#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2012 23:55:45 +0000 Ellen Feuerhelm http://synergystation.com/?p=7159

Every day I open the paper or click on a link and read that we had to close this down because of the oil workers.  Now we have to limit who goes into a community center because of an oil worker.  This is starting to sound like an unappreciative sector of America.  What is an oil field worker and how far are you broadening this definition?

My son works in oil and has for over a year.  He spent his hitch as a worm or green horn hat.  I would ask him why they called him a worm.  He would laugh and say mom that means they give me the worst jobs possible like boot camp to see if I can stick it out.  Definition of worm is someone new to oil field that hasn’t worked at least six months in the patch.

Basic work week of the patch worker is about 90 plus hours a week.  That means they get to drive to and from work on limited sleep and live on energy drinks or tons of coffee.  Laundry time means praying to find a laundry that is wash and fold or hoping a friend or family member will want to be paid to do that job.  I had a lady in the hotel ask why they say “Greasers”.  I said well put some clothes in and wash them.  She looked oddly at me and I said it is so the oil guys know which machines they can wash in.

Sometimes I have to chuckle about the things I read.  If the oil guy is working more hours than he is even sleeping how does he have time to get into so much trouble?  Occasionally I have run into a few rough necks that I thought might need soap in their mouths because of the language they used but rarely have I found them to be to obnoxious.  The guy’s usually only want to know where they can find food after 9 p.m. and a hot shower.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting with Gordy Bagnell who is working on a huge RV park in Sidney, Mt to accommodate all types of workers and new people to the area.  He said they told me to build and they would come.  Gordy just didn’t realize how many would come.  He has never had a problem with the oil guys.

When the workers arrive in Wibaux, Montana we try to make it feel like home the best we can because I see how homesick most of the guys get.  I miss my mom’s devil eggs.  We try to make them deviled eggs. I hear stories of we got sat in the back because we worked in oil.  Makes me feel like I am an untrained dog and I have a college degree.

How many reporters have ever really sat down and talked with the oil field worker about their job and back ground?  I have not been surprised by the number of college graduates attempting to pay off college loans.  The numbers of ex-military men trying to catch up on mortgage payments back home and rent expenses here.

The best columns in the paper I saw were applauding the Oil companies for their cleaning up the patch.  Many times the oil guys will buy supper for my staff.  The guys are generally kind hearted hard working people that just want to be able to pay their bills.

The Oil field worker has a dangerous job and they put their lives on the line all the time.  My son had a classmate from Beach that died on the rigs.  They work hard every day and get to come home to Dawn dish soap to attempt to come clean.  Drag their tired bodies off to bed and pray they get up when 3 am duty calls arrive.

I know there are some rough necks that may make you want to sit them down with a dictionary but for the most part there human with feelings too.   Let’s try to remember that and move on in the Bakken to something more interesting to read.

Dickinson, North Dakota is flattening up tons of land to build housing, and commercial sites at the edge of town.  Wibaux has a new Salt Water Refinery that will be operational soon.   Beach is building housing and attempting to keep a yard stick on the cost.  Just because we have an oil boom here doesn’t mean that rent should have went from $300 to $3,000.

Who is the real devil in the patch.

Slumps…we all have them. They’re those little sections of life when things just don’t seem to be going right. Maybe you haven’t been to the gym in a month and no matter what you do just don’t feel like going. Maybe you’ve been behind at work lately and you just can’t seem to catch up. Or maybe it’s your mood; maybe no matter what is going on in your life right now you just feel kind of…blah. These are slumps, people, and once you’re in one it can be hard to snap out of it, but it’s definitely not impossible. Here are some of the best ways to get yourself back on track.

1.) Stop. More specifically, stop thinking. Stop thinking about what you have to do tomorrow, what you forgot to do today, how your mother-in-law is driving you crazy, how you’ve gained 6 pounds since June when you promised yourself you’d lose 10: just stop. Whatever you’ve been doing lately hasn’t been working (you are in fact, in a slump), right? Right, so stop and take a deep breath; you are about to change gears.

2.) Focus. Find a place where you can sit, with pen and paper, undisturbed for a few minutes and think clearly. That means you step away from any electronic distractions (the television, the computer, your cell phone, etc.) and go somewhere comfortable. And don’t let yourself make excuses; the world is not going to explode if dinner is 30 minutes later than it usually is for the love of God. 

3.) Write it down. Our minds are constantly running (as you probably already know). Research has shown that when we write down what we are thinking about on paper (how upset we are with a loved one or what we need at the store, for example), our mind can relax a bit knowing it doesn’t need to keep thinking about that information. It’s the same thing that happens when someone gives you their phone number; you repeat it to yourself until you enter it in your phone or write it down. And as soon as you do, you stop thinking about it, right? Problems you are dwelling on work the same way. So take a second and write down what is bothering you.

4.) Refine. After you write down what is bothering you (don’t worry if it’s an insanely long list, chances are you’ve needed to get some things out), take a look at what you’ve written. Did you write “Dan won’t fix those shelves I’ve asked him to fix for 2 weeks” and “Dan didn’t pack the kids’ lunches” and “Dan made work plans on our anniversary night” the problem might not be all of those little things. Instead, the problem might be “Dan and I need to communicate better.”

5.) Determine a resolution. If the problem is that you and Dan need to communicate better. Write down a time that the two of you need to talk, undisturbed. Not while both of you are running to your cars in the morning, not the second he gets home from work. Pick a time when you can both talk. The same goes for other issues. If the problem is that you’re completely overwhelmed at work, think of a way you can take off some of your workload. Is there a fellow employee that can help you out for a bit (they could be in charge of the phone lines for the day while you work, for example)? Can you speak to your boss about getting caught up on your current assignments before taking on any more projects? If you’ve been feeling unmotivated, think of a way to get motivated. Haven’t gone to the gym in a while? Maybe you need a new pair of running shoes.

6.) Move on. Once you’ve addressed these issues and understand what you need to do, move on. Get up, make the dinner you’ve been postponing for 30 minutes, and stop thinking about it. Enjoy your dinner, watch some television with Dan, and get some sleep. Tomorrow your slump ends.

Morale tends to be one of those tricky words thrown around meetings. Every company wants good morale around the office but very few companies actually go through the trouble of determining how to achieve it.

But really quick, before we get into how to destroy morale (and why this would be a horrible thing to happen), what exactly is morale?

Morale can be loosely defined as the level of confidence or optimism felt by an individual or a group. It’s the feeling a person gets that they can make a difference in their environment; that they matter, and that they are valued. A high morale gives you employees that are committed and motivated to their task. Low morale gives you apathetic, uncaring employees that are probably searching for other jobs during their breaks. Which would you rather have? Exactly.

So if you’re looking to have the most productive environment possible, here are the top five things you should avoid:

1.) Embracing ignorance. The old phrase, “What they don’t know won’t hurt them” has no place in a workplace environment. Essentially, it means you’re rewarding poor communication and giving them an excuse for a low level of motivation. Don’t just explain the project to your employees, explain the reason for the project, allowing them to become invested in it as well.

2.) Assuming. How’s it go? Oh that’s right; assuming just makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’. It all comes back to communication. How many movies have there been made based on a simple plot of miscommunication and assumption? Too many to count. Don’t let your workplace turn into a shenanigan-stuffed Hollywood comedy. 

3.) Fault-finding. There’s a difference between giving out constructive criticism and finding faults in every little thing. Believe it or not, sometimes someone just does a good job and they should be recognized and awarded appropriately. Everything does not need to be a learning experience.

4.) One-Upping. Everyone has been guilty of this at one point or another, and most of the time we probably don’t even realize we’re doing it. But when an employee comes to you describing a certain success they’ve had (maybe they finished that 12 page report in only three days), explaining how you once finished a 50 page report in only four days isn’t going to be an amusing story, it’s going to downplay their success.

5.) Not caring. As much as people want to keep work and personal life separate, the fact is the two tend to mix at least a little bit. Things are going to happen at home that affect a person’s performance at work (perhaps a loved one has just passed away) and things are going to happen at work that certainly affect a person’s home life. Plus, most people spend even more time at work than they do with their own families. Remembering little things, like birthdays, or asking how someone is doing after they have suffered a loss or tragedy can give a much needed boost to a low morale environment.

As much as we would all like it to, the concept of teamwork does not simply “happen.” Instead, it takes a great deal of time working through details to make sure a team works together effectively. But some businesses and families are one step ahead of the game; by creating a culture that facilitates teamwork, constantly, a groups’ members are already comfortable with the idea of working together. So how can you achieve this in your home or place of business? Read on!

1.) Reward and value efforts of teamwork. The lone employee has their place, but placing a large amount of reward on something an individual employee does on their own can often give the impression that an individual can be valued more than the group. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of personal recognition, of course, but try to keep larger rewards (bonuses, compensation, etc.) distributed to groups of people as a display of a team working together successfully.

2.) Build teams to solve issues. If you are constantly forming teams to resolve issues that arise, people are going to start doing it on their own. If you typically ask for a group of volunteers to solve a problem, the first time a problem comes up while you are out of town group members will follow the protocol; which is to form a team and work through the issue together.

3.) List a teamwork culture as an identifiable value. The concept of teamwork shouldn’t be inferred, it should be openly accepted. Make sure the idea of teamwork is added to employee handbooks or written agreements so group members understand that it is a priority.

4.) Bring up topics that were solved by teamwork. I used to work at Billings Clinic, and I remember when they were given a Magnet rating (the top rating for nursing in the country; very few hospitals have achieved this), credit was given to the committee that worked tirelessly to make sure the hospital met specific qualifications. No single individual was acknowledged; it was considered a group effort.

5.) Exemplify teamwork at the executive level as well. As parents, it’s tough to expect your family to run as a team if you and your spouse do not act as a team as well. The same goes with a business. If Mom is asked a question, saying “I’ll run that by your father” shows that teamwork happens at even the highest level. Make this a practice in your business as well.

Are you a procrastinator? Go ahead, you can answer honestly…

That’s what I thought.

The truth is, procrastinating is an extremely common habit. The stress of something easily makes it seem like putting it off until later is a good idea, but we all know how that ends up. So let’s examine a few ways to get rid of that procrastinating bug. Not forever, mind you, we are realists, after all. But these tips should get you going in the right direction when you desperately need to focus.

1.) Really prioritize. Believe it or not, we all have a limited supply of willpower that gradually drains throughout the day. That’s why you see so many more fast food advertisements at the end of the day than the beginning; because that’s when they’ve been found to be the most effective at convincing people to call the number at the bottom of the screen. Focusing on tasks that need to be completed is no different. Therefore, it’s important to start with the toughest stuff first, while your willpower is at its maximum.

Plus, then you get to enjoy the wash of relief you often feel after your most stressful task is completed, making the weight on your shoulders feel just a tad bit lighter.

2.) Get rid of distractions. Distractions are everywhere (as a writer that works from home on a computer hooked up to the internet 24/7, I whole-heartedly understand), but that doesn’t mean you have to give into them. Instead of checking your email every 10 minutes, vow to check it once every 2 hours. Turn your phone on silent, keep the television off and for the love of God stay off the internet.

If you have to be on the internet or your phone has to be on, you can still screen what you’re looking at. Facebook is not essential, it can wait, just like that text from your friend wondering if she should wear the black or the red pumps tonight. Those issues aren’t important right now; you have work to do.

3.) Find what motivates you. It doesn’t have to be much. For example, when I am writing an article and feel myself draining, I’ll suddenly notice that I’m a bit thirsty. Instead of getting up and getting a glass of water, I’ll tell myself I can have one after I write one more paragraph. It’s a tiny thing, but it always works.

4.) Time yourself. Looking at your workload and thinking, “This will take hours!” will not help you reach your goals. Instead, set a timer for only 10 minutes, and vow to work feverishly straight through those 10 minutes. No excuses whatsoever. Anyone can handle 10 minutes of work, and you’ll often be surprised at how much you can get done.

5.) Break apart your work. Tackling one giant task all at once is sure to make anyone shy away, so instead think about what you could realistically do in the next 10, 30, or 60 minutes, then start there. Breaking larger tasks into smaller ones is a clever little way to tricking to the brain into thinking the workload just got a whole lot lighter.

When you are running a business, it’s perfectly natural to want to do everything on your own. You’re looking to cut as many costs as possible, so doing your own books, taxes, advertising and anything else seems like a reasonable decision.

Let’s read that again, this time with the correct emphasis.

Doing your own books, taxes, advertising and anything else seems like a reasonable decision. See where I’m going here? The fact is, you can’t do everything yourself, nor should you. Here is a list of people you should consider hiring if you want your business to have the best chance of success.

1.) Professional Accountant. Taxes are nothing to joke about. One slip-up could cost thousands of dollars in fees and wasted time, not to mention legal issues and a damaged company reputation. Get your taxes done right by someone how knows what they’re doing.

2.) Lawyer. And speaking of legal issues, a decent lawyer is essential. Your company may be held liable for a number of things, and in the unfortunate instance that a problem should arise, every contract or written agreement is going to be gone over with the most intense of scrutiny. It would be wise to do this while drafting up the contracts. You’ll want to make sure any potential issues are discussed long before you find yourself in hot water. And if you do find yourself in hot water, you’re going to want a good business lawyer on your side, especially one that already knows your business inside and out.

3.) Professional Web Designer. If you don’t have a website, you’re already behind, plain and simple. Did you know over 64% of adults under 25 years old don’t even own a phonebook? And why would they, they can find everything they need on the internet! You need a website, but a site that is messy and difficult to navigate won’t do you any good. A professional web designer will give your business the web presence it needs to be successful.

4.) Social Media Expert. The phrase, “adapt or die” hasn’t been around for nothing, and in this day and age social media is an essential part of business. Not only does it provide free marketing to a constantly growing and evolving audience (it costs nothing to have your own Facebook page or Twitter account), but it also gives your customers additional ways of interacting with you. Hiring someone who is proficient in the ways of social media helps give your business the identity and presence you want it to have.

Every new experience comes with a learning curve. The first time you bake an apple pie, you realize you needed a touch more cinnamon and make a mental note for next time. The first time you drive a new car you realize the brakes are a bit more sensitive, and adjust yourself accordingly. Basically, the first time you have ever taken on a new venture you have learned a few things for yourself.

But running your own business is different. It takes an immense amount of time and effort to open your business, and one mistake may cost you everything; your reputation, future clients and even your entire life savings. So to keep you a few steps ahead of the game, here is a list of the three most common regrets for first time business owners.

1.) Being unprepared for growth. Every owner hopes their business will be an immediate success, but very few are prepared for when it happens. Being prepared means you have the proper personnel needed to handle the increase in work (shipping and manufacturing, for example), the skills and equipment to keep everything organized and the ability to have effective communication and collaboration among your employees. Remember, getting new customers isn’t too tricky; keeping them is.

2.) Failing to keep a database from the start. Many people put the record keeping tasks to the back burner when they open a new business. After all, they only have six consistent customers, so why not just worry about the customers you have and deal with more as they come? No problem, right? Not quite. This might have been a fine business strategy when you were 12 and running a lemonade stand, but not anymore. You need to have an organized and up-to-date database from day one, including your list of customers, their contact information and purchase receipts.  

3.) Hiring friends and family. This tends to be one of the most common business mistakes of all time, so we’re going to reiterate its importance:don’t hire someone because you like them, hire someone because they are the best possible person for that job. When you hire someone based on their likeable personality alone, you are setting yourself up for two major issues: the job won’t be done with the quality you’re expecting and bridges could be burned in the process. Nothing ruins a friendship like having to fire your friend, and you don’t want to put yourself (or a loved one) in that situation.

With nothing but $600 in his pocket, a 33 year old unemployed construction worker, husband, and father of a 5 year old headed for the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota last summer.  That $600 represented the last of the family savings and it was barely enough to buy the gas and food for the 800 mile trip as well as to tide Kevin McLeod of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho over until he landed an oil patch job.

For some, this may have seemed like a gamble, but one the McLeod’s were willing to make.  With a weakened economy in the Inland Northwest, the family was close to being homeless.  The real estate market had collapsed, Kevin had lost successive construction, welding, and landscaping jobs due to lack of demand. As the family fell further behind on rent, utilities and personal obligations, the bill collectors literally had them on “robo dial”.

Kevin had heard of endless oil field jobs in western North Dakota for people no intimidated by work hard. In Williams County, the epicenter of the Bakken oil play, unemployment was less than 1% in February 2012 versus 10% in Spokane County.  Within two weeks of his arrival Kevin landed a job as a roustabout.  As a laborer in the oil fields with no experience he started at $16 an hour, but the potential for all the overtime he could work, the potential for raises, and bonuses made the job offer doable.

For families who’ve fallen on hard time, the Bakken represents another shot at the American Dream. Lucrative jobs in the oil fields have helped people keep a roof over their heads, forestall home foreclosures, rewrite credit histories and funnel money into retirement savings. “We’ve become one of the last great hopes for people,” said Ward Koeser, Williston’s mayor. “We have people here from all 50 states – I even see license plates from Hawaii. Many of these people were down on their luck or destitute.”

The average wage in North Dakota’s oil and gas industry is $90,225. With overtime and bonuses, some blue-collar workers earn six-figure incomes.  The hours are brutal and so is the weather. Operations run 24 hours a day. Many workers clock 70 to 110 hours each week, relying on cigarettes and Red Bull to stay alert.

In this part of North Dakota, the record low temperature is 50 below zero. Outdoor laborers get ice crystals in their noses, and their eyelashes freeze shut. Humid summers produce clouds of mosquitoes. Even the hardened adventurers of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who camped near present-day Williston, complained in their journals about biting insects.

With raises, Kevin now earns $20 an hour and expects to take home more than $50,000 this year with overtime.  Housing, however, was as scarce as predicted. Kevin paid $10 a night to park his camper at a county park, washing up in a 5-gallon bucket. “For almost three months, a shower was a luxury,” he said.

For eight months, Kevin’s earnings carried two households. But paying rent and utilities on two places made it hard to get ahead. And the separation was difficult. Kevin had spent just 14 days with his wife and young son since July.  In February, they moved to Williston to join Kevin. Their new home is a 40-foot travel trailer in an RV park north of town. Though trailers are the standard of living for most newcomers, Kevin McLeod sometimes has difficulty accepting what he calls “modern shanty” conditions for his wife and son.  “Our goal was to find a house to rent, but our credit was bad and we didn’t have enough cash for a deposit,” Lisa said. “But this is OK; it’s fine. We’re together.”

Their travel trailer sits on a dirt pad. Lisa McLeod fights the dust with twice-daily vacuuming. She’s constantly rearranging furniture, striving to find the perfect configuration for the small living space.  The RV park is full of people making a fresh start.

Next fall, the Williston school district will reopen an elementary school and add portable classrooms to accommodate an anticipated influx of 1,200 new students.  More than 1,000 homes and apartment units are under construction. To alleviate congestion – traffic on Williston’s thoroughfare has tripled since the oil boom – a bypass is being built to route heavy trucks around the city.

Someday, Kevin and Lisa hope to return to Coeur d’Alene. Their retirement dream is to buy a neighborhood pub and enjoy the lake.  “No matter how long we live here,” Kevin said, “Coeur d’Alene will still be home.”

Be sure to follow Kevin & Lisa’s Bakken / American opportunity via a sound slide created by the Spokesman Review:  “The New American Dream”.

A clean driving record and ability to pass a drug test are prerequisites for most oil field jobs. Many positions have minimum age requirements of 18 or 21. For some jobs, applicants must be able to show that any felony convictions are at least five years in the past.

Short-term, pre-employment training can pay off. Local community colleges and private schools offer four- to six-week courses for a commercial driver’s license.  The Sage Truck Driving School in Billings, Montana offers an expedited, two week, 80 hour course based on demand.  Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana offers a CDL course each month and now makes provisions to deliver the course via the Montana State College of Technology in Billings, Montana routinely.   

Check out job opportunities before you go.  North Dakota’s Job Service website has a fairly comprehensive list of job openings, but also take a look at Synergy Station’s own job roller at www.synergystationhiringhall.com.  Our site aggregates openings throughout the oil patch from various websites and employers listing via their company websites.  At any one point in time you can search over 20,000 oil field related positions.  Many employers accept online applications and some will even do interviews by phone or Skype.  Application processing time can take up to two weeks and if a job offer is extended, pre employment evaluations can take another two weeks.  If you prematurely head to the Bakken, you could literally be living out of your car for a month before you start in the oil patch.

If you happen to be a veteran, the North Dakota Job Service has a veteran’s employment team that works exclusively with veterans and their spouses.  For more information, link to the “Veterans” tab at the North Dakota Job Service website.   

Be sure to do your due diligence on prospective employers.  Not all employers in the Bakken oil field are created equal.  If you are successful in the application process, venture to North Dakota and meet your prospective employer before accepting a job. Prepare a list of your own questions for the interview process.  Jobs are plentiful, offers vary, some provide housing, some do not – be selective!

Don’t head to the Bakken with your last thin dime in your pocket – have a cash reserve.  Some folks have chosen to go directly to North Dakota to start their job search.  If that’s your preference – it’s extremely important to have sufficient funds until a job materializes. Don’t think that because jobs are plentiful, that the companies in the patch will hire anyone that can fog a mirror.  At some of the larger companies, the hiring processes can take a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

A common question in the Bakken oil patch, “Do you have a place to live?”  Whether the question is verbal or on the actual job application, you need to think this one through.  Rapid job growth has created an acute housing shortage. Hotels and motels are booked – sometimes for months in advance. RV parks have waiting lists.  Bedrooms in homes can rent for $1,000 per month.  And, Walmart in Williston no longer believes in “free parking” or any time of overnight parking for that matter.

Some companies provide housing for their employees, or offer resources to help people find places to live. MBI Energy, which employs @ 2,000 commercial truck drivers in North Dakota’s oil patch, has four employees dedicated to finding housing.  The Williston, North Dakota has been attempting to open a homeless shelter for temporary / transitional workers but with strong competition for real estate they have been unable to secure a building.

Come to the Bakken with realistic expectations.  Don’t expect to begin anywhere but at the bottom if you have no prior experience and the ink is barely dry on your commercial driver’s license.  Newbie’s are known as “worms” or “green hats”.  The Bakken opportunity is a huge opportunity, but it will only be what you make of it.   Some of the better companies offer lower wages, but provide housing, crew meal allowances, training, and the potential for advancement.  Advancement is not a given – you have to prove yourself!

Many job openings are uncovered literally through word-of-mouth, so talking with folks already actively employed in the Bakken can bear fruit.  Demand for reliable workers is intense. The key word here is “reliable”.  Don’t expect to show up and just collect a pay check.  Show up on time and don’t leave until the job is done; which can sometimes be at the end of a 24 hour day.  A quality work ethic is a hot commodity and at the end of each and every day, all you have is your reputation.

If working long hours in the oil patch is not your cup of tea – there are multiple opportunities in the services industry.  You can literally stuff a taco at the Taco John’s in Williston, North Dakota for $18 per hour.  The most common sign of the times in the Bakken is the “Now Hiring” sign just about everywhere you look.

Set a financial goal.  Yes – the paychecks are amazing, but there are plenty of bars, casinos and strip clubs to spend your money in.  Oil field work is hard work!  Have something to show for it when you are done.  Remember why you came to the patch.  Working in the oil patch is more than a job – it’s a lifestyle.  You literally don’t have much of a life when you are out there working.  Most workers are so tired coming off a shift that all they want is a hot meal, a hot shower, and a comfy bed.  You literally get up the next day, rinse, wash, and repeat…..one day literally disappears into the next.  Stay focused.  Get the most out of your money; whether it’s getting out of debt, tiding things over until the economy improved back home, saving for college, setting aside money for a major purchase such as a house or a vehicle.  Give your paycheck a purpose.

It may seem like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but the fact is, the future is now. People are utilizing the internet more than ever, which means if you aren’t involved in the virtual world, you need to be…fast. Otherwise, your company just might be heading down the road to extinction.

However, I do understand the fear involved. The virtual world can be a scary place, and one that is requires different skills. So here are a few tips to ensure your group collaboration will be as successful online as it is in person:

1.) Make sure everyone understands what is going on before the meeting begins. This means if someone doesn’t know how to even turn their computer on, you need to be on the phone with them explaining it or have someone else in their area walk them through what to do. Don’t assume that everyone knows how to just type in a web address and follow instructions. For many people out there, they don’t even know what the term “web address” means, so they certainly aren’t going to understand any of your basic instructions for installing a web cam or unzipping a downloaded file.

2.) Have rules established to make sure everyone gets to speak.Sometimes, when you are dealing in a virtual setting, there can be a bit of a delay. Meaning one person may start answering before another has even heard the entire question. In a situation like this, having the person with the most delay being the first to answer will ensure everyone has heard the question, and everyone will have a chance to speak.

3.) Rotate meeting times. Chances are, you are all in different time zones, so you’re 7:00 a.m. meeting time might be convenient for you, but not so much for the guy getting up to meet at 4:00 in the morning. If you can find a time that works best for everyone, great, but if not, you need to make sure one person isn’t consistently stuck with the crappy time to meet.

Oh and happy Fourth of July, everyone!!
4.) Bring them to you. One way to do this is to begin each meeting asking the remote attendees what is going on in there neck of the woods. It may be sunny and gorgeous where you are, but it might be blizzarding where they are. Giving them a chance to explain what is going on there will help them feel more connected to everyone else in the meeting.

5.) Provide several different forms of communication. The meeting shouldn’t be the only way information is getting passed around. Someone should be in charge of sending all the bullet points of the meeting to each member through an email, for example. Having a variety of forms of communication will keep specific members from feeling left out if they aren’t yet comfortable with the virtual setup.

No one wants to end up in court on account of something someone overlooked, especially when that something could turn out to be illegal. No one is perfect though, and even the most innocent of owners will make a mistake now and then, so here are some guidelines to make sure whatever mistakes are made, none of them will land you in hot water with the judge.

1.) Have a No-Tolerance policy for illegal behavior. That means performing random drug tests and following all rules and regulations. Are you handling food? Get licensed. Are your workers working more than 40 hours a week? Pay them overtime. The law is the law for a reason, and you need to follow it.

2.) Have an employee handbook. However, certain rules can be a bit gray, so before you go off expecting your staff to be mind-readers, make sure they all have a copy of all the companies policies; what is or isn’t a violation, what happens should a violation take place, etc. It’s also important to have each employee sign a form acknowledging they’ve read and understood the handbook, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

3.) Pay your taxes and cooperate with government officials. If someone from the IRS stops by your place of business, don’t immediately become defensive. After all, they could just be here to clear up a few things, meaning you haven’t done anything wrong and you won’t be getting in trouble for anything. Just in case though…

4.) Keep records. Tax returns, receipts, signed forms and other paperwork is given to you for a reason; as a written record of your transactions and policies. If you need to prove your innocence, the easiest way to do that is having the paperwork backing it up.

5.) Do background checks. You need to know who you’re hiring, plain and simple. If you run a daycare, you need to be able to promise parents that their children won’t be coming into contact with any registered sexual offenders. If you run a delivery company, you’ll need to make sure your drivers have a clean driving record, which means 16 DUI’s is definitely going to be a deal-breaker. In order to trust your staff implicitly, you need to know who they are.

6.) Investigate complaints. There is no quicker way to find yourself in hot water than to have a list of complaints that you do nothing about. If you receive a complaint, whether it’s from an employee or a customer, it is absolutely essential that you look into the issue. And if it is a serious issue, like allegations of sexual harassment, you need to inform the correct authorities.

Are you in love with your business partner?  Not just for their love of numbers, the company you have created together, or their customer service skills, but their cute little nose, their manly smell or the way they make your knees go weak with a passionate kiss?

Whoa, back up.  Passionate kiss?  Can entrepreneurs do that sort of thing?

They can and they do!  Even though the U.S. Census Bureau does not provide exact data on the number of businesses own by couples, they do show that approximately 3 million businesses are owned equally by men and women, estimating that the vast majority of these are businesses owned by an “entrepreneurial couple”. It would wrong of us to assume that none of these couples are romantically involved. Out of 3 million…that sure is a lot of lovin’ in the office.

In addition, the phenomenon occurs even more regularly when applied to small businesses with less than 10 employees.  Apparently when people live together, laugh together and decide to build a life together, the imagined life of working side by side through the long hours required of business ownership is a logical next step.  And it is.  They trust each other, they enjoy being together and they are often passionate about the same things.  These couples jump into the business with all of the passion that got them into bed the first time and it is a beautiful, passionate journey; most of the time.

To ensure it is a passionate and wonderful journey all of the time, here are 5 things to consider:

1.  Take a break.  Not from the business, but from each other.  Go for a walk, go on vacation and go out with friends…alone.  You simply have to have moments apart so you have something to talk about when you come back together.  No one wants to be the boring folks ignoring each other over dinner and no one wants to be the bickering couple either.  Spending time in separate locations keeps you both interesting and able to be just a little bit nicer when you are together.

2.  Take care of the couple first.  Someday the kids will be gone, the business will be gone and you will be left staring at the person you decided to build a life with.  Don’t wake up and wonder how you ended up in bed with a stranger.  Be romantic.  Be spontaneous.  Be a flirt.  Step away from everything but each other once in a while.  You deserve it.

3. Set clear goals.  There is nothing worse than working side by side hour after hour only to realize you were both going in different directions.  Knowing where you are going, when you want to get there and who is doing which tasks is essential.  Deciding your direction now, when everyone is calm, is a better plan than waiting till you hit a fork in the road; because that fork could very well be used to stab someone in the leg.

4.  Hire help.  Someone out there likes to clean toilets and I bet it is neither of you.  Someone also knows how to fix a computer, balance the books, and run social media.  Let them.  Make a list of everything that needs to be done- and what has to be done by you – then farm out the rest.  The trick is to use the time you are not doing menial tasks to earn money to pay for the people doing those tasks or to take care of the couple as talked about in point two.

5.  Don’t be the boss.  You can kiss your entrepreneurial partner, but you probably don’t want to kiss the boss.  The boss is a Big Ol’ Stinking Slob.  They think they are always right, use volume and intimidation instead of effective communication and would rather watch others work than participate in work.  If you are acting like the boss and your partner doesn’t like it you can be fired.  That firing usually means the kids and the house are divided and happily ever after is not going to be the end of your story.  Be kind.  Be helpful.  Be a partner.  Don’t be a stinker: don’t be a boss.

Bonus Point: You need other people.  And you have to let them into this crazy project you are doing together.  Enlist the help of a coach, an accountant, a lawyer and probably a therapist (better early on than when it is too late!).  Well-meaning friends and family do not know what you are going through, and truth be told, you probably don’t either.  There are people out there who do, and people who can help you lay out a game plan that will keep you sane, prosperous and most importantly, together.  Let them.

Now go kiss your big ol bundle of entrepreneurial passion- and don’t stop till their knees go weak.  But, do it fast, you have work to do.

Three steps to take if your employees bash you online:

Think no one pays attention to your posts and tweets? Think again.

Irishman Leigh Van Bryan, a 26-year-old bar manager, was looking forward to a holiday in the States. He posted to his Twitter followers “Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America.”

In a BBC story, it was also noted that “In another tweet, Mr. Bryan made reference to comedy show Family Guy saying that he would be in LA in three weeks, annoying people ‘and diggin’ Marilyn Monroe up’.”

Friends may have taken it lightly. Homeland Security didn’t. In fact, when he landed at LAX they denied him entry into the country.

Whether you believe that Homeland Security was right or wrong in sending Mr. Bryan packing, I think we can all agree that it underscores the need to use caution in what you—or your employees—are posting on social networking sites. And before you think that it may not be an issue in the energy development industry or that it doesn’t affect your marketing efforts, I’d suggest you consider the following:

• An employee of supermarket chain Price Chopper saw a customer’s tweet which read “Every time I got into a @PriceChopperNY I realize why they are not @Wegmans. Tonight—bare produce areas.” The Price Chopper employee contacted the customer’s employer and requested that he be disciplined. The result? A blog detailing the incident went viral, causing a lot of bad press directed at Price Chopper.

• In March of 2011, @ChryslerAutos posted a tweet which read “I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to f*****g drive.” Chrysler caught it within a few hours, and it was quickly learned that the tweet came from the car company’s social media agency. The employee, who said he meant to post it on his own account, was fired … as was the agency. A week later, Aflac came under scrutiny due to its “voice” Gilbert Gottfried.

• In 2009, Domino’s faced a huge backlash when two employees not only filmed a prank (think snot on sandwiches) but posted it on Youtube, generating over a million views in faster than you can say “Would you like to super size that?”

People didn’t ignore these tweets—and they don’t ignore the host of others that are hitting the digisphere every day. The fact is, employees are posting every day in virtually every industry—including energy development. They are lashing out at customers, other employees and maybe even you. So should do you do?

1. First, be prepared. Make sure that someone is monitoring your brand online to maximize the chance that you’ll find what’s being said.

2. Second, remember that the best offense is a good defense. Educate your staff about your expectations of social media usage, discuss the use of social media tools with them, talk about your company goals and take steps to encourage them to become advocates of your brand (including doing your best NOT to give them a reason to post something negative.)

3. Third, if something does happen, address it professionally and quickly. Be upfront and honest with the audience; let them know what happened and what you’re going to do about it.

Oh–and most importantly? Don’t tweet that you’re off on holiday to destroy the U.S. Homeland Security doesn’t have a sense of humor.

We say good bye to our Bakken immigrant as he bids farewell to the oil fields and heads back home to be with his family.  Be sure to check out the series of videos he shot and shared on You Tube about coming to the Bakken in search of an economic opportunity and leaving a Las Vegas real estate community that had literally imploded.  Although only in the oil patch a short period of time, his journey from sleeping in his car, doing laundry at Bubba’s in Williston, eating junk food from convenience stores, showering at the rec center, missing home and family, and trying to figure out where to park so he could sleep for the night gave us a glimpse of Williston oil boom life.

The experience gave him an opportunity to learn new skills and meet a diverse group of folks who have headed to the oil fields in western North Dakota and eastern Montana in order to keep the home fires burning.  His videos on You Tube garnered quite a following of family, friends, and others just trying to keep their personal boats afloat during this recession.  While most of the public comments on his videos were positive, some were not.  The stress and strain on Bakken community locals, whose rural lives have been completely disrupted with this world class technology oil play were fairly confrontational and at times offensive.

We wish you well “lasvegascollapse” You Tube guy !

Lot of folks flockin’ to the Bakken for a variety of reasons. The following is a fairly grounded YouTube video from a Nevada immigrant who has learned a lot in his short time in the oil patch.

@ Mercy Medical – Williston, ND:  “This morning I completed the Worksteps physical exam at Mercy Medical Center. This should help you when preparing to come up to Williston, North Dakota.”  February 16, 2012

We continue the “lasvegascollapse” journey:  “I spent all day searching for a job and applying at a bunch of different companies. I am trying to get a job driving a water truck or some other kind of truck but not at the expense of getting less money. I just want the job that will pay me the most. If I’m gonna be way up here then I want to make the most of it.”  January 30, 2012

Day 3 of Pounding the Payment:  “I’ve been searching for a job in the biggest boom town in the U.S for the last 3 days and have yet to be hired. Keeping my head up.”  February 1, 2012

You only get one chance to make a good first impression – so take a shower ! 

As of 2/2/2012 the contact information for this place is:

Raymond Family Community Center of Williston
1002 11th Street West
Williston, ND 58801
(701) 577-5141

Finally:  ”I’ve been up here in Williston, ND searching for a job for 5 days while sleeping in my car in the Walmart parking lot. I have submitted about 25 applications and finally got a job offer yesterday.”  February 5, 2012

Walmart Farewell:  “After submitting a couple application around town this morning I returned to the Williston Walmart to find notices on all of the cars and trailers notifying the owners that the vehicles had to be moved within 24hrs or they would be towed. I didn’t get a notice obviously since my car wasn’t there so I had to look at someone elses. I’m happy that I was able to experience the parking lot in all of it’s glory. Not sure what the city is going to do now to keep people from leaving the parking lot and splintering out all over the city. We shall see.” February 6, 2012

An Offer in Hand:  After receiving an offer at an oil company on Monday I decided to head back to Las Vegas for some fun with the family. They are doing the background check and all of the administrative things they need to do. Once they call and say everything checked out ok then I will head back north.  February 6, 2012

As I drive through the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota, this catchy little tune often plays in the back of my mind.  You meet a lot of folks who have lost everything somewhere else in this economy. Life is literally dealt them lemons and they’ve chosen to make lemonade.  They are there to capture or recapture their American Dream.

I stumbled upon a series of YouTube videos by “lasvegascollapse” and have been following his frequent updates on his experiences working in the patch.  This young man was a successful realtor in Las Vegas for about 10 years.  I don’t have to go into any detail to paint a picture of “here today, gone tomorrow” on what has happened in Vegas.  Well, this young man left what happened in Vegas, has started an amazing journey, and has chosen to share his experiences with other.  He’s honest, realistic, mature, and grounded in why he’s in the Bakken.

The Decision:  “After some consideration I am heading north to the oil fields in North Dakota seeking employment. I am going up there completely blind with no job and no place to stay. Being that I have been self employed for so long it will be interesting having to work for someone else.I will keep you all posted as to what I find and how the job opportunities look. Thanks for watching and supporting me.”  January 26, 2012

Enroute: “Woke up this morning and drove into Salt Lake to get some basic Semi-Truck driving driving instruction. When I took my Commercial Driving test I drove an automatic transmission. I can all but guarantee that once I get to the oil fields I will be driving a manual so I figured I better figure it out prior to getting there. That process only took about an hour. I ran errands and visited with my father in law and then headed north. It didn’t take long before my windshield wiper fluid froze up and I couldn’t use the wiper mister, should’ve used the cold weather wiper fluid, but too late now.”

You are Here X :  “Made it up to Williston, ND oil field!” January 29, 2012

It seems like a cheesy topic, I know, but the fact is many people today still struggle with feeling confident with their actions. Your personal opinion of yourself holds an incredible amount of weight. After all, if perception is reality, low self-confidence is equivalent to shooting yourself in the foot.

So instead of continuously rooting against yourself, apply a few of these tips and see what it would be like to feel unstoppable.

1.) Dress the part. Of course no one should judge a book by its cover, and clothes certainly do not make the man, but there is a definite shift that happens when you see yourself for the first time in a striking suit or gorgeous dress. The feeling of “Wow, I look really good” creates a sense of surprise in the mind, allowing room to think to yourself, “I wonder what else I’ve been holding back.” 

Plus, your reactions to how people treat you are a huge part of your identity. Changing your clothes changes these reactions. If you want to command respect, you first have to dress like you deserve it.

2.) Work out. Contrary to your probable initial snap judgement, this has nothing to do with looks (although it certainly doesn’t hurt). Pushing yourself physically is the easiest way to retrain your brain to combat negative self-talk. You’ve run 3 miles and think you can’t take another step? Take another step. There, you’ve already proven that you can do more than you think.

Furthermore, naturally puts you in a better mood. Did you know the feeling of finishing a difficult workout is often listed as better than the feeling provided by anti-depressants? It’s true. So get off the couch and go for a walk, that little boost in your mood will do wonders for your self-confidence.

3.) Do something for you. Since we just discussed a few benefits of exercise, I’ll list one more; it’s good for you. Doing things for you, like engaging in regular exercise, eating healthy or taking a bubble bath once in a while show that you value yourself enough to take care of yourself.

4.) Take risks. One definition of low self-confidence is always believing you’ll fail at everything you attempt, which can obviously make it pretty difficult to step out on a limb once in a while. However, this is exactly why it is critical to take risks; because you aren’t going to fail every time. Is there a position at your company you’ve been eyeing but are afraid you’d never get? Apply anyway! Who knows, you might just get the job, and it’s little moments like this that prove that no, in fact, you won’t always fail.

5.) Understand reality. Low self-confidence has a way of warping reality. If you aren’t getting along with one person, you may exaggerate it to feel that no one likes you. In addition, the idea that people are laughing at you or that someone else is able to do the job better than you are both examples of a warped reality.

Instead of letting yourself get carried away, stop, breathe and think. Are people really laughing at you? No! The reality is that they’ve got their own problems to deal with. There is no point in terrifying yourself over something that, realistically, won’t even happen!

Do You Want a Job ?

Let’s see – over 18,000 unfilled oil field positions available in western North Dakota and eastern Montana.  High oil field wages have drained the service sector employee base from local employers.  As far away as Billings, Montana skilled labor is “flockin to the Bakken” for the big money. The local Taco John’s in Williston, North Dakota routinely hands out job applications with your meal; willing to pay $18/hour to stuff a taco.  YouTube videos talk about just showing up at the local pub and walking away with multiple offers within hours. So why bother to dress up your resume or to put some effort into the formal job application?  After all – it sounds like anyone who can fog a mirror will get hired !

While that may appear to be true, getting hired by a reputable employer:

•  one that’s not going to use and abuse you
•  one with a solid safety track record in a hazardous industry or
•  one with a history of employee career promotion and progression
•  one that provides benefits
•  one that provides housing
•  one that provides skilled training

does grow on trees, in the Bakken or any where else in America.  So, if you want to get the best offer from the best companies; you need to stand out on paper. Ways to do that:

1. Action Words:

Use action verbs and adjectives to show the kind of person you are, the skills you possess, and your demonstration of those skills.

2. Format:

• 1 page, unless extensive education and/or experience (10+ years) warrants more
• Bullets with short sentences help reader scan quickly without missing the important points
• Font should be a standard easy-to-read font (serif or sans serif) and no smaller than 10 point
• Underline and bold face add emphasis to credentials

3. Scannable: 

Chances are good that your resume will be searched using scan technology. The computer is looking for a match of keywords related to the position. Be as specific as possible in job, skill, and accomplishment descriptions. *Another reason tailored resumes are better than generic.*

4. Personal Impact:

• Show both completion of tasks and contribution of work. Use dollar totals, numbers, and percentages to stand out.  IE:

General: Operations manager for oil and gas firm
Better: Managed 100 field personnel for projects grossing $15MM annually

• Use PAR: Problem-Action-Results

General: Responsible for implementing and maintaining organization of warehouse
Better: Transformed disorganized, inefficient warehouse into a smooth-running operation by completely redesigning the layout, saving the company $250,000 in recovered inventory

5. References: 

Have at least 3 professional references listed separately to be provided if/when requested. Employers assume that “references are available upon request,” and this phrase may be omitted from your resume.

Be sure to follow Jennifer via her company’s Synergy Station Directory Listing, the company website; and view the various open positions that The Executive Group is actively recruiting for via the Synergy Station Hiring Hall

]]> http://synergystation.com/community/geographical/montana/stand-out-on-paper-or-stand-in-line-in-the-bakken/feed/ 0 http://synergystation.com/economy/jobs/the-non-verbal-interview-what-it-is-telling-others/ http://synergystation.com/economy/jobs/the-non-verbal-interview-what-it-is-telling-others/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:44:53 +0000 Jennifer Decker http://synergystation.com/?p=2859 What Is Your Body Language Saying About You?

You have spent significant time preparing an impactful resume and you have gotten an interview! You dress appropriately for the interview and arrive 7-10 minutes beforehand. Thanks to your preparation, you have great answers to the commonly-asked interview questions. But you don’t get the job. What happened? Perhaps you forgot about the other 90% of the interview.

If it is true that 90% of communication is non-verbal, it makes sense that it is worth an applicant’s attention in preparing for an interview. Here are some tips on basic body language to be aware of while interviewing.

Handshake – Accept the interviewer’s greeting by standing, smiling, and shaking hands. Offer a firm handshake that displays confidence but is not overly enthusiastic. Your handshake will go a long way toward your first impression.

Posture – Sit upright and lean forward slightly. This conveys an attitude of interest and indicates that you are comfortable and confident. Tilt your head slightly to one side to show that you are paying attention. Keep your feet flat on the floor or cross your legs at your ankles. This shows that you are comfortable without being too relaxed or disinterested.

Hand Position – Rest your hands loosely on your lap or on the table. Take care not to fidget, wring your hands, or twiddle your thumbs, or cross your arms as it makes you look nervous, distracted, and distant. Avoid touching your mouth or covering any part of your face since this can be perceived as dishonesty.

Eye Contact – Maintain steady eye contact with the interviewer. Be sure to blink regularly so that you do not appear aggressive. Refrain from looking at the floor, staring blankly, or letting your eyes wander. Pay close attention the interviewer’s questions and nod occasionally. Not only will this help you appear interested, but it will ensure you hear and understand the questions being asked.

Delivery – Speak in a clearly, varying your tone and pitch; do not speak in a monotone voice. If there are multiple interviewers, speak directly to the person who asked the question. Glance briefly at each person, but return to the questioner before ending your response. Pause before answering each question to give yourself time to think as well as to ensure the interviewer has finished the question.

Last Impression – End the interview on the same note as you started, with a firm handshake and a smile.

It is always a good rule of thumb to take your cues from the interviewer, so when in doubt mimic what he or she does. This will make the interviewer feel at ease and will show an attitude of agreement on your part.

Be sure to follow Jennifer at The Executive Group via their Synergy Station Directory listing and view job opportunities represented by The Executive Group in The Synergy Station Hiring Hall.

Here are few items that employers are NOT allow to ask a potential candidate.

1.  How old are you?

2.  Are you pregnant?

3.  Do you take drugs, smoke or drink?

4.  Are you a US citizen?

5.  Do you have any disabilities?

6.  Are you married?

7.  What religion do you practice?

8.  What is your race?

These questions, to many of us, are common sense, but people forget.  Not only are these questions poorly chosen, but they are illegal under federal, state and many local laws.  These types of questions can be used to discriminate against applicants and as a potential candidate it is in your right not to answer them.

Be sure to follow Jennifer at The Executive Group via their Synergy Station Directory listing and view job opportunities represented by The Executive Group in The Synergy Station Hiring Hall.

In the recruiting business we hear about all sorts of things that happen throughout the course of an interview. Candidates, for the most part, are conscientious and exhibit personality traits that would seem normal, however, there are the few that exercise no common sense. Here are 10 things that have heard over the years that are absolute NO-NO’s.

1. Never arrive late, always be on time even if it means that you have to sit in the parking lot until its time to go in.
2. Never bring or use a cell phone or PDA during an interview. You must be focused on the interview and by bringing devices that cause distraction, you only jeopardize your position as a candidate. Nothing is so important that it can not wait until later.
3. Never bring your pets. Sounds like common sense, but we have heard of a woman that brought her parrot to an interview; the hiring manager had to find a place to put it and its squawking caused a major ruckus around the office. Work is NO place for an animal unless its there for legitimate assistance.
4. Never wear jeans, shorts, cutoffs, tank tops, halter tops, flip-flops etc. An interviewee needs to look and dress like a professional. This is a first impression, regardless of what the position is, you must dress nicely and in a manner that shows you are competent.
5. Never show up to an interview without assessing your personal hygiene. Make sure hair is in place, deodorant has been used and teeth have been brushed. Another thing to consider is the over use of cologne or perfume; although it smells good to you, it may be offensive to others.
6. Never use profanity.
7. Never bring a friend or spouse to an interview. If you need a ride, that’s OK, but have them wait in the parking lot or coffee shop until you are finished.
8. Never fail to call your recruiter after the interview. If a recruiter was involved in putting you in front of a prospective employer, make sure that you follow up with them to let them know how things went. Many times the recruiter has valuable information that can be shared to give you insights to your chances.
9. Never talk more than you listen. Listening is the key element to communication. If you are a talker by nature, let the interviewer talk; do not cut them off or talk over them. Not only is this disturbing, but it will ruin your chances almost immediately.
10. Never go into an interview without prior knowledge of the company. You should always have an idea of what the company does and some history of them. Being knowledgeable, not only about the position, but also the company, shows that you are interested in them and you have done your homework.

Be sure to follow Jennifer at The Exeutive Group via their Synergy Station Directory listing and view job opportunities represented by The Executive Group in The Synergy Station Hiring Hall.

When I was that companion I would just sit quietly, afraid if I spoke she’d notice my outfit, or I’d smile meekly, in apology, at the person she had just ‘corrected.’  I also silently vowed to never do that.  I am wired for appreciation, complimenting and building people.  If they want to wear the wrong hair style, who am I to say differently?

Well, I’ll tell you,  I’ve reached the age where I have to catch my tongue. Without intent, I am a little bit Grandma Mabel and fear I could be even more so given enough time.  I often think to myself “If I don’t tell them, who will?”   Some of this is the result of being a coach, being the person people turn to for honesty and growth, some of it is impatience.  If you whine that you want a job but no-one is hiring you, I can coach you through it, or I can just tell you.  I hope you will indulge me today; no coaching.  I am about to just tell you exactly what Grandma Mabel would say if she were here.  It is for your own good.

1. You look like you just rolled out of bed.  There is no order to your clothing, your hair is a mess and the lack of respect you show yourself is what I am afraid you will show my customers.  Clean up, and then ask me for a job. 

2. You need a breath mint.  You obviously need a breath mint before every encounter.  I don’t know if its coffee, hygiene, or health, I just know I don’t want to ride in a car or elevator with you.

3.  Okay toxic cloud.  You are trying to cover up your smoking with perfume, cologne, body spray or something else and the combination seems deadly.  I always tell children “don’t do it if you aren’t going to be proud of it.”  If you smoke, smell like it.  You must be proud that you smoke, so don’t try to hide it. If you are not proud, stop.  (However, a good dose of fabric freshener does go a long ways in improving residual aromas.)

4.  When it is time for your interview if you text me  ‘run n L8. B thr soon. LOL.’  I will reply thusly:  Because you show an inability to manage your time and appear to have no grammatical skills, you may stop running.  The job, sadly, will not be yours.  BOL.

5. When you are laid off, please be honest with me about the reason.  It is also a good idea to have a bit of a spin.  Recently a friend’s position was eliminated.  I had seen the red flag weeks before; the job he was hired to do, fill apartments, was done quite well, they were almost full.  When they were filled, wala, no more job.  I suggest his commercial be “I was able to help xxxx reach capacity in six months, at which time the position was eliminated.”  No, he did not anticipate his job would be cut and probably other factors played into it the decision, but if , as a prospective employer, I hear that he helped them reach a goal, and I can  see that he is positive about the experience, I am more likely to hire him for my company.

6.  Shhh!  If I cannot hear myself think because you are going on and on about how great you are, the weather, your dog, and the big game, I will not be thinking “now this is a catch!”  Answer my questions in full sentences.  Perhaps ask me a question in return, of course listening to the answer. Do not ramble.  Do not shout, pontificate, boast or mumble.  Let’s just talk.  If I hire you we will do a lot of communicating and I want to know that what you say is worth hearing.   

I now know that sometimes we elders talk to you like this for your own good.  As a matter of fact, I could go on and on with these simple truths, but being serially blunt has used up on my daily quota of old lady nerves.  Just know that when you are looking for a job you need to listen to the Grandma Mabels of the world as well as the coach Karens.  You do not have to listen to the people who say “I always knew you were a deadbeat.”  That is not helpful.  You know the difference between negativity and constructive counsel.  Listen to one, ignore the other. I am confident you can and will be a great employee; you just have to act like it before you ask for the job.

So, you want a job…What are you going to do about it now?

Be sure to connect and follow Karen Grosz via her Synergy Station Directory Listing. 

There’s one way to know for sure…

Subpart B – Qualification and disqualification of drivers:

§ 391.11General qualifications of drivers.

(a) A person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he/she is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Except as provided in §391.63, a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless that person is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.

(b) Except as provided in subpart G of this part, a person is qualified to drive a motor vehicle if he/she—(1) Is at least 21 years old;(2) Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records;(3) Can, by reason of experience, training, or both, safely operate the type of commercial motor vehicle he/she drives;(4) Is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with subpart E—Physical Qualifications and Examinations of this part;(5) Has a currently valid commercial motor vehicle operator’s license issued only by one State or jurisdiction;(6) Has prepared and furnished the motor carrier that employs him/her with the list of violations or the certificate as required by §391.27;(7) Is not disqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle under the rules in §391.15; and(8) Has successfully completed a driver’s road test and has been issued a certificate of driver’s road test in accordance with §391.31, or has presented an operator’s license or a certificate of road test which the motor carrier that employs him/her has accepted as equivalent to a road test in accordance with §391.33.

The above is directly from the FMCSA site . All of the FMCSR regulations are accessible on this site and are fairly easy to search. If you have any questions, this site has the answers.

I know, I know! Who wants to follow regulations? Well y’all should want to; not only does it equate to safety, it promotes a culture of safety. Ultimately a culture of safety improves profitability. And, I don’t think most of us having anything against making money!

© JJ Arnett

]]> http://synergystation.com/economy/jobs/carriers-are-your-drivers-qualified-2/feed/ 0 http://synergystation.com/community/housing/largest-growing-population-of-homeless-making-100k/ http://synergystation.com/community/housing/largest-growing-population-of-homeless-making-100k/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 01:24:36 +0000 Laura McRae http://synergystation.com/?p=919 New advances in precision horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing in the Williston Basin of North Dakota (2005) has allowed the Bakken formation to become a world class technology oil play with nearly 100 percent of all new wells being productive.  At present, North Dakota ranks fourth in the nation of oil producing states, but with the vast expanse of the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations and continually developing game changing  technology, North Dakota is expected to surpass California and Alaska to become the second highest oil producing state; second only to Texas.

Regardless of which industry expert you follow or which estimate you believe, being able to pump somewhere between four and 24 billion barrels of oil out of the Bakken (located in western North Dakota, eastern Montana, and Canada (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) translates to a lot of economic opportunity.  The four billion barrel estimate is up 25 times the 1995 projections according to an updated US Geological Survey.

If drilling continues as projected, the Bakken play will house more than 45,000 producing oil wells within the next two decades.  The life expectancy of a Bakken well is 30 years or more.   Each producing well will support one long term, direct job; however it can take up to 100 workers to drill and prepare a well for production.  This dramatic demand for oil field workers has placed a significant strain on the infrastructure (roads, water and sewage systems) in western North Dakota.  From the Bear Paw “man camp” near Williston, North Dakota, over 36,000 gallons of sewage is hauled daily to Minot, 126 miles away.  This band-aid solution will continue until another treatment facility is completed.

Williston’s population has grown from less than 10,000 (2000 census) to over 20,000 in the past five years.  Watford City has grown from @ 1,500 to over 5,000 within the past two years.  Demand for housing exceeds temporary man camps and hotel accommodations; leaving some to sleep in their personal vehicles, in basements, in campers and in backyards.  In some areas, the cost of housing and rental prices have more than doubled as demand exceeds supply.  Williston estimates that they will need to build 1,500 housing units per year, just to stay five years behind.

The standing joke in “the patch”  is that it’s the single largest growing population of homeless in America that are earning more than $100,000 per year.  While that initially gets a chuckle; with harsh North Dakota winter weather conditions on the way, it becomes no laughing matter.