In 1974 I was 25 years old and went up to Alaska when I learned that the Pipeline was about to hire thousands of workers. I ended up working 7-12s with 2 weeks off every 9 for 10 years. You might want to consider how fortunate you are to have your job and put some bank away while you are young. Play your cards right and you could have a social life of fishing Bass every day of your life when you are older.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am not saying the oil and gas field is bad by any means. No where else I can work at age 25 without a degree and make over 100k+ a yr like I'm on path for. I am looking into some more normal jobs in the field but its all a waiting game for a opening. But I do feel for me that money is no substitute for a good relationship quality of life with those that you love. I know within another 2 years I will have kids on the way and I can't bring myself to miss out on their life. My relationship with my dad has been and will always be the greatest thing of my life. We talk every day 2-3 times a day. He is on the forum and I grew up fishing with him. He didn't have a job that paid the best but he made enough to provide right for me and be there to make me into someone I am proud to be!!!! I pray to God everyday that the right thing will come along for my life. Until then I will go to work everyday and work as hard as I can for my company because that's the type of person I am! I am saving plenty tho for when the change comes along. Thanks again to everyone keep it coming. If anyone hears of anything keep me in mind.

God bless and tight lines,
Jeff

With your experience,apply at Haliburton in Carrolton or Alverado.They have warehouse jobs that sound exactly like you want.

I hate to sound like an a$$ but this is what is wrong with this country today. I mean really.... I'm 24 years old and want a high paying job but I don't want it to interfere with my social life????

Get on welfare, then you can socialise all you want! Sorry JMHO.

I think you have missed his point. It is young men like this that make our country great. He wants to be home with his family and make a good living. Thats the American dream and I commend him for leverging all his resources to get it his info out there.

I have worked in the O&G industry for many years and believe me I understand his point. Who doesn't want a good paying job and be home everynight?? But that isn't reality in this day and age. And I'm not faulting him for using all available resources to find other employment. It is his statement of missing out on a social life that gets me. I see this everyday on the rigs.

I retired from Schlumberger after 29 years, started out on the bottom rung of ladder,busted my rear ( 24 hr call ) 4 weeks on 4 days off for first 4 years. Was married and don't know how my wife put up with it, Saw a lot of divorces in my 29 years. Worked my way up the ladder, worked over seas in many countries, and many states. It is a tough life not cut out for every body. You might consider working over seas, just pick the countries that are pro american and you can take a wife and kids with you.( Dubai,Oman,Indonesia, etc.My son thought about getting into the patch when he was in his early twenties and I threatened to choot him. Good luck on your on your choice.

The social life I say I want is to be home to have dinner with my future wife, to be home when I have kids so I can see their first steps and raise them with good Christian morals. I want to be my kids sports coach. I want to pick them up from school. I want to attend my church weekly and partake in a family more than 6 days a month is all I'm saying. A social life to me is not going out and drinking. A social life to me is being there as much as I can be for those who need me. Forgive me tcm68 for making it sound like I want to party. I am not a wild 25 yr old. I got my wild days behind me when I went to SFA the one year I attended college. I merely was using a source for searching within a community where everyone has a common interest. I use to be heavily involved in a jeep community and made many great friends from it and learned a lot and life went many good ways due to it. I know here on TFF great people are around too and I have met some very stand up people on here. Therefore I felt that using this as a helpful tool could bring about the right career path for me

This is not the time to bail unless you already have another job. The economy is going to be in the crapper for awhile, until the ship gets righted. That said, I could say someone always has it worse, but at your age you are not going to believe it. Let me leave you with this thought in mind. I live in Houston, have beeen working on the road for almost 2 years, with the last year and a half in Florida. If I didn't have my wife and 3 dogs with me, I would have bailed a while ago. If it wasn't for the money, I would be home and have been able to spend more than 3 days at my place on Rayburn in the past 2 years.

Couple of things to point out:

1.) Does your future wife work? Could you support her and kids on what you make now alone?

I only ask because I too work long hours and I am not at home as much as I would like. However, I have put my family in a position where my wife does not have to work, so she gets to stay at home with our kids. This is very important to us, (and I understand everyone is different), as we know our kids aren't being raised by a daycare. It is just something to consider. Her being able to stay home is a blessing.

2.) My wife was an Army brat! My father in law (whose is still in the Army) has been deployed all over the world, and routinely makes trips over seas (even now to this day.) I say that to make two points; First, whenever you go to work, always remember that somewhere in America, some little girl's daddy is in harm's way doing our country's duty. Secondly, the relationship between my wife and her father is outstanding, even though he was gone a lot.

The point is you can still have that relationship with your kids so long as you make it a priority in your life. You can't let work consume your life, even if it consumes a lot of your time.

And always, always look to the Lord.

JBell,
I apologize for my post this morning. I should not have made those statements as I do not know you. I am on a rig now and am just frustrated with a few useless hands on the rig that didn't get spanked enough as children, and refuse to take on any responsibility for their jobs they are lucky enough to have. I saw your post and it just set me off. This really had nothing to do with you and I hope the best for you and your future wife.

Look into a process operator great pay and benefits plus you only work 6 months. Retire at 55 with a great 401k and pension. Check out the larger refinery and chemical companies.

Like Andy said operator at a plant or service tech in your area would more match what you are looking for local. Not real busy around DFW like some other areas but I'm sure there are still openings.

That is where I started out in the oilfield is a operator on natural gas compressors. Ive been working on gas compressors for 7 years, and I have to say I like it. You may want to check with Exterran.com They are always having openings all over texas. Hope you find something you are looking for, I know how u feel not having a social life, It will sure get you down. Good luck.