Has anyone been to Fort St. John?

[FlamesAddiction]

So I sent my resume to an unnamed company for jobs in Victoria and Burnaby. Someone from the company called me and practically offered me a similar job in Fort St. John (pending an in-person interview of course) - apparently a coleague sent him my resume. They said that they love my resume and he really wants me to consider it.

Although I knew they were looking for people in Fort St. John, I purposely did not send in a resume for that particular job because I didn't want to move up north. I was looking for work in Southern BC or Alberta.

I'm a little torn on what I should do. The job in Fort St. John would be for more money that I am making in my current job. It would also be what I would consider the start of career, and not just a "job". As well, it is directly in my field, unlike my current job. It's what I had in mind when I first chose to go to university.

I guess the only down side is that I don't know if I want to live way up there. After doing some research though, I was surprised at how much it is booming there right now. The town actually has more than 17,000 people, which was quite a surprise to me. I pictured it as a forest outpost...

Man... I don't know if I should risk waiting for an opportunity elsewhere, that may never happen, or if I should just chance it. It can't be that bad up there, can it?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Look for a house/apartment before you accept the job. Rent can be ridiculously high up there. You might not be any further ahead despite the higher salary.

Also, kiss your windshield goodbye. The way rocks fly around up there, your windshield is going to be chewed up in no time.

[shoestring]

But you pretty well convinced me.
"Do what you love the money will follow."

"It would also be what I would consider the start of career, and not just a "job". As well, it is directly in my field, unlike my current job. It's what I had in mind when I first chose to go to university"

Maybe you will love it up there,if nothing it will give you an experience that others might not think valuable,but might be.
Bargain a bit and tell them you will not under any circumstances move to a place if the WATER doesn't taste good.Get them to FLY you up there for a couple days on there dollar.
Tell them you are weighing different offers.
Ugh, what do you do?

[CalgaryDesi]

My buddy lives there during the 4 month school break every year, and doesn't seem to mind it.

That's all I can offer

[BlackArcher101]

It will be filled with quite a few rig workers. Usually when we send some workers up that way, they end up sleeping in the vehicles since there is no vacancy. Triple check the cost of living and vacancy rates before you make a final decision. But before saying yes, I'd say a quick trip is in order to see it, especially if it's going to be a career.

[metallicat]

I was there many, many years ago. We went there as a family because it is where my mom had grown up. Nice little town from what I remember, and I'm sure it's grown a lot since then. Take a trip up there to check it out just to see for yourself.

[ken0042]

I spent a day there once. You are 2 hours from Grande Prairie, so at least 7 hours from a major city. Keep in mind that unlike small cities like Medicine Hat or Red Deer (which are each several times bigger) you are truely isolated. Myself, I couldn't bear to be in such a small town; which is why I left Grande Prairie as quick as I could.

If it is what you need to start your career, then it might be worth a couple of years to get it onto your resume.

[Nufy]

Buy a big truck......

Anything smaller than a F250 or similar and you are considered a wuss......

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

My brother lives up there. He loves it. But he also considers a gun rack to be a standard feature on a truck.

I've only been up in summer. And it's actually really nice. Surprisingly good golfing.

As others have said though, watch your expenses. 90% of the town is on an oil company expense account it seems, so the laws of supply and demand are a little warped.

[edn88]

I was born and raised in Northern BC, so

Benefits
- Summer is brilliant up there - sun comes up really early and goes down really late
- Starting out in the field can be a huge career advantage later on when you come back to head office and actually know something about the operations first hand
- if you are an outdoors person, there is a lot to do (fishing, hunting)
- lots of sports as well - softball tourneys run regularly (and is a great place to actually meet women up there)
- Northern living allowance - often times companies pay for a northern living allowance - to help offset cost of living

Drawbacks
- Winter sucks unless you play hockey or ski (and if you play hockey, be prepared for a more physical level of hockey)
- Culture - none really
- Edmonton is the closest big city (and a large number of Norther BC folks flock to Edmonton on weekends)
- The Oilers (and Canucks) are the hockey team of choice up there.
- 7% PST
- Liberal Government

Miscelaneous (you decide if it is a pro or con)
- Single women up there are either young and hot or old and not (but the married women are sometimes promiscuous)
- You definitely need a truck (not just for show - lifestyle)
- Northern BC is more like Northern AB than the rest of BC (in fact if they could they would join AB in a heartbeat)
- golfing is good up there, but really short season.
- drinking is a prerequisite
- learn proper use of colorful metafores (especially gratuitous use of the f word)

Summary - If you are a young guy and the job seems right, give it a go - it is not as bad place and if you have not lived in a small town, it is a great learning experience. If you like your martinis, art galleries and Friday at the theatre, this is probably not the move for you.

[Looger]

the single girls are blow-hoes

[Vulcan]

I got drunk there one night or was it Dawson Creek.

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

Can you live in an isolated community? Edmonton is the closest major city and that's a six hour drive.

Yes the summers are spectacular. At this time of year, the sun sets around 11 pm. But in the mid of winter, it starts to get dark just after 3 pm.

If it's a career start you want, maybe you can make a few sacrifices for a couple of years to get a start.

[FlamesAddiction]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I am leaning toward taking the position. I will however, go up there first to look around and stuff just to make sure.

I did grow up in a semi-isolated areas in Northern Ontario about the same size as FSJ. The nearest city was Winnipeg (2 hour drive) or Thunder Bay (6 hour drive). I think I can probably handle it for a couple of years anyway. The company says they honour relocation requests when possible... so there might be an out if I really don't like it after giving it a shot I guess.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of apartments for rent advertised on the net though. That could be a challenge.

[CalgaryDesi]

There are flights to YEG (Edmonton International Airport) from Grand Prairie / Ft. St. John if you want to save time

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I did grow up in a semi-isolated areas in Northern Ontario about the same size as FSJ. The nearest city was Winnipeg (2 hour drive) or Thunder Bay (6 hour drive).

Sounds like Kenora. If so, then keep in mind what I said about how it was on the Trans Canada Highway. Although you are 2 hours from Winnipeg, everything heading to Winnipeg is going through Kenora.

I've lived in both Dryden Ont, and Grande Prairie, and although GP is about 7 times the size of Dryden, I also felt more isolated. Once again it depends on what you are used to. One of the reasons I moved from Winnipeg to Calgary was to come to a bigger city.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Sounds like Kenora. If so, then keep in mind what I said about how it was on the Trans Canada Highway. Although you are 2 hours from Winnipeg, everything heading to Winnipeg is going through Kenora.

I've lived in both Dryden Ont, and Grande Prairie, and although GP is about 7 times the size of Dryden, I also felt more isolated. Once again it depends on what you are used to. One of the reasons I moved from Winnipeg to Calgary was to come to a bigger city.

You guessed correct!

I suppose it wasn't that isolated seeing as how anyone travelling across Canada has to go through there... unlike FSJ.

[Deelow]

I live in GP, have for almost 2 years. I thought long and hard about moving up here. I had lived in Northern Alberta before and didn't enjoy it all that much. This experience has been good though. I can't speak for FSJ but I find Grande Prairie has pretty much all the ammenties that a guy needs.

You do feel pretty isolated at times, especially during winter....I never thought it was possible to look forward to those trips to Edmonton as much as I do.

Cost of living is virtually the same as it is in Calgary, it's damn near impossible to find a place to live and sometimes the people here really get on my nerves (21 year old kids raking in 100g's a year buying dually diesels, lift kits, quads, snow mobiles and anythign else frivilous that you can think of)...and then there's me in my Honda

I don't think this area would ever be a permanent home for me but if you've got a good work opportunity it's probably worth giving it a try, you won't be roughing it or anything.