How's biz? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

chemgear · 11-15-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

I heard EOG laid off 40-50 people last week. They are pretty much exiting alberta's conventional gas biz so it makes sense.

I can't see how any oil producers aren't going gangbusters right now. Its hard not to make numbers go around for any oil project these days.

Not bull on gas anymore?

Yeah, I also heard Altagas laid a bunch off as well. I imagine it's a function of the gas price and the outlook for the next few years that's causing some of that. Given the choice, oil plays are definitely looking better than gas.

REDVAN · 11-15-2010, 05:48 PM

I'm a Geoph IT looking for work- but only a years worth experience, and I've run out of contacts to help me out...

But I've heard good things, so I am optimistic.

Muta · 11-15-2010, 06:30 PM

My industry (the design industry) is definitely looking up. Much, much better than last year, and although our firm is smaller than what it used to be, I'm completely packed with work right now. Haven't work less than 45 hours a week since January. Tons of RFP's coming out, which is beautiful news for me (since I'm the one that deals with them).

Reaper · 11-15-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

My industry (the design industry) is definitely looking up. Much, much better than last year, and although our firm is smaller than what it used to be, I'm completely packed with work right now. Haven't work less than 45 hours a week since January. Tons of RFP's coming out, which is beautiful news for me (since I'm the one that deals with them).

Design industry? Care to be more specific? Designing as a concept really only relates to a parent industry (i.e graphic design - marketing and advertising, piping design - oil and gas industry, etc.).

bc-chris · 11-15-2010, 08:39 PM

business is great (i'm self employed - own my own contract embroidery company)

i had my best year ever in 2008 and then 'the recession' hit.

i wasn't sure what 2009 would be like... well, i hired another employee to help with the work load and i purchased more equipment. '09 sales were almost the same as 2008 (my best year ever...i've been doing this since 1999).

i found that earlier this year it felt 'slower', however my sales were pretty much on par with 2009. it's absolutely insane right now and will continue that way until the end of the year - so hopefully i will surpass my sales of 08 & 09.

i'm in bc - i'm not sure if that makes much of a difference as it seemed like the entire country took a hit the last couple years.

Top Shelf · 11-15-2010, 08:43 PM

Seems to be a fair number if places looking for IT people. Shaw in particular is looking for a ton of IT people. Anyone here work for or know people that have worked at Shaw recently?

chemgear · 11-15-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

I didn't say that fatahead.

Easy there, neighbor. Just teasing ya.

You're right about oil, even with futures down about a little on Friday it bounced back fairly quickly. I think they twitched a little on speculation about China thinking about raising interest rates. I believe most forecasts have it holding fairly steady for the next while.

ah123 · 11-15-2010, 10:08 PM

I work in IT at an "energy infrastructure" company and we just had a round of layoffs in IT. Other areas within the company apparently are also looking to reduce costs. We've been told that this is due to some unique circumstances in the market place...

Caged Great · 11-15-2010, 10:13 PM

I'm an Interior designer and I've been swamped for months, since January. It got a little slow in August/September, but picked up again.

ah123 · 11-15-2010, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Seems to be a fair number if places looking for IT people. Shaw in particular is looking for a ton of IT people. Anyone here work for or know people that have worked at Shaw recently?

Shaw seems to have a lot of interesting work. I have asked some people who have worked there (in IT) and the opinions are very varied; some people absolutely love it, others describe it as very top-down

Travis Munroe · 11-15-2010, 10:20 PM

I have seen only 5-10% increase however worked 50% harder....

DrJ · 11-15-2010, 11:18 PM

Debt for the win. Thankfully my stocks are pulling through to offset my line of credit...

Regular_John · 11-16-2010, 08:10 AM

I found fulltime work again in July here after having worked sporadically since November 2008, although I didn't make much attempts to find fulltime work in 2009. Freelanced mostly and started really pushing again for fulltime work in 2010.

llama64 · 11-16-2010, 08:23 AM

I freelance software development (mostly web) and business has been picking up recently (2 of my best months ever since September). It got pretty slow for a few months earlier this year, but I wasn't pushing hard for work either.

Everything seems to be "normal" in Calgary again. Busy enough to employ most of the capable people. The nice part about this is that restaurant service has improved dramatically since 2008.

GreatWhiteEbola · 11-16-2010, 08:49 AM

The industry that I work in, Wireless Communications, I have changed my focus vertical. I once was focusing on O&G, mostly service companies. Now, I am focusing on realty operations and public safety. The margins are far greater.

In 2008, I did over $200,000 in business with a particular well servicing company. In 2009, I did $25,000 with the same company. Definately, a change in dollars being spent. I have not called on them much in 2010.

Myself and the company I consult for, are having to turn down business, for the lack of bodies to do the work. In a department with 4 people we are now down to me, never been busier.

FurnaceFace · 11-16-2010, 08:54 AM

I'm a fairly recently out of work IT project manager. There does seem to be a fair amount of demand out there, I just haven't landed anything yet.

macker · 11-16-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrJ

Debt for the win. Thankfully my stocks are pulling through to offset my line of credit...

Perfect description of the "wealth effect" and that is what is happening all around us right now. You got to know when to hold em....know when to fold em....know when to walk away....know when to run...Right now = hold em

http://capitalogix.typepad.com/publi...ity-check.html

Rathji · 11-16-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Seems to be a fair number if places looking for IT people. Shaw in particular is looking for a ton of IT people. Anyone here work for or know people that have worked at Shaw recently?

I know someone that has been at Shaw for 10 years in the roles of CSR, TSR, and a couple other positions that I really don't understand. Because she has been through a lot with the company, she sees some of the current changes as detrimental but admits it is probably because she is stuck in the old way of doing things when it was booming.

As I understand it, Shaw got rid of a lot of dead weight when the boom ended but has been slower to hire back in certain locations (like Edmonton and Calgary). They are trying to make up for it now and there are a lot of new people coming into the Calgary offices.