As a private investigator, Michael Wilton used to dig into people's lives.
Now, he helps BP Canada dig into Alberta's oilsands.
Wilton left Ontario five years ago searching for a bigger paycheque and a new career direction.
He found both.
Wilton first landed work on an oil rig in northern Alberta working at a low-level field position. He quickly realized a higher degree of training would open the door to more lucrative options.
A diploma in petroleum engineering technology from SAIT's MacPhail School of Energy in Calgary was the key.
"The job market was very strong when I graduated," said Wilton.
After writing his final exam in 2006, there were a flood of opportunities.
"You certainly had the ability to pick and choose where you wanted to go depending on whether you wanted to work in the office sector or the field."
Dr. John Cox, a professor in the Earth Sciences Department at Mount Royal College, has worked with industry giants such as Texaco and the Kuwait National Oil Co.
Cox says advances in technology have changed the face of the job market in the resources industry.
"The days of the high school drop-out finding an oilfield job is long in the past," Cox said. "Certainly in the science side of the oil industry, you need a background. Really without training, the job opportunities are limited."
Unless someone suddenly develops a widespread alternative to fuel vehicles and heat homes, Cox said well-trained individuals will benefit from the oilpatch for years to come.
He estimates there's enough oil in the tar sands "to last several generations."
Mount Royal will open its lecture halls to future geologists this September when its first-ever bachelor of science program begins. Cox estimates 20 geologists will emerge from the first graduating class in four years.
He points out this type of training offers career options beyond the oilpatch. A natural resources surge in recent years is opening up job opportunities in gold and uranium industries, among others.
Mary MacDonald, dean of the MacPhail School of Energy, says the oil boom has created an education boom.
Competition for seats at MacPhail can be fierce and programs have been running at capacity for the last five years.
Some programs receive as many as five applicants for every seat available.
"If people are interested in pursuing a career in the oil industry, they should research the area they are interested in," MacDonald says.Calgary Sun
