We just play poker a lot; don't know why we are getting so many rooms. I wouldn't put $20 Ina slot machine.

I've recently applied for a few jobs in Houston, but Code3 just got one in Dallas. He wouldn't come with me if I went, and all my family is here.

Do you win at poker?

I win almost every time I play cash. I play 1/2 and can make about $100 or $200 a night.

Looks like you won't need a job then! That's 3k-6k a month, you should just double your hours.

I have a daughter and no bank roll. That's just about what I make drinking my coffee and checking morning emails working as an engineer.

All the money I've made the last month has gone straight to bills and expenses.

At $200/day, if you only played poker 300 days a year, that's $60k. According to a quick google search, Project Engineers average 72k per year. You should just double up on your poker hours and make 120k/year.

I don't make $200/hr at poker. I make about $20/hr. If I played 40hrs/week that would only be $41600.

At my last job I made $95000 ( including a 10% bonus) + 3% retirement match= $97850/yr

Project Engineer- $80250( including a 7% bonus)

Now I'll be lucky to make $70000, but that is still way better than $41600

let's not forget benefits.

may be that is the problem? To high expectations with salary + not ready to move for a job.

I'm only asking for $70k, and is it really that unreasonable to think I can find a job in the DFW area and all of north east Texas?

Anyway, I would love some ideas on how I can trainwreck my old boss. I really just want to punch him in the face!!!

And, I am still open to a skype interview so that I can get some honest feedback on what I need to correct for interviewing.

$70k really isn't worth your time. Just retire and move back to China.

I don't know. May be a situation in USA is better than in Europe. May be I have asked to low myself, and could get more. For me it seems high with the stipulation of not moving. But don't take my words as a truth, but may be you could research it well yourself, so that you could be sure, that that is not the problem. Have a look also at oil price.

Trainwrecking your old boss is a dumb idea. Invest the time and energy in finding better job and leave him in your past.

Where are you applying? It would be nice if you had pipe stress experience/training, but you should be applying at all the major Houston contract houses. Fluor, KRB, S&B, etc. These are the places that employ people with your degree and experience.

Networking is really key to getting jobs in the oil & gas industry, way more important than actual experience or qualifications. Do you know anyone working in the area who you could talk to?

I work with engineers all the time (I guess I'm one too) and I disagree pretty heavily with the, "PE always means Professional Engineer," sentiment. But I'm in Texas, and no one really cares about that kind of stuff here.

If you were desperate enough to move to south texas, I could probably get you a job. But you'd get more than $70k/yr, which for some strange reason is what you're asking for.

Could you send me the details?

It wouldn't be that kind of job. It would be me telling someone that they should hire you, then they would hire you. You would end up doing a lot of nothing, and people wouldn't respect you, but you'd make $45+/hr. And if it turned out you couldn't hack it, it would come back on me.

If you want one of those more formal positions, I'd suggest places like BHP, Testengeer, Mustang (Wood Group), or any other random engineering firm in Texas cause there's an absolute ton of them.

I might be interested in that in a few months.

Please just be upfront to your boss and as stated previously tell his boss that he is acting unprofessionally and unfairly. Document behaviors as best as possible so if you are confronted by your boss' boss you have a list, on paper, and your boss has nothing but half truths and lies.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using 2+2 Forums

This is the key OP---all the jobs I've had have come because of someone I knew. I'd start racking my brain and setting up lunch/coffee dates with everyone/anyone I know in the industry who might know someone else who might know about a job. Ask for informational interviews, do a lot of digging about each company, and ask smart questions about each companies business whenever you get someone's time.

The oil & gas industry is somewhat in the tank right now--that is going to make it doubly hard for you.

For practice interviewing, you can get lots of questions online and practice responding while recording yourself---then watch your response & repeat.

If you spend time improving your writing skills, you'll make yourself more employable as well. Most people can't write for a damn and you'll separate yourself from the crowd if you have any talent in that area.

GL OP

looooooooool

Wins thread.

Why you laughing Chop?
I worked a field job crawling around on compressors in this Texas heat throughout a pregnancy. I think I could handle it.

I think the lol was some random doing you a solid, putting his name on the line to offer you an excellent opportunity that could come back and hurt him if you screwed it up and you saying 'maybe in a few months'

Yeah, if I was living out of hotel rooms and with family to get by and someone offered me an opportunity like that, I would already be in Houston or wherever right now. Lol months