Hard Work and Creativity Resulted in a Great Job

Myself and a few friends had an opportunity to gain employment in the oil & gas industry in November 1981. We were about 19 years old. I am 48 years old now.

We had a friend who was living in Kilgore, Texas, and we were told many jobs existed at a company called Halliburton. The friend started as a well tender and rose to the job of well checker. He drove to various wells and documented the amount of oil and natural gas extracted as well as other data.

Great. We were willing and able. We packed up and drove away.

The jobs were not easy to come by when we arrived. Lots of effort was put into getting hired directly by the company. No good luck. So then we hung out with the day laborers that arrived at the designated spot before dawn.

Every day.

Same answer - Too late. You must have experience.

We tried and tried again and again.

Finally a couple of guys got jobs at a local pipe and supply. The work was hard and the pay was minimal. Now what? I was with little money and could not find a job.

Lightbulb.

I decided I will let my fingers do the walking. I started at A in the yellow pages and started calling companies. In a couple of days and after hard work and much luck I had a job at Keer Engineering. And my job was the best. Easy work. High pay.

I was called the northerner. Good work ethic. Hard worker.

Within two months I was in a position to get my friends at the pipe and supply jobs at Keer. My creative thinking worked well for me.