Core Laboratories

Technicians and Engineers wait for calls to varying sites around Alberta and sometimes abroad (Africa, Middle East, etc.) and a person could be away for weeks or months in a row without notice. Work involves staying on rig sites for lengthy periods of time, which could amount to 5-6 days in a row WITHOUT SLEEP except for a few quick naps here and there in a truck with same clothes on, even though camp accommodation is provided you'll miss the bed as there is no way you return to camp. Immediately after completing the task you are asked to go to another rig site under a state of extreme fatigue, malnutrition and serious lack of hygiene. 

The working groups are unprofessional, unethical, they swear and curse each other openly and the environment is disappointing. Management is distant from the rest, usually everyone interacts with one person only and they have no clue who the rest are. Backstabbing is the norm, jealousy is in the air all the time. 

The hardest part of the job is the extreme cold or heat that you work under, with the lack of sleep that could be for days, with the greatest risk of an accident (someone already died in a car crash at the company a few years ago), bad co-workers and extremely poor life-work balance. EXTREMELY POOR SAFETY STANDARDS. 

Since work was seasonal, me and a few of my colleagues (70%) of the team quit all at once because we didn't get any jobs for months in a row with only a base salary. That's why this company seeks new graduates DESPARATE for work and makes them work HAAAAAARD in order to get what they can before hiring newer people the next season. 

The most enjoyable part of the job, let's be fair, is technology itself. You'll learn about downhole sensor systems, but not so much in depth. Basically you're as good as an installer when it comes to gaining skills. Finally, they pay a base salary (very low one) and a field bonus (quite fair, at the cost of great effort) and the opportunities to travel around the world (to poor and war torn countries with oil and gas exploration opportunities).

Lots of heavy lifting and hard work is required, but supervisors and/ or management would not commend it the majority of the time because they are never around.  I actually enjoyed my job with this company but was absolutely stunned by how little attention they pay to their employees.  No matter how hard you work or how bad you wanted to move up in the company they would ignore your requests, and make promises to you about advancement seemingly just to keep you quiet.  I did like my job with this company, but since my superiors weren't around to notice who does what and which people are the most effective employees, it did not help to secure confidence within any of us in this company.

As the original senior management retired, there were no formal succession plans.  As a result, input from outside of the head office in Houston was ignored.  during the many years I worked there, the only strategic decisions were based on Houston.  
today, I would rate the senior management as average at best.  there is no internal drive within the company.  the present senior mgmt does not have the experience or industry connections they should have to grow the company.  

Work place was good. My job consisted of checking specimens, and placing them on the analyzers. Once the specimens had gone through the analyzers, I checked the results to see if they needed further review by a technologist. I also ran urine chemistries. This involved checking samples and performing a dip strip test and placing it on the analyzer. Once again I would check the results to see if they needed further review by a technologist. I was in charge of disposing of daily garbage and at the end of the shift checking for outstanding samples and locating them.

I enjoyed working there and would of stayed if I wasn't laid off. I worked with great people. We were encouraged to work together to solve problems and collaborate. It's reliant on the oil industry so is highly cyclical in nature. When times are good, there was many perks and promotions but when times are bad, expect to be laid off. Upper management is short-sighted and constantly shoots itself in the foot.

I had worked for Core for two years and was basically bullied into quitting when I was expecting a baby as they had nowhere safe to put me. I was suddenly being written up for things that were never an issue before. I loved my job here and would have gone back had I not been forced to quit and management was different.

Good company but needs more diversity and growth areas for employees to have movement and excel there.

They do not promote skill or achievements, but rather the managers take all the credit for everything.  This is not a good motivation as an employee.

The company had a good work life balance and the pay was in the fair range.

Does not care about the baseline employees who keep the company afloat. Pays employees in high risk jobs (ie: manufacturing explosives) minimum wage. Sends out communication that there will be no salary increases for the next year because times are tough then proceeds to double already inflated executive compensation. 0/10 would not recommend.

Shared Services department was a very enjoyable environment to work in. Colleagues are open to help each other out as needed; great inter-personal professional relationships are easily made. Good compensation and benefits, as well as room for advancement.

The work is educational and informative. I learned a great deal on the oilfield supply business. Culture within the business was exceptional and my boss/cooworker was very supportive. The most difficult part of the job was loading the heavy drilling pipes by hand onto the vehicle.

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