Source: Oil & Gas Inquirer

Careers In The Oilpatch

Robert Hinchey

Age: 59

Training: CNC machinist, counsellor

Company: Unemployed

What do you like about being a machinist?

I've always enjoyed physical operations that proceed in a logical sequence, back to doing summer work as a carpenter and cabinet maker when I was young. Machines are so very different than people. I spent quite a few years as a pro-life counsellor in Toronto-helping women became a vocation for me but the unpredictability of counselling can become very stressful. The precision and predictability of machining steel appeals to me.

What's your personal and professional background?

I grew up in New Waterford on Cape Breton Island, where my father was a lawyer. After high school, I earned a bachelor degree in literature and psychology at St. Francis Xavier University. Like many Maritimers, I moved to Toronto where I worked as an insurance underwriter. For many years, I also counselled for Aid To Women, initially as a volunteer and later for a salary. In 2005 I came to Alberta and received training on manual and CNC (computer numerical controlled) lathes at NAIT. For Weatherford CPS, I operated a Seiki CNC turning centre. Later, at Stream-Flo Industries, I worked with a Takisawa TC-350 turning centre and furthered my education in the trade, including working with programming.

When were you laid off?

About a month ago. Stream-Flo is a fine company but they were forced to let a lot of employees go-including some highly experienced hands-when the natural gas industry slowed down. It's really tough out there now in this trade. A lot of Albertans don't realise how many jobs are dependent on natural gas in this province. Our economy is not just about oilsands.

How do you go about searching for work?

Well, as they say, now my job is looking for a job. I keep at it every day. I stay in touch with friends and I contact potential employers. The federal and provincial employment offices are a huge help. There you have access to a telephone, fax, word processing, seminars in resume writing, online job banks, even retraining programs. Although I'd prefer to stay in my trade, I'm also willing to consider branching out.

Psychologically, as a former counsellor and as an older worker, how do you advise coping with the emotional stress of unemployment?

I bear in mind that I'm pretty accomplished for a machinist of my experience, that I'm worth hiring. Forty weeks of employment insurance eligibility is important to me, of course. To make up for the loss of family income, my wife is doing 1.5 jobs-I make a point of doing more household chores. Earlier in my life, I experienced fear when I was out of work. Now I've learned to trust God. That's not necessarily an easy lesson to learn but faith can heal fear.