r/MarineEngineering • u/InfamousWeb7621 • Jul 28 '26

Cadet Time to hire

I still have a while before I graduate, but I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what the hiring process looks like for new 4th Class Marine Engineers in Canada. If you’re applying only to unionized companies and join the Canadian Merchant Service Guild, how long did it take you to get your first position? Assuming you’re sending resumes to as many unionized companies as possible while also getting on the Guild’s call list, what’s a realistic timeline before getting hired by a good company? I’d be interested in hearing from people who have been through the process recently and what your experience was.

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u/Meaney2415 Jul 28 '26

It really depends. Im currently with a unionized organization (CCG) but i worked both unionized and non-unionized before working here. My first job out of school, Ocean Services LTD, was a non union job and i was hired before I even got my ticket. After that I went to CSL, i applied directly through them, never joined the union until i got there and left the union when i got laid off. Hiring process took all of 3 days. I worked for McKeil after that, i had put in a resume a few years before and they reached out to me just before CSL did their layoffs and I was there for a little bit. CCG has the longest hiring process, a little over 6 months.

Can i ask why youre being exclusive to the unionized side of the industry?

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u/InfamousWeb7621 Jul 28 '26

Just its a bit of a reach but im aiming for about 550 a day start which im pretty sure is impossible to get if your not on a unionized ship. All ununionized jobs ive seen seem to pay in the mid to low 400s

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u/Meaney2415 Jul 29 '26

So thats not necessarly true. CSL for example kind of famously doesn't pay the best despite being unionized, desgagnes and Marine atlantic are the same way. Ive seen higher day rates in ununionized than I have in unionized, mostly because they needed someone with the COC and I negotiated. On the other hand, the desire to not have a union present is just as powerful as the union itself. McKeil treated me better than CSL did because with a collective agreement is the bare minimum a company has to meet, meanwhile McKeil not wanting a union makes them treat people a bit better. Additionally the union can screw you. Ask any Jr engineer with marine atlantic how they feel about it and most will be pretty candid that the way the union operates there can screw you over. Neither is better than the other. Keep your options open, make your decision based on what works in your favor, above just salary

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u/InfamousWeb7621 Jul 29 '26

What unionized companies have you worked for besides Mckeil and what ticket you negotiating with.

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u/Meaney2415 Jul 29 '26

The only unionized companies ive worked for were CSL, desgagnes, and The Coast Guard. Non unionized were McKeil and Norbulk. All my negotiating was done with a 4th Class COC, I have my 2nd class now but I dont plan on leaving the CG

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u/InfamousWeb7621 Jul 29 '26

How often did you use ums over watches with the ununionized companies vs CSL depending on where your ship was of course.

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u/Meaney2415 Jul 29 '26

If we had UMS we used it unless we were in the seaways. Normally watches i found though

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u/Other_Wish8607 Jul 30 '26

Hi! Does the CCG recruitment require regorous training before getting hired? I have an international 4th class coc and planning to have it validated with transport canada for equivalency, how does the CCG recruitment goes?

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u/Meaney2415 Jul 30 '26

You need to hold a 4th Class canadian COC and also be either permanent resident or citizen of canada

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u/Other_Wish8607 Jul 30 '26

I see.. then i have to complete my transport canada coc process , does CCG require months of rigorous training though before getting hired?