This article is written by Bella, a member of the 2024-25 Mayor’s Youth Council. Bella is part of the Careers and Opportunities committee, who wanted to highlight different career opportunities for youth.
What do robots, construction sites, and oil rigs have in common? They’re all a part of Carlos’s workday. Believe it or not, his story might change the way you perceive certain careers. The title “Cost Controller” is way more exciting than the title must suggest. From surveying numbers to keeping million dollar oil projects on track, his journey calls to youth, reminding them that you don’t need to know exactly what you want to do outside of high school.
As a teenager, Carlos never imagined his job would one day involve GPS-guided trucks and daily walks through construction zones. “I thought I would be working in an office my whole life”, he admits. Instead, his career has taken him from Venezuela to Canada, and from accepting spreadsheets to Alberta’s oil and gas industry.
Carlos’s story begins in Venezuela, where he majored in accounting and earned his CPA certification. He started his professional life in public accounting, working at an audit firm. While the work was stable and familiar, he started to notice something that sparked his curiosity: many of the people in his professional network were involved in oil and gas. “I built a local network where I got inspired to work in oil and gas,” he says. That inspiration pushed him to rethink his path.
Realizing that oil and gas projects involved much more than office work, Carlos made a bold decision: he went back to school to earn a masters degree in project management. This move gave him the skills to manage the complex logistics and planning involved in these large industrial projects.
When the economic state of Venezuela declined, Carlos took a huge step. He immigrated to Canada, landing in Alberta, a province known for its strong energy sector. There, he began working in cost control for oil and gas construction projects.
So.. What does a cost controller do? When you think of a construction site, a cost controller might not be the first role that comes to mind, but it’s a critical one. Carlos explains “ I make sure the price of the project does not exceed the budget. I do this by implementing controls to monitor the spending and efficiency of vendors on site.” He starts his day bright and early at 7 am, heading out to project sites around Edmonton. His mornings are often spent meeting with vendors to review progress on the job. “Then I compare that with our budget to see if we’re on track,” he says.“Then I present updates to the project managers.” Every day is different, sometimes Carlos is focused on numbers and reports, other days he’s walking in the site to see how the construction is unfolding in real time. “Its’ a very dynamic job” he says.
One of the most fascinating parts of Carlos’s job is the technology he gets to use and witness firsthand. He’s particularly proud of helping implement a real time construction dashboard that makes project management much more efficient. “ It gives us up to miniature information, which is a huge improvement”, he says.
And that’s just the beginning. Carlos has worked on projects where massive trucks used to transport materials from mines were turned into fully automated driverless vehicles. “These trucks used to require three drivers working 8 hour shifts to operate 24/7,” he explains.”Now, thanks to AI and GPS, they can drive themselves.”
It’s a glimpse into the future of the industry, and Carlos believes it is only the beginning. “AI will provide more concise information on how to execute construction tasks. Eventually, more robots will do the duties that are currently done by people,” he predicts.
Carlos also notes that his field isn’t typically full of young professionals yet. “The people who work here are pretty old,” he says with a laugh. But that is why he thinks now is a great time for young people to get involved and stand out. “If you’re interested in this kind of work, get the project Management Inspire Certification,” he advises. “It only takes about six months and gives you a solid foundation,” He also recommends online certifications, like those offered by Google. “Don’t overlook google certifications. They make you an evolving applicant.”
Whether you’re passionate about numbers, technology, or building things, Carlos believes there’s room for new voices in the oil and gas world.
Talking to Carlos made me rethink what it means to build a career. His story isn’t about knowing exactly what you want to do when you’re 18, it’s about being curious and open to change. From Venezuela to Canada, Carlos has followed opportunities wherever they led. If you’re feeling unsure about your future, his journey is proof that you can find your way, and most importantly have fun doing it.