how do you get into mining??

[kellyjamie]

Hi all,

 

does anyone know how to get into mining? jamie fancies giving it a try seen a few good paying jobs, asking 12months experience, but how do you get into it/

thanks kelly

[Arniston Skippy]

No one seems to know......................................

[Guest siamsusie]

Hi all,

 

does anyone know how to get into mining? jamie fancies giving it a try seen a few good paying jobs, asking 12months experience, but how do you get into it/

thanks kelly

 

My husband has been in the mining business for donkeys years Kelly, he works for RioTinto, so had to do all the tickets , H & S, etc etc.

He is an electrician & signal technician so of course it differs... hopefully either Eera over in Qld will give you some excellent advice and Mrs Keily over in Perth.

 

Flying over to WA isnt out of the question, direct flights on a Wednesday to Karratha for example from Tasmania ex Melbourne is very popular on FIFO.

 

 

Susie xxx

[Paul]

If all else fails, turn up at the mine at 9am on the Monday morning with a hard hat, shovel, canary and Welsh Valleys accent. Can't fail

[keily]

hey kelly ....gettin into the mining industry is not any easy feat .....but a lot easier if u have all the appropriate tickets and most of all contacts !! .....there are ways in the back door ..but these jobs would be mainly cleaners cooks etc and the mine companies all have their own agencies that deal with this .....http://www.sodedxo.com is one of them..... there is a program currently running in perth which was originally set up for indeginious australians to train them to drive trucks etc ...this have been widened to include anyone ....would need to ask mr keily the name of the company running it ....im sure they also guarantee u a job at the end ....he is home tomorow so will ask him

 

mrs keily

[Six it]

how does it work for professionals wanting to get into mining?

i'm in environmental consulting at the moment.. and whilst i have just been asked for a 2nd interview (in Perth) for a consultancy i also want to keep my options open

 

so i have been looking at the idea of environmental advisor etc in mining.. but all the info seems to be on dump truck drivers and trades..

 

any insight on how you break into other aspects of the mining industry?

[Guest siamsusie]

how does it work for professionals wanting to get into mining?

i'm in environmental consulting at the moment.. and whilst i have just been asked for a 2nd interview (in Perth) for a consultancy i also want to keep my options open

 

so i have been looking at the idea of environmental advisor etc in mining.. but all the info seems to be on dump truck drivers and trades..

 

any insight on how you break into other aspects of the mining industry?

 

Would this link be of any use Six..http://www.seek.com.au/science-technology-jobs/environmental-earth-geosciences ?

 

 

Susie x

[brideycollette]

have you put your CV on rio tinto website they have been a great help to us .... ? OH gets job's posted to him everyday :realmad: just wish we were there to do the interviews :biglaugh:

[Six it]

thanks Susie

 

I guess its that old problem.. how to get a job in mining.. with no mining experience.

 

they all seem to want some mining background..

 

most of the info i see on how to achieve this is tailored to trades etc

 

and other than just ignoring the bits in adverts that say 3 yrs exp etc.. and going for it.. i'm hoping someone has been there and done it before and has some hints..

 

or maybe I’ve already hit on the idea..

 

just apply with all the points that make me a great fit for the role..and just say "i'd love to the opportunity to get 3 years of experience"

 

haha..

[Six it]

Hi Bridey,

yes.. i've got the old cv on Rio Tinto..

 

getting plenty of emails telling me about mine geologist roles etc.. unfortunately.. nothing so far for enviro work.. but hope springs eternal..!

[brideycollette]

Hi Bridey,

yes.. i've got the old cv on Rio Tinto..

 

getting plenty of emails telling me about mine geologist roles etc.. unfortunately.. nothing so far for enviro work.. but hope springs eternal..!

 

 

Good. i know hubby is ignoring when they say experiance in the mines :biglaugh:

hm thinking about chevron ? barrow island ?

[Guest Mallam]

I think it is so well paid that the aussies themselves all want to get into mining, I can see them giving jobs to their own first to be honest.

[Guest siamsusie]

Hi Bridey,

yes.. i've got the old cv on Rio Tinto..

 

getting plenty of emails telling me about mine geologist roles etc.. unfortunately.. nothing so far for enviro work.. but hope springs eternal..!

 

 

As my husband has just said Six... try not to deal with HR:mad:, door knock and try and by pass them if possible. Names are invaluable...

 

Now there is an excellent post on here ... http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/jobs-careers/101639-mining-jobs-no-experience.html written by karldyble

 

Eera is another lass who knows her stuff..

 

 

Susie x

[Guest siamsusie]

Mining Jobs - No experience

Getting in to the Mining Industry in WA with no experience.

 

What you need to know.

 

My background, I landed in Perth in Jan 2010, with no knowledge or interest in mining as I had been a plasterer in England. I decided that I’d had enough of that so I got into a few other things and after I found they weren’t for me I decided to go full tilt at the mining industry….easy work….loads of money and only working half the year….hell yeah… let me at it… and then it got complicated.

 

The following is the result of all my mistakes. Read it and hopefully you will save yourselves a ton of time and money.

 

First - the DO’s.

 

Get your HR license (HGV license or similar in UK). Book this as soon as you can as it gets booked up pretty fast. They do it Perth but it’s easier if you can do it somewhere quieter. You will need to do the ‘unrestricted’ or ‘open’ Road Ranger gear box course! Regardless of the fact that the majority of trucks on a mine are automatic. Keens Brothers in Bunbury do a two day course for about $1000 but you will need to do your learners permit at a licensing centre first, 17 questions and they ask you about 12. Costs about $120.

 

A HR license is the absolute minimum pre-requisite. You will see some that don’t ask for it but most will and I have seen countless jobs pass me buy because of my dithering over whether I needed it or not – You do.

 

An Australian Police Clearance certificate – post office about $50 – they need to know you’ve been a good boy. Even if you’re a crim in England it won’t show up here so be nice…until you get a job at least!!

 

The should DO’s

 

The most popular things that are looked on ‘favourably’ are;

 

Forklift license – Consolidated Training Services do a one day course - $400

Senior First Aid – St Johns ambulance Australia two day course – about $150

Four Wheel drive and Defensive driving – 2 day course – Eureka 4WD - $300 (ish)

Elevated Work Platform (EWP) – about $500

MARCSTA – Mining Safety induction – one day - $120 (not necessary but some like it), most companies will do their own version in the induction.

A medical Examination – you can do this yourself if you really want or most co’s will require it anyway in addition to a pre-employment drug and alcohol screen.

 

For people who want to really get stuck in;

 

Dogging and Rigging (rigging crane loads and crane communication) – about $1000

 

DON’T DO!!!

 

Don’t spend $3000 on a dump truck course, as with no experience it’s meaningless and you will still have to be a labourer or TA (Trades Assistant) and any good company will pay for your training if you want it later.

 

Don’t touch ‘Hogan Mining’ or any company that offers to find you work for money!!!

 

 

Things you need to know

 

Recruitment agencies won’t touch you without a HR license and two years experience. I am seeing jobs now only requiring one year or the really crappy jobs, which you WILL have to do which do not ask for any experience. The fact that less experience is being required is a good thing as it shows that industry demand is exceeding the supply of experienced staff and therefore they are willing to look at ‘Greenies’ (you and me) as long as they have some tickets. Why do they need so much experience? Simple, a mine costs millions a day, the last thing they want is an idiot with no idea coming and getting himself eaten by a machine and having to shut the whole thing down to salvage his mangled corpse. A guy died recently in a Mine in South Africa, I think, possibly run by Rio Tinto or BHP and they had to close the mine down for a day or so, they lost millions in production and then their share price went down as a result.

 

Register with the big boys. The likes of Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, FMG, Newcrest, HWE. Go to their sites and fill in all the forms, pain in the rear but has to be done.

 

Mining co’s a re split into different areas, Mine operators, Drilling companies, Exploration and labour hire (there will be more but this’ll do for the mo). The mine operators are the big companies and as you have no experience you might want to target these first due to their high numbers of staff and high turn over of employees. Yes, there are plenty who think they want it but after a month or so they’ve had enough. This is another reason why they are sceptical of those with no experience. The exploration co’s are generally small groups of specialists and unless you have a very special qualification or skill you will find it difficult to get in with them. Drilling companies, again small and will generally require a high skill / knowledge level. Labour hire co’s such as ‘skilled’ and ‘integrated’ will have the low level jobs such as labourers, TA’s and Field Assistants, they will generally employ you for 3 months (probationary period) and then you might get taken on by the mine operator.

 

FACT – you will have to do a crap job to start with – swallow your pride and stay positive – no-one likes a moaner, everyone is away from home and we all have problems. Don’t give them cause to label you a winging pom. Been there, done that!!

 

After all that….the good news, once you’re in, you’re in!! If you can get a start all you have to do is work hard and keep your head down, don’t get involved in politics, talk to the people in the sorts of roles that you would like to do like operators (excavators, graders, dump trucks, cranes etc) and you can easily move into a more exciting role.

 

This is Australia remember, they are not famed for their work ethic and innovation, the British are so if you do what you should do and you’ll shine in no time.

 

So where am I working??? The answer is, I’m not. It’s taken me a year of messing around to get to the point where I’m actually employable. I want to get into Health and safety and training and have had to do some hefty courses, despite this I will still have to go in as a labourer / TA. The only difference now being that I know I can actually get a job and I know that after a year or so of crap I can use my qualifications to move on up. I’m applying for jobs at the mo as well as studying and after my parents have visited in Jan I should be ready to go. I have been working up North in construction too. Just for interest I have done the following courses;

 

HR (Heavy rigid truck license) including learners permit - $1200 (sitting license mid Jan 2011)

4 wheel drive - drive and recover course - $200

Defensive driving course - $200

Forklift Course - $400

Senior First Aid - $200

Cert IV OHS (Health and Safety) $2500

Cert IV Training and Assessment $1200

 

If you’re looking to do any Cert I, II, II or IV courses don’t go with Seek Learning, I paid $2500 and found out that I could have got this for about $1500 if I went direct!!

 

I hope this will save you some time and effort and if you need any other pointers please feel free to contact me.

 

Good luck….you going to need it….and a lot of patience.

 

 

 

 

Copied and Pasted from karldyble

[Six it]

thanks Susie

 

got a bit more form filling to do by the looks of it..1

 

One of the things me and the wife were talking about.. is..

Should i relocate to Perth for say.. a month.. so that it appears that i am serious..

 

Now i am only accross the ditch in NZ but i had a recruitment agent ask me today.."so when will you be over in OZ"

 

and i thought.."when i get a job", but its probably not what they want to hear..

 

mmmn.. and i have a 2nd interview this week as well..

 

fun fun fun

[Guest siamsusie]

thanks Susie

 

got a bit more form filling to do by the looks of it..1

 

One of the things me and the wife were talking about.. is..

Should i relocate to Perth for say.. a month.. so that it appears that i am serious..

 

Now i am only accross the ditch in NZ but i had a recruitment agent ask me today.."so when will you be over in OZ"

 

and i thought.."when i get a job", but its probably not what they want to hear..

 

mmmn.. and i have a 2nd interview this week as well..

 

fun fun fun

 

Oh I so wish for you a lovely job Six, and for sure something will come up! I think its the general opinion that nothing much happens until you are here, but who knows, you can easily come over for interviews of Skype it.

 

Let us know how you get on:notworthy: Susie x

[brideycollette]

anyone know if the uk Cert IV OHS (Health and Safety) .... can be transfered to oz ?

[Guest siamsusie]

I think it is so well paid that the aussies themselves all want to get into mining, I can see them giving jobs to their own first to be honest.

 

Actually Mallam, as far as Brides's husband is concerned and I can only speak for Electricians and Signals, that actually isnt the case.

My husband's company have sponsored a fair few poms to work on the railways, and they are much appreciated. They will take on anyone with the expertise.!

 

Susie

[Six it]

i hope something works out as well Suzie

 

its funny.. the company who i am doing a 2nd interview with.. they seem very keen..

Job looks good.. pay looks to be around the $110,00 - $120,000

so not bad..

 

but i have a hankering.. an itch that needs to be scratched.. re FIFO environmental work..

as far as i can see they operate a 8/6 ot a 9/5.. which would be great.. as at the moment although i am home every night.. i hardly see my kids or wife as its a 8 to 10pm job .. and mosr weekends i end up working..

 

and the new job.. its the same industry.. management role.. so i'm expecting a 60 hr week as per usual..

so 4 or 5 clear days with the kids sounds like bliss ( bliss can be revoled when the kids get on my nerves.. and i can just go fishing..!)

[Guest siamsusie]

i hope something works out as well Suzie

 

its funny.. the company who i am doing a 2nd interview with.. they seem very keen..

Job looks good.. pay looks to be around the $110,00 - $120,000

so not bad..

 

but i have a hankering.. an itch that needs to be scratched.. re FIFO environmental work..

as far as i can see they operate a 8/6 ot a 9/5.. which would be great.. as at the moment although i am home every night.. i hardly see my kids or wife as its a 8 to 10pm job .. and mosr weekends i end up working..

 

and the new job.. its the same industry.. management role.. so i'm expecting a 60 hr week as per usual..

so 4 or 5 clear days with the kids sounds like bliss ( bliss can be revoled when the kids get on my nerves.. and i can just go fishing..!)

 

 

Oh Six, that red red dirt will scratch that itch ok:twitcy:, you know what they say.. where there is muck :mad:... there is..... :jiggy:and well the fishing in WA is excellent!

 

Susie x

[Guest Guest 47403]

I think it is so well paid that the aussies themselves all want to get into mining, I can see them giving jobs to their own first to be honest.

 

I don't think this is the case, I met someone for the first time last week the Auusie husband of a mates wife, 2 of his sons work on the mines and he supplys heavy plant machinery through the company he works for, it's more a case of having contacts he said when we get across if I get myself a either a HR or dumper truck licence he would be able to get me in the mines FIFO doing 8 days on 6 off.

 

Baz

[Guest flaco06man]

Hey there,

 

Thanks for the info. I'm a U.S. resident and citizen with 25+ years of experience in heavy equipment operating, training, management.It seems to me that if there is such a labor shortage in the mining industry that companies would have a FIFO work career for someone like myself. I would really like to make this happen but its starting to sound like a very long process. Any suggestions?

[Guest flaco06man]

Looks like your the one to talk to!..lol..I have been searching and searching.:confused:Tell me if this is the wrong thinking....But if there is such a labor shortage and its only going to get worse like I read about, then why does it seem so difficult for someone like myself to find a career in one of the mines over there?..I am a U.S. citizen with 25 years experience around mining and construction. All I have is my passport and more than enough desire. I am hoping to find a FIFO..work for a few weeks and come back to the U.S. for a week or two..I've been applying on Rio Tinto and others with no success.

 

Appreciate your advice and suggestions

[lozenger1967]

i have the same problem,been in the plant game for 25 years fitter & operator all the tickets, even my farther was a operator. He was even in a caterpillar documentary one turn of the earth driving a D9 pushing 657 scraper's on a motorway job in the uk.some use less info for you there, any way its so frustrating having all these years under your belt just to have some young kid in HR just glance at your cv and just bin it.

I think its who you now.

[age 44]

[Eera]

Easiest way in; get a trade and move to the area where the mines are. There are very few positions for unskilled greenskin workers; they'll all expect you to show some form of get up and go and initiative - remember when they say "experience in the mines" they don't necessarily mean "in the job you're applying for". They want to see that you can cope with the absolute rubbish that is going to be part of your day (having to stop and reassess your working conditions every two hours, spend 3 hours doing a whole new set of paperwork for a job 10m away from the one you did yesterday, having constant safety observations done on you by people who have no experience in the job you're doing are all features of a project I'm doing for a major miner right now). Do have a look at what else you can do. Target consultancies who do mine work who may train you up for geo technician roles, have a look at allied industies such as exploration drilling who seem willing to take on offsiders with regularity, people like Orica and Dyno Nobel generally need trainees to start bogging shot holes (though you'll need a HR licence).

 

Don't bother applying to Rio Tinto, BHP etc if you have no experience, go for labour hire and contract companies, and above all, think about what you actually want to do - it's hard, thankless work often in really unpleasent environments, simply applying for anything because you've heard there's good money to be made will ultimately not prove a satisfying way of living your life.

 

Increasingly mining companies work with contractor rather than their own staff as they're easier to get rid of when downturns come; one Rio Tinto site I know has only 4 Rio employees, everyone else comes from cotractor companies and consultancies so they're the ones to go for.