For most people, getting their first mining job can be a daunting task. It doesn’t have to be, it isn’t rocket science. It’s all about knowing who in the industry has to hire new starters, then prepping accordingly to get your mining knowledge up to speed. Doing this offers you a real pathway into the industry.
So who has to hire new starters?
Not as many areas as you would think. At the moment there really is only one area of the industry that has no choice, but to hire new starters to fill their lower paid roles and that’s Hardrock underground.
For almost 2 years now Hardrock underground has experienced a shortage of experienced miners. This means the employers are having to hire new starters to fill the Truck, Nipper & Offsider roles. The demand is across the country, with the most demand being in Queensland and W.A.
So how can you prep for a hardrock underground mining job?
10 years ago a group of WA ticketed shift bosses (myself included) wrote a 3 day sit down training course. The idea was to give a new starter the exact knowledge required to get the job and then survive the first 6 months. The employers bought into the idea of a new starter with the exact mining knowledge required to hit the ground running. Between 2010-12 over 300 people got their start.
In 2016, in an effort to improve access and reduce costs, the 3 day course was moved online. All the information is now in 4 online courses and a seminar. If you learn the information contained in the training, then you will genuinely have something to offer the employers. When you can answer the mining questions in the interview then you end up selling yourself to the employers with your new found mining knowledge.
If you can do that and meet the other standards required by the employers, medicals, police clearance etc… Then it quickly becomes a no brainer for the employers and they hire. It needs to be noted that if you don’t get the mining questions right then the employers will be very polite but they won’t hire, they are only after people with mining knowledge.
Everything you need to know to start your hardrock underground mining career is in the online packages depending on the support you need.
includes access to the following online courses
Basic Minesite Operation
Nipper & other important duties
Service Crew work
Underground Truck Operation
Australian Mining Seminar
includes access to the following online courses
Basic Minesite Operation
Nipper & other important duties
Service Crew work
Underground Truck Operation
Australian Mining Seminar
PLUS
- Full resume review/rewrite in order to make sure it is mining friendly.
- Interview skills training to make the most of your interview opportunities
- Dedicated access to a Ticketed Underground Shift Supervisor who will ensure your mining knowledge obtained from the courses is up to standard to impress and enable you to sell yourself to potential employers during interviews.
- Ongoing support and advice.
Once you finish either package you can apply to our partnership program, which is for jobs around Kalgoorlie starting as either a Nipper or Truck role. If you have any questions then you are welcome to fill out the link and I will get in contact with you directly.
Hope everyone finds this information helpful and gets the job that they are after.
Regards
The Mining Coach
#getaminingjob
