When it comes to gaining the right qualifications for mining employment there is no one training package that will simply meet all the requirements for every entry level mining position. As I have mentioned in previous articles, mining is a hugely diverse industry and to be successful when attempting to break through into entry level mine jobs, research must be done to determine what types of mining training and qualifications are needed for individual employment opportunities. 

The BMA Caval Ridge mine project (as BHP Mitsubishi Alliance being the operator) on the outskirts of Moranbah in Central Queensland has recently awarded contracts to two of Australia’s biggest employers of construction workers in the mining industry, Thiess and Monadelophous.

With the mine’s construction phase currently underway the major operational areas including the CHPP and rail system are due to attract the attention of struggling construction workers around the country with a range of positions available to meet the demand.

When it comes to searching or even beginning to search for your dream job in the Australian Mining Industry, most people can often be left a bit confused and discouraged by the process in successfully getting mining jobs. There is, however, a way of obtaining helpful information and getting the ball rolling on your future in mining.

Often when new entrants to the mining industry begin to search for mining jobs their first port of call is Labouring or Dump Truck jobs due to a limited skill set or the media hype around these unskilled opportunities.

The truth of the matter is, (as i have mentioned in previous articles) these types of mining jobs, especially Dump Truck jobs are always the most competitive. This often then discourages would be miners from continuing to dig a little deeper in their pursuit for mine jobs and miss out on other opportunities to be found in both mining and gas. 

Another of the commonly searched entry level positions in the mining industry that includes cleaning jobs in the mines is the ‘camp services’ career pathway.

The role of camp services is to keep up with the maintenance, cleaning and cooking that is required to facilitate the living arrangements of hundreds and sometimes thousands of mining staff. These camps can be found on the mining lease in close proximity to where the mining is being undertaken or in the nearby towns that surround the mine.

One of the most commonly searched entry level jobs for men and women wanting a career in mining are ‘mining labourer jobs.’

Unfortunately for these men and women, aside from the construction phase of the mining process there is little use for a labourer and is rarely advertised when mining employers are in need of staff. What is commonly advertised by mining employers, especially those working on ‘shutdowns’ which is the scheduled maintenance on major pieces of plant or equipment is the mining job known as a Trade Assistant.

When most of the men and women in Australia begin to search for a mining job that requires no previous mining experience the most popular choice by a long way are Haul Truck or Dump Truck driving jobs. The reason for this it seems is down to it being the most commonly used image by media reporting on Australia’s mining industry and has become the ‘poster’ mine job common for many recruitment agencies as it provides wages in excess of $100,000 and equal time fly in fly out rosters (eg: 7 days on 7 days off ).

So lets dig a little deeper into what it takes to get a mine job driving some of the biggest machinery on the planet.

As far as entry level mining jobs go, an opportunity to become a drillers offsider should be grabbed by many with both hands.

The drilling jobs are physical, the locations are often very remote and the money is great, but that doesn’t mean its the mining job for everyone. Over the next few paragraphs I will detail the life of a driller offsider, the qualifications needed to be considered for this mine job and the career path and financial incentives that follow.

Last week I received an email from a lady who wishes to get herself a mining job. The email began to explain in some detail her quest thus far to find a mining job and many of the pitfalls she had already experienced.

Also the lady explained how she was unsure if any of her previous experience would help her (administration worker) or if she should just try and start again with a job driving a truck. My response, quite simply, was “What do you want to do? If all your experience is in a certain area, why would you throw it all away if you still enjoy the work just to do something you think is more mining specific?”

You can’t turn on the television lately without hearing something about the mining industry boom being over, but the simple facts are that this is not the case. About five days ago I received a call from a mate of mine who drives cranes for a large logistics contractor in the Bowen Basin.

After the usual teasing he began to explain to me the problem they are having in finding new riggers and dogman needed to work on their fleet of cranes and meet the current demand. “But I thought things were slowing down out there?’ I replied with more than a hint of sarcasm. His reply: “Although 2011 was extremely busy, at the moment it has come back to earth a bit but is definitely not slow.”