Any tips on getting a job in the mines????

[benji09ssv]

ok so im 20 years old and i want to get a job in the mines since i dont have any experience i will probally start on the dump trucks and see where i go any helpfull hint would be greatfull

[Boonz]

having a trade is extremely handy, depends on how much enthusiasm you show in your interview and what general skills you have already.

alot of my mates ahve gone to roxby downs chasing some coin, 2 out of 6 got jobs with drilling companys after they got their HR truck license, the other four are still slaving away underground doin the dirty work. good cash, but not the best job if you have family your close to cos its 2 weeks on one week off, and a whole day in a plane each way to get back to where your family is

[ClairBear]

Good luck breaking in at 20 yrs old with no experience. Best you will get is a hard labour position x 12 hours shifts for average wage. Only people that make big dollars in the mines these days are experienced tradies and people with lots of experience using heavy machinery. Think about it, would you let a 20 year old with no experience loose on an expensive piece of machinery?

[Lumps of cheese]

I'm in the trade, and as sash said, i wouldn't expect to walk in and jump into a million dollar piece of machinery. I'd start on the smaller gear to gain experience first, nothing better than walking in with a couple of years experience under your belt. If you're serious about it then you'll need your tickets for a start.

[ClairBear]

There is a perception out there in the world that anyone who works in the mines earns lots of money. Back in the 80's in the mining boom this was the case. Everyone earned huge amounts from the cleaning staff, hospitality staff right through to the engineers etc. I had a number of males friends back then who worked in the mines in unskilled positions, working 3 weeks on and one week off earning insane money. Most did it for a few years, bought houses, cars and other assets then gave it up for a regular 9-5 job.

However the mining boom ended and wages were regulated and bought into line with the rest of the country, so cleaners stopped earning $100K plus a year. Some out there still think there is the potential to earn this sort of money, not realising that it all changed a while back but go around filling others heads with tales of big money to be earned.

When Mitsubishi Motors here in Adelaide closed, a large number of factory workers got the Government to pay for a range of tickets believing they could head for the mines with the promise of big incomes. Sadly many realised after fruitless attempts to get into the mines with their new tickets that they needed to be highly skilled to get in.

[benji09ssv]

thanks for the info, im booked into get my generic mine ticket and my dump truck ticket in july then i will start to apply for jobs then

[les82]

I work as an underground coal miner and have no trade background. I would say get your generics done off your own back and your medical, Then start calling around. Dont take no for an answer either keep calling back every couple of weeks or so. Dont know where your from either but it seems to be easier to get into the mines in QLD. I work an equal time roster with six weeks annual leave a year on $120k. I think thats pretty good money. That seems to be about the wage for an underground miner in QLD. Good luck

[MasterOfReality]

My 2 cents.

You won't walk in and end up on a haul truck with no experience, full stop. You won't get anywhere near the big toys until you have spent some time (at least a year) doing the dirty work and being everyone else's bitch.

I am a senior mining and geotechnical engineer and I have worked both as a miner in underground coal (central QLD and NSW), underground metalliferous (Western NSW) and iron ore (Pilbara), and as engineer in these operations as well. I generally switch between office roles and site based miner roles. Next year will be my 10th year in this industry.

What do you want to get into? Underground or open cut? How thick is your skin? I have seen plenty of young blokes (<20 years old) walk in all big and tough, and then pack it in and leave a couple of months later because of the amount of shit they cop at work.

In the iron ore operations, they tend to give the truck driving roles to females to due greater mechanical sympathy and the general fact that females are physically restricted to what they can do on site.

What a lot of blokes do is get a start with local contractors, and then jump ship when they land something with the mining company. We hired a field assistant last year in the Pilbara, paid him $80k a year to sit on his ass at the drill rigs, and he left because he got a job in the prep plant that was paying him $103k a year for hosing down equipment.

What I would do is get your generic inductions done for both open cut and underground, that way you are not limited in what you can apply for. Its more attractive to get someone with their inductions already done as it costs a couple of grand. Then apply to labor hire companies and then hassle them to let them know you are serious.

[benji09ssv]

My 2 cents.

You won't walk in and end up on a haul truck with no experience, full stop. You won't get anywhere near the big toys until you have spent some time (at least a year) doing the dirty work and being everyone else's bitch.

I am a senior mining and geotechnical engineer and I have worked both as a miner in underground coal (central QLD and NSW), underground metalliferous (Western NSW) and iron ore (Pilbara), and as engineer in these operations as well. I generally switch between office roles and site based miner roles. Next year will be my 10th year in this industry.

What do you want to get into? Underground or open cut? How thick is your skin? I have seen plenty of young blokes (<20 years old) walk in all big and tough, and then pack it in and leave a couple of months later because of the amount of shit they cop at work.

In the iron ore operations, they tend to give the truck driving roles to females to due greater mechanical sympathy and the general fact that females are physically restricted to what they can do on site.

What a lot of blokes do is get a start with local contractors, and then jump ship when they land something with the mining company. We hired a field assistant last year in the Pilbara, paid him $80k a year to sit on his ass at the drill rigs, and he left because he got a job in the prep plant that was paying him $103k a year for hosing down equipment.

What I would do is get your generic inductions done for both open cut and underground, that way you are not limited in what you can apply for. Its more attractive to get someone with their inductions already done as it costs a couple of grand. Then apply to labor hire companies and then hassle them to let them know you are serious.

so do you still recommend getting my dump truck ticket or just my generic tickets for open and underground

[MasterOfReality]

so do you still recommend getting my dump truck ticket or just my generic tickets for open and underground

I would go for the generic tickets first for both o/c and u/g.

I think its best if you work either in the open cut or underground to get a general feel of the place and the way the operation works, before trying out for the trucks. I think a year minimum is necessary for a total clean skin. If the site that you end up at doesn't express an interest in training you on trucks, then you could consider leaving and then doing the ticket by yourself. That way, you have some experience under your belt which will make it easier to get back in.

You never know, you might find that you like other roles better. Truck driving can get extremely tedious. I drove underground haul trucks for a while and was glad to get out of them and back onto charge up crew and jumbo's.

[Rusty]

Karratha western australia,

complete and utter shithole but endless work and huge pay in the mines. Best money in australia for experienced or simply trade assistants. Good for single young fella

[MasterOfReality]

Karratha western australia,

complete and utter shithole but endless work and huge pay in the mines. Best money in australia for experienced or simply trade assistants. Good for single young fella

I know a bloke who lived for 5 years in the same donga in Karratha. He loved it. I thought he was a bit twisted.

He has just recently moved to Newman!

[dirt drifter]

in this game its not what ya know its who ya know that gets u a start. when i got a start on dumptrucks back in early 08 the other trainees ranged from ringers on cattle properties to nurses. all we had in common was that we (or our other half) knew the right people. as people have mentioned not every company will take trainees with no experience on heavy machnery regerdless of who u know so i guess its the luck of the draw.

some jobs in mining towns pay pretty good money without u needing to set foot on a minesite, it might be worth investigating what non-minesite work is going in whatever area u want to go. once you're in a mining town u get to know people in the industry and hopefully one of your new mates can put in a good word for u or point u in the right direction sooner or later.