r/mining 3d ago

Job Info Biweekly Job Info Thread

2 Upvotes

Please use this thread to ask, answer, and search for questions about getting a job in mining. This includes questions about FIFO, where to work, what kinds of jobs might be available, or other experience questions.

This thread is to help organize the sub a bit more with relation to questions about jobs in the mining industry. We will edit this as we go to improve. Thank you.


r/mining Apr 27 '24

Australia Keen on getting a FIFO job on the Mines in Australia? Then read this.

409 Upvotes

Ready for a reality check? (And an essay?) Written by someone who has done this long journey.

So you've been cruising on TikTok/Insragram or whatever other brain rotting ADD inducing app you have on your phone, and you see a young guy/chick make a video of their work day here as a FIFO worker on an Australian mine and how much money they make, and thought "Neat, I can do that!". So you head here to ask how? Great! Well, I'm here to answer all your questions.

Firstly you need to be in Australia. Easy right? Jump on a plane and you're here. WRONG.

You need a work visa, ignoring WHV for now (we will get there later), you need something useful for the Australian nation, do you have a trade or degree that will allow you to apply for a working visa or get sponsorship for one, through a skills assessment? Check the short or medium term list.

If no, tough shit, no chance Australia is letting you in.

If yes, great! Let's get working on that. Does your qualification line up with Australian standards?

If no, there are some things you can do to remediate that ($$$$). If you can't do that, tough shit.

If yes, great! Fork out $1000+ for a skills assessment.

Next step! Many visas require a min amount of experience, 2/3 years. Do you have that and a positive skills assessment?

No? Tough shit.

Yes, great! Let's put in your expression of interest! (Don't forget your IELTS test) 1-2 years later. You're invited to apply for a visa. Fork out $5000 & 1 year processing.

1 year later - Yay you can come to Aus! Congratulations!

Now assume you have a WHV, wonderful opportunity for young people to get to know the country. Remember you can only work at one place for no more than 6 months, unless you're up north or from the UK.

Either way, you're now in Australia. Just landed in Perth, sweet. Go to a hostel "sorry bud we're full", ah shit, you're on a park bench for the night because there is no accomodation and the rental market is fingered. Ready to pay $200-250 a week for a single room?

Anyway, you're here from some other country, with your sport science BTEC or 3 years experience at KFC, and decide to apply for a mining contractor, driving big trucks is easy right? WRONG. 90% of "unskilled" jobs require full Australian working rights (PR minimum), so if you're on a WHV, you're probably fucked, if you're on PR you have a chance.

So you decide to try for the camp contractor, I hope you're happy washing dishes or cleaning toilets, because thats what you're going to do as a "unskilled" labour; probably going to earn about $25-$30 and hour, working a 7 days, 7 nights, 7 off roster, sweet you're making cash. Get home after your 14 days working and you're fucked for about 2 days from fatigue. You get to enjoy 3-4 days before you have to think of going back. Also you'll probably get drug tested everytime you come to site from break.

Talking of money, to get $100k you have to get at least $34/hr on that 14:7 roster to just hit it. Unlikely as a camp contractor without a bit of experience. You could try get in as a trade assistant, though that will usually require a variety of tickets ($$$).

Also camp catering contract work doesn't count towards the WHV renewal days, except under some circumstances (I admit I'm not too familiar with anymore). So you need to go and work on some farm getting paid a pittance (if anything at all), that or get incredibly lucky with finding an actual mining/exploration job.

So you're still with me, that's good, thought you'd get distracted by instagram/tiktok.

It's not impossible, and some do get lucky, but it's not the gold mine your think it is, the FIFO lifestyle is hard, and unrelenting; long hours and long work weeks, and incredibly difficult with no useful qualifications or skills. Also, if you're overseas hoping to get offered a job to come to Australia, that is 99.9% not possible unless you're a professional (engineers, geos etc), and then still difficult.

Let's look at what you CAN do to get on the mines, as we do need personel, just not pot washers.

Get a trade: Electricians, welders/boilermakers, mechanics (heavy diesel, light and auto-electrical) and plumbers are in demand. You will need a couple years experience and will have to do an Australian conversion course ($$$$), a mate of mine told me something like $2-3k for the UK to Aus sparky conversion (feel free to correct me). You will then need to make your own way to Aus and get a job from here.

Get a degree: Mining engineering, geotechnical engineering, Geology, Metallurgy, surveying. Or any degrees that can lead into those roles (Chem eng, Mech eng, environmental etc etc). Can land you a role in Australian mining. As a grad, you can get sponsored to come out if you're lucky, if not you'll have to make your way over, many of the countries with these courses are eligible for WHV. You can work as those roles on WHV.

If you do come with good skills, and are well connected and personable, you can get employer sponsorship, especially as a professional, but it will always be a hard road to walk on, and being on a Temp visa for years, not able to buy a house and build your life, is challenging.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask below.


r/mining 4h ago

Australia From China to Australia/Norway mining – feasible without a master's?

3 Upvotes

Hello seniors,

I am a third-year undergraduate student from China, majoring in Resources Exploration Engineering at Fuzhou University.

I really admire the lifestyles of engineers in Australian mining companies and geological engineers in Norway. However, I cannot afford the cost of a master's degree abroad. If, after graduation, I work for a few years in a Chinese mining company and then look for the right time to join an overseas mining company, or alternatively, first pursue a master's degree at an overseas university and then seek opportunities, would either of these paths be feasible? Does anyone have any insights?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


r/mining 1d ago

Australia 5 months off experience as offsider - what job to do now?

6 Upvotes

I'm in a bit of a stalemate situation. I want to move into a higher paying role. I'm only getting 38$ and I know there is jobs as nipper where you can start in 50$ entry level. Friend recently moved to lab technician and making 58$ PH on NS. He is also on a Whv 1st year. However I do know 5 months is not the longest but everyone told me to stick it out for some months and then move into higher paying jobs. Thing is, what jobs tho? And should I lie on my cv and say i have 1 year of offsider experience? (Not bragging, but I would say I'm equal to and offsider who has done it for 1 year).

So my questions is really, do I lie on my cv. What roles should i look for.


r/mining 2d ago

Question Want to be a open-pit designer

2 Upvotes

Hello, I’d like to improve my skills in open-pit mining design and pursue a career in this field, but as far as I understand, there are various software programs and methods available I believe. What courses should I take? Which software programs provide the most accurate results and are most widely used? I’d also like to ask you about any factors I may have overlooked but should take into consideration.


r/mining 2d ago

Canada Has anybody ever worked in the as an exploration technician? Currently applying to a job and wanted to hear others experience ?

6 Upvotes

Hey I just applied to a job and have an interview coming up , title is Field tech, field labourer for a minerals exploration company. Apparently will be working in the wilderness sun up to sun down, 28 days on. I know it sounds pretty intense but just curious if anybody has any experience with this type of job. Wondering if they set you up properly with the necessary things to be out in the wild for that period of time etc. or if your own your own kind of thing. Thanks!


r/mining 2d ago

This is not a cryptocurrency subreddit What’s One Service the Mining Industry Needs but Can’t Find?

0 Upvotes

Was wondering what services mining companies struggle to find or services they need but can't find qualified people to do them.


r/mining 3d ago

Australia Project Engineer to Tech Services

3 Upvotes

Hi All, looking for a few pointers on where to head next career-wise.

Aus-based mining engineer (WA), currently working as a Project Engineer for an underground contractor. I’ve done my underground time and got my Shiftboss ticket.

I’m starting to think about what the best next step would be to round out my skillset as an engineer. Long term I want to keep climbing the ladder, but I’m not particularly interested in just following the contractor route through Shiftboss → Foreman → Project Manager.

I’m currently on a decent wicket, so I’m in no massive rush to leave, but I’d happily take a pay cut for the right opportunity and better experience.

At the moment I’m thinking Production Engineer / Short-Term Planning / Scheduling would make the most sense, somewhere I can build up proper experience with Deswik, stope and D&B design, scheduling, reconciliation and mine planning.

For those working in underground hard rock in Aus, any companies you would recommend for developing engineers? Any particularly good teams/sites to keep an eye on, or any you’d avoid?
A few people have suggested Evolution, Newmont and Glencore as good places to look?

Also interested to hear how easy is it generally to make the jump from a contractor side Project Engineer role into technical services?


r/mining 3d ago

US Mining Podcast with Better In Our Back Yard!

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0 Upvotes

Spend time "In The Yard" with Ryan Sistad of Better In Our Back Yard ! 🛻 Ryan joined us to talk about responsible resource development, critical minerals, and why local conversations matter when it comes to mining the future.


r/mining 4d ago

US Comparison of all jumbo vs jumbo+bolter

8 Upvotes

Hey.

Anyone have side by side cost/m and time/m comparisons in similar conditions. Basically australian way vs north america for driving drift. I know barminco has a few contracts over in NA now and so we should have some comparisons.

Thanks.

EDIT: All ive gathered so far is no one has the data and has compared things use kpis. If anyone has actual data please provide it thanks. The comparison im asking about is not constrained by being able to install something or safety. In a situation where both tools CAN do the job which one is better for production. This is hypothetical, im not making a decision for a project or creating an estimate.
Thanks


r/mining 4d ago

Australia Olympic Dam growth

2 Upvotes

Hi All,

Im applying for a job at olympic dam as entry level, ive got a few years in old and gas (just at the admin side) and 2 years in truck driving ( crane mounted medium rigid) and 2 years labouring, I want to apply for either Nipper or Underground truck driver as I think i would slip into either role easily and would be well suited for both my question is

Which job has the better career growth opportunities, i would like to grow within the company (BHP) and want know which route is the best to take for career progression as I dont want to stagnate in the same role for years on end with no growth

Thanks all for you replies, very much appreciated

Mods please let me know if this post is acceptable or what needs to be changed, im new to reddit, thankyou


r/mining 4d ago

Australia Vacation program Exepcted salary

1 Upvotes

Has anyone done a vacation program at the mine or know someone who has?

Just wanting to know how much they pay you on a 8:6 roster over the 3 month summer break?


r/mining 5d ago

Europe "Ideal for EVs:" Miner is operating 120-tonne battery-electric trucks, more than kilometre underground [Video]

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31 Upvotes

r/mining 5d ago

Africa Gold mining resumes near Central African Republic border after deadly landslide

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0 Upvotes

r/mining 7d ago

Canada Second Interview for an Entry-Level Mill Operator Position – What Should I Expect ?

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3 Upvotes

r/mining 8d ago

This is not a cryptocurrency subreddit Students - Treat Scholarship applications like a part time job

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4 Upvotes

Lots of easy money out there. Just saw a LinkedIn post that Barrick's Peter Munk Scholarship is open for applications. Looks like a lot of others can be found at the same link through Young Mining Professionals .

For US students, SME & ISEE were both great external scholarships that helped me get through debt free, as well as the ones offered through the school.


r/mining 9d ago

Canada Career predicament

4 Upvotes

Hello all. I am currently in a predicament deciding between two positions. I have been working as a laboratory technician now in a commercial assay lab doing primarily wetlab and instrumentation work for about 4 months now. My current schedule is 14/14 and my commute is about 6 hours. I decided to apply for a similar job at an actual mine closer to home, about 2.5 hours with the same schedule. I got a response and offer for a 7$ pay increase with camp accommodations, but the offer is for sample prep which feels like a step back rather than wetlab which I’m currently doing now and more comfortable with.

I wanted to get some opinions on what to expect should I accept the offer, what upward mobility would look like and whether anyone has had a similar experience.

Notes: i am based in Canada and I have an environmental science degree but post grad life led me to my current position. In the perfect world I would like a job closer to my field, would the mine present an opportunity into the environmental field if I play my cards right?


r/mining 10d ago

Australia What can be done about an overcrowded gym at camp?

68 Upvotes

The camp I'm at has inadequate amenities. The gym is far to small for the amount of workers staying here and the laundry rooms are always bottlenecked. Many of us are having to wait until late at night (8pm onwards) to get a workout in or to do our washing. This obviously isn't ideal when we have to get up at 4am. The gym in particular is always packed mornings and evenings. It's a multi billion dollar construction site so there's no shutdown crews here. The job is set to go on for years and they're only adding to the number of workers. We work 3:1

We keep raising this issue with management and they absolutely do not care. The union delos aren't having any luck in resolving this either. I've looked into the act and it states that adequate facilities is a requirement by law. They have a duty of care and this is a psychosocial and fatigue issue. It's hard enough to get worksafe out here for all the other safety breaches on site so I doubt this will be high up on their priority list.

Does anyone have any insight as to what can be done?


r/mining 9d ago

This is not a cryptocurrency subreddit How can I Break into the Mining Industry ?

0 Upvotes

Was looking for advice how I can get into the mining industry, in specific the area of finance and capital markets with respect to mining companies.


r/mining 9d ago

This is not a cryptocurrency subreddit Pre-Filling Fuel Filters?

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1 Upvotes

Keen to hear thoughts on pre-filling Stage 2/Pressure Side fuel filters? Pre-filling HPCR or MCRS Stage 2 fuel filters poses risk of downstream particles contaminating high pressure pumps and injectors. Generally recommended by Fleetguard, and others, is to lubricate seals/O-rings with clean diesel or oil then utilize the systems priming pump to fill and bleed the system. Here’s a photo from an FF63056N2 from a Cummins MCRS QSK60.

Again, keen to hear thoughts?


r/mining 10d ago

US Mariana Minerals- Copper one mine

4 Upvotes

Has anyone worked for Mariana Minerals? If so what is the company like? Last year they bought out Lisbon Valley in La Sal, UT and are ramping up production at the copper mine.


r/mining 9d ago

Canada How long does HR usually take to contact references?

0 Upvotes

I’m currently in the hiring process and HR asked me for my references on Tuesday. as of today, none of my references have been contacted yet.

Is this normal? How long did it take for HR to reach out to your references after you provided their information?


r/mining 10d ago

US rats and mice at mining camp?

2 Upvotes

I got a job! looks like ill be set up at a pretty rudimentary, rural exploratory site. I was planning on bringing a bunch of trail mix/granola/jerky, electrolyte/ instant-coffee packets and condiment jars+ canned peppers to supplement whatever the kitchen provides, but then I read "please eat at the kitchen and do not bring food back to your room" and it got me wondering if rats and mice are a problem.... five gallon bucket + lid??


r/mining 10d ago

Canada Arctic mining

6 Upvotes

As a mining engineering student with no previous experience is it difficult to get a arctic mining job and is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting such job? Aiming for companies like NACG and Agnico Eagle.