Mining industry employment

I currently work in logistics for the exhibition industry and I am looking to make a transition into the mining industry. There is a course in WA driving haul trucks that takes 1 week,as well as the marcsta course that takes 1 day. I would also get my HR truck license here in SA. While all this costs about $7000 it might be a way into mining? I would be thankful for any advice from anyone about working in mining.
Cheers,warney

warney said:

I currently work in logistics for the exhibition industry and I am looking to make a transition into the mining industry. There is a course in WA driving haul trucks that takes 1 week,as well as the marcsta course that takes 1 day. I would also get my HR truck license here in SA. While all this costs about $7000 it might be a way into mining? I would be thankful for any advice from anyone about working in mining.
Cheers,warney

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My dad did a similar course in the hunter valley about 6 months ago- after being assured work by everyone involved, he hasn't been able to even get an interview, let alone find a job, so be careful of what the people running the courses tell you. Your best bet may be to try and make contact with some of the employers first to find out if there is any work available before you do the course. Otherwise you may waste your money.

And you'll probably find there will be an awful lot of people out there that watched 60 minutes on the weekend and are having similar ideas , so there'll be an awful lot of competition for those jobs

Hope this helps

professor_frink said:

My dad did a similar course in the hunter valley about 6 months ago- after being assured work by everyone involved, he hasn't been able to even get an interview, let alone find a job, so be careful of what the people running the courses tell you. Your best bet may be to try and make contact with some of the employers first to find out if there is any work available before you do the course. Otherwise you may waste your money.

And you'll probably find there will be an awful lot of people out there that watched 60 minutes on the weekend and are having similar ideas , so there'll be an awful lot of competition for those jobs

Hope this helps

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Thanks for that professor, I am hopeing roxby will be looking for people soon. Its a lot of cash on a chance isnt it? I wish your dad luck. Cheers,warney

There is an upside that I completely forgot to mention previously- The training you get from these guys will also allow you to operate machinery that will get you work on major road building projects, so if there are new dual carriage highways, or upgrades, etc going on near you, then you'd still have that as a fallback option. Although the pay is nowhere near as good

professor_frink said:

There is an upside that I completely forgot to mention previously- The training you get from these guys will also allow you to operate machinery that will get you work on major road building projects, so if there are new dual carriage highways, or upgrades, etc going on near you, then you'd still have that as a fallback option. Although the pay is nowhere near as good

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did your dad do training on scrapers,dozers,bobcats ect. and did he have construction experience beforehand? They have earthmoving courses in SA but not mining specific,its WA that has haul truck courses.But im not going to spend 7g on a possibility,a probability I would. I might go up to roxby soon and talk to people up there. Apparently they will be looking for 10000 people soon.Maybe face to face could help......

Warney you can have a look at:
http://www.mountisa.biz/employment/index.php
You might get some employment tips and vacancies from here if you are thinking of relocating to the Isa.

warney said:

did your dad do training on scrapers,dozers,bobcats ect. and did he have construction experience beforehand? They have earthmoving courses in SA but not mining specific,its WA that has haul truck courses.But im not going to spend 7g on a possibility,a probability I would. I might go up to roxby soon and talk to people up there. Apparently they will be looking for 10000 people soon.Maybe face to face could help......

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I'm not quite sure of what equipment he was trained to use(what kind of a son am I-maybe I should listen more carefully ), but the training was done by a company that specifically trained people for mining work. It was only afterwards that he found out that some of that training could be useful for other kinds of construction(major roads and the like). He hasn't done any of that kind of construction before,whether this was a hinderance to him finding a job, I'm not sure. There just didn't seem to be much available for him to even apply for. Most of the employment agencies in the hunter valley weren't even keen for him to leave a resume when he went in there, they said there were just too many people trying to get in on the action.

Having said that I'm not sure if these employment agencies were only for local miners, or if they were affiliated with similar agencies all over the country. If not, then W.A may be worth looking into.

thank you for your feedback professor frink and blueroo,it sounds tough when they wont even take your resume,im not sure of the the vibe in SA and WA but im going to find out soon.Im willing to put time and resouces into this pursuit.SA has been tipped as the new WA on the back of the air destroyer contract and roxby downs........I want in on this and im willing to retrain for this.Thanks again for the info,you can never have enough info.
Cheers,warney

I live in perth and got my marcsta about 6 months ago ( I needed it for a short term contract) I've forgotten the name of the people I got it off but they were based in Joondaloop...anyway they were taking the 2 best? most keen applicants ,out of say 12 and going on with free training on the dump trucks and then setting them up with employment....maybe somthing you could look into
I'd google marcsta and look for the trainers in joondaloop

kgee said:

I live in perth and got my marcsta about 6 months ago ( I needed it for a short term contract) I've forgotten the name of the people I got it off but they were based in Joondaloop...anyway they were taking the 2 best? most keen applicants ,out of say 12 and going on with free training on the dump trucks and then setting them up with employment....maybe somthing you could look into
I'd google marcsta and look for the trainers in joondaloop

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thats sounds promising kgee,im going have have to get amongst it to be in the right place at the right time. How did you like the marcsta course?
thanks,warney

Marcsta is just another saftey induction and amounts to about 8 hour's of boredom

kgee said:

Marcsta is just another saftey induction and amounts to about 8 hour's of boredom

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lol. there are 2 trainers in joondaloop(same co.).no marctsa in SA....we have some catching up to do.WA here i come! Cheers,warney

Have you ever been to a real working mine? If not then I suggest that you get yourself to one to familiarise yourself with the industry and what actually happens. Ideally you want to go underground and you may as well go through the mill (flotation plant) as well.

Mining companies tend to be reluctant to let non-employees into these areas (most public tours being little more than a video, static display of minerals and a bus ride around the site with a focus on pollution control) but it can be done if you ask nicely enough. If going on an organised tour then one that's being done for a group of non-employee engineers (Engineers Australia will often let people join such tours) is the best bet.

ANY mine will do to familiarise yourself with the industry as long as it's (1) a real working mine actually in production and (2) underground (unless you want to work in an open cut mine).

Next thing is to get yourself on-site with your preferred employer. A very good opportunity to show that you're serious. Treat the visit as an interview apart from dress (jeans will be fine) even though your stated purpose is just to have a look around. Make sure you see as much as possible and ask intelligent questions which demonstrate that you actually know something about the industry.

As for road construction, another way into this is via those hiring the contractors. Government and council road works - certainly not glamerous or highly paid but a good way to make contacts with supervisors etc. of the private road construction firms. They often do work for gas/electricity/water authorities too, especially on new construction (this will vary so check first). Pay isn't that good however.

An ability to demonstrate an interest in heavy industry also might help indirectly. So try and get yourself a look at as many smelters, factories, power stations, processing plants etc as you can. It won't guarantee you a job in mining (but could lead to one in heavy industry - also reasonably good pay) but at least it shows that you're interested in working in an industrial environment.

DON'T under any circumstances ask questions about pollution or safety on a mine tour apart from technical questions about the working of pollution control or safety systems that THEY have already made you aware of. Even then, ask how it works but keep well away from questions about how effective it really is. Mining companies are quite wary of those opposed to their activities trying to gain inside info etc and will become immediately suspicious if you ask these sorts of questions.

Be aware that the focus of the industry is on PRODUCTION VOLUME and COSTS since practically all mining companies are price takers selling an undifferentiated product (though some smelters cast specific branded alloyed products sold at a premium price).

Have an open mind on unions IMO. Go along with whatever is accepted at the particular mine and don't express a strong opinion either way.