Myths about getting an entry level mining job
Myths about getting an entry level mining job
If you or a friend are looking to try to get into the mining industry. Then here are 5 myths about getting an entry level mining job, that will save you a lot of time and money.
Myth: The industry uses a national ticketing system
All the hardrock mines around the country are required to issue their own onsite tickets and procedures. These are non-transferable, when you move mine sites you are required to do new equipment tickets and procedures for the new site. The RII ticket system is only used in the construction, shutdown, Oil & Gas and Coal (Queensland only) areas of the industry. It is not used in the actual mining side of the industry, which I know is very strange. This is because all the mines use their state system, that the mine is located in. Each state has its own mines inspectorate, that is responsible for all the mines in that state and they get each mine to issue their own onsite equipment tickets and procedures. These are non-transferable and when you move sites (even with the same company) you have to redo everything on the new site you go to. Making the Owners and Employers responsible in this way, has improved safety dramatically and all stems from a system that requires each site to be individually responsible for everyone working on their site.
If you or a friend are thinking about doing some of these tickets. Then just take 5 minutes to look at some of the job ads. To see if they require equipment tickets or not. If you type underground into seek, you can check out the truck driver job ads yourself. Most just want a manual car license for the underground Truck jobs. Or a HR license for the open pit jobs (if you can fine one).
Over the years I have watched lots of people waste money on tickets that only hurt their chances of getting a job. When you send a resume in full of RII tickets, to an actual mining job. It gets culled straight away, because all you are doing is saying that you don’t know how their mine works. You are coming at the employers with a resume full of tickets that they can’t use. What does that say about you and the research you have done to get into the industry? What does that say about the sort of employee you are going to make? I know lots of bosses that think, not a very good one, unfortunately.
Myth: A FIFO job will lead to a Mining Job (The Magic Bean Plan)
All you have to do is get your foot in the door, and you can move up from there. That’s the advice everywhere on the internet, it’s completely wrong and the reason I call it the “Magic Bean Plan”. Only a very small amount of people are able to make this happen. The majority 95% get stuck in the area of the industry they started in. With the poaching rules, between employers on site, having been around for 25 years now. It makes it almost impossible to make that jump into an actual mining job from a civil, shutdown or utility job.
The poaching rule on most site says, you have to go off site for months (normally 6months) before you can come back with a different employer. This means that most people get trapped in a utility role, on not a lot of money, because they can’t move jobs on the same site and the mining contact they made can’t help them get a job on another site, so they get stuck in the utility job.
Myth: All the entry level jobs are in Iron Ore and Coal
With the automation of the strip mines in the iron ore industry and now coal in Queensland, the focus of jobs within the mining industry has moved. Today the majority of entry level jobs have moved to the Gold, Copper, Silver, Zinc and Base Metals mines. These mines that require people, are mostly underground mines and they are located all around the country.
In Western Australia you can tell the jobs have moved by the number of recruitment companies that have moved their focus. They have moved their focus from Iron Ore to the hardrock underground area of the industry. It’s a smart move, they have pivoted into an area of the industry that requires lots of people, for years to come. You can read about how automation works with in the industry by following this link.
Myth: The S11 is nationally recognised
The S11 is not recognised by any of the other mining inspectorates around the country, only Queensland. It’s an induction required for jobs on coal mines in Queensland. It will not help you get a job in any other state or even in the Hardrock Gold, Copper and base metal mines in Queensland. These mines don’t require it either and again I suggest you check out the job ads for confirmation.
The S11 has the same result as the RII tickets with your resume. How do you think you look to employers? Hire me because I have done a coal mining induction for Queensland, even though your mine is a hardrock one, in NSW? They just get culled on site. The research you do and training you undertake, makes a huge difference to the jobs you can get.
Myth: The fantasy mining job, driving big trucks up north
What is happening to the fantasy job in the age of automation? I won’t lie to you, its not good. Middle management in Iron Ore have made it their mission to replace as many truck drivers as they can. Below is a video on what is happening
Remember Gold and Copper mines are where the jobs are in 2025 and if you want the education to get a job in one of these mines, then this is the link to the DIY introduction to underground mining training package. There are full instructions on how to redo your resume (it takes about 2 hours to do yourself) and interview prep questions as well as a mining company to apply to directly. If you want your resume done for you checkout our 3 Step Plan package that we do with Beyond Recruitment & Resumes.
If you want help getting in, then we also do a Workready package, where you get a ticketed WA shift boss to help you with the mining information (they ask you lots of mining questions to make sure you have learned the information). They will redo your resume, do interview prep (including a mock interview) and come up with a plan of where and how to get in.
If you’ve got any questions or if you’d like to talk to someone, you can leave your details on this enquiry form and we will be in contact.
I hope this info helps.
The Mining Coach
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