The best advice to get your mining start
The best advice I have ever received, heard or have given, in regards to getting a mining start, is to.
Go where employers have no choice but to hire new starters and give them what they want!
The key factor that most people get wrong when applying this advice. Is, they keep looking in areas of the industry where employers have a choice of people. The choice to hire experienced people. Or the choice to lower their wages bills, by offering 1 to 2 year traineeships on a limited amount of money (normally $75K for a 2&1 roster).
Areas of the industry where employers have choice
Iron Ore
Coal
Big Hardrock FIFO open pits
Shutdown work
Construction
How can you tell these employers have choice? Wages, all these employers are paying significantly less in wages than they have in the past. The only way they can do this, is if there is an over supply of experienced people. Shutdown work rates are a good example, of how hourly rates can almost half when employers have choice. 5 years ago, shutdown workers were making $80 to $100 plus an hour. Today rates range from $40 to $60 an hour. You can only drop wages that much if you have more people than you need.
Areas of the industry where employers have NO choice
Hardrock Underground
Exploration
Small mining town based pits