Despite reports that the ‘mining boom’ is over and recent downturn in the industry, the resources sector is still a lucrative field in which to build a long and rewarding career. Those who are willing to work long hours and in demanding conditions can still find good opportunities with high pay and good benefits. Read on to find out some of the biggest employers in the industry and how you can start working towards a mining and resources career.
Australia’s Largest Mining Employers
It just pays to keep in mind that working in mine operations is not the only work in the mining sector. Many other positions can offer a career suited to your aptitude, with all of the benefits of working for a large, stable company. When you think of the biggest mining employers in Australia’s resources sector, names like Glencore, BHP and Rio Tinto probably come to mind. While they certainly do provide a significant number of jobs in the industry, you may be surprised to learn that some of the largest employers aren’t the mines themselves. In most cases, it is third party contractors, service providers and recruitment agencies like Chandler Macleod who predominantly place people in mining jobs.
Working for a Contractor
Because most mine operators will only hire personnel who have previous experience working on mine sites, contractors and service providers are a pathway to getting a ‘foot in the door’ in the industry. Contractors are typically in the infrastructure, security and hospitality sectors. Some of these contractors include ESS Compass, Serco, and MSS Security. These companies service all of the positions not directly related to the mine’s operations, such as cleaning, cooking, accommodation services, transport, warehousing, site security, medical care and almost every other conceivable trade. If you can look up a service or tradesman in your local phone book, then you can guarantee it is required on a mine site and there are often trade assistant and labourer positions available that don’t require any qualifications to perform the role.
Turning a Mining Job into a Career
Once you have proven that you are capable of working in remote areas on demanding rosters, career progression becomes much easier. Most, if not all, mine services companies offer excellent training and advancement packages for long-term employees. Retaining staff is very important for mine service companies due to the nature of the working environment and many offer very attractive salary packages and conditions for experienced personnel. Because many of the positions on a mine site are similar to their ‘civilian’ counterpart, there is also the added bonus of being able to transition back to a home-based job quite easily with recognised qualifications and sought after experience under your belt.
Ten years ago, it was really easy to walk onto a site and start learning to drive a dump truck or perform a similar entry level role. While there has been a shift in the mining and resources sector in Australia over the past couple of years, there is still opportunity to break into the industry and forge a successful career.
Have you worked in the mining and resources sector? What advice would you give someone trying to get a job in the industry?
