Entry level jobs in mining Australia

Entry level jobs in mining Australia have been a target for many people over the last 18 months, as mining industry fever hit Australia.

Mining in Australia created thousands of jobs and in the process allowed remote communities and towns to thrive.

Mining towns like Moranbah and Mt.Isa in Queensland benefited from an influx of workers who had their sights set on earning big money from entry level jobs in mining.

Have times changed? – Yes!

Is it still possible to find entry level jobs in mining? – Yes!

Mining in Australia has endured a record period of massive financial investment in the sector, with new mines sprouting up across Australia. Western Australia in particular saw a flurry of activity as Asian countries elbowed each other in a fight to get their hands on high quality Australian iron ore.

Owing to the remote nature of mining in Australia, the fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) lifestyle was born and swathes of ‘high-vis’ clad mine workers clogged airports and flew thousands of kilometres to sparsely populated regions of the Pilbara.

Some of the larger iron ore mining operations include accommodation blocks and full-service restaurant-quality style mess-halls to house and feed the massive workforce.

“a massive amount of entry level jobs that needed to be filled”

Although mining operations requires skilled professionals to work on heavy machinery both above and underground, there is a massive amount of entry level jobs in mining that still must be filled.

Welcome to the stage, the era of entry level jobs in mining. The term has been used widely over the past 2 years as scores of people found financial success when moving from their day to day jobs into the mining industry. Entry level jobs in mining (Australia) spread across many different job specifications.

The most common entry level jobs in mining are for cleaners, hospitality workers, housekeepers, kitchen staff, chef’s, administration staff, site clerks, lab assistants etc. These types of jobs were easy to get as, in most cases,� they required no formal qualification.

Mining activity in Australia has changed

Over recent months, mining activity in Australia has changed from one of investment and construction to a focus on productivity and cost management. Despite what the media report, there are still billions of dollars worth of investment in the ‘pipeline’. What this means is, there are still new projects going through various stages of approval, feasibility, exploration, planning, financing, construction and eventually the production phase. Somewhere in the region of $186 billion of investment in the sector is still to come.

So what does this mean for people who are still dreaming of scoring high-paying entry level jobs in mining (Australia)?

“the mining industry will always need entry level workers”

There will always be a need in the mining industry in Australia to recruit new workers into the industry. The very nature of the FIFO lifestyle involves long periods of time away from home and long, repetitive 12 hour days working in more often than not, hot and dusty conditions.

“identify the gap in the entry level mining jobs market”

For some, the realities of a fly-in-fly-out lifestyle catch up with them and for whatever reason, many people realise a FIFO mining job is not for them. This creates a gap in the market and allows others seeking employment in the industry to slot in and give an entry level job in mining a go.

Additional benefits entry level jobs in mining bring, are the opportunities to work your way up into a more permanent and mining related job. We hear many stories of people who start out at the entry level and end up driving massive dump trucks, or becoming safety advisors and eventually – managers.

Mining in Australia affords everyone equal opportunity to make something of their life, even if their starting point is at the entry level job stage.

Requirements for entry level jobs in mining Australia

No matter where you go in Australia, there is some form of mining activity going on. Training and qualification requirements do vary and people looking for entry level jobs in mining should understand the legislation surrounding training and qualifications.

An entry level jobs in mining checklist

• Entry level jobs in mining can be physical in nature so it’s important to be physically fit (this can be determined by a pre-employment medical if you are working in a coal mining environment and is referred to as a Coal Board Medical).
• Most mining companies require new workers to pass a drug and alcohol test. Mining companies are very strict on this type of compliance as there are many hazards on a mine site. On a daily basis, entry level jobs in mining involve working around large vehicles and heavy machinery, in confined spaces and could involve working at heights, and more often than not, random drug and alcohol tests will be recurring throughout the term of employment. If workers are not ‘clean’ they may run the risk of their employment being terminated.
• Some mining companies insist that people who are employed in entry level jobs in mining pass a criminal history check; and
• When working on a Queensland mine site, it is a requirement that entry level jobs in mining are conducted safely�by the workers involved. That is why the state government of Queensland and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines created a training course called the Standard 11 or Mining Induction, which introduces essential safety concepts to entry level workers.

Entry level jobs in mining tips

• do your research into the mining industry.
• build your knowledge around the mining activity in your state.
• can you commit to working away from home for lengthy periods? – discuss this with your family first.
• create a list of Australian mining companies and mining contractors – visit their website to see if there are any new projects on the starting blocks.
• ask your friends and neighbours if they know anyone who is working in the mines, word-of-mouth can be a good way to get an entry level job in mining.
• visit the mining jobs boards on a regular basis and sign up for entry level jobs in mining alerts.
• discover exactly what type of entry level job you can do and get the skills to do the job to the highest standard.
• people who apply for entry level jobs in mining often fail to get an interview because their resume is very ordinary and not targeted at the job being advertised. Get a good mining resume prepared and increase your entry level job in mining chances.
• consider enrolling in a mining training course and be ‘mine-ready’. Show show mining companies and mining supply contractors you are ready to go at a moments notice; and
• get your weekly copy of iMINCO Project News – this free email bulletin is packed with entry level jobs in mining, mining and resource sector news and articles to help people get a foot in the door of the mining industry at the entry level.

Call [email protected] for more information on entry level jobs in mining and what training courses can help get your resume through to a real person.