Mining Apprenticeships, Electrical Apprenticeships Australia

Mining apprenticeships – how to find apprentice opportunities in electrical trades

iMINCO Queensland Coal Mining Jobs - Cuesta Coal raises millions

For many people, choosing a career in the mining industry can be a challenge. Not knowing what types of jobs are available now and in the future is something thousands of people struggle with.

Each week, iMINCO receives hundreds of emails from ordinary people who want to find new opportunities in the mining and resource industry, but are simply overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options and obstacles to overcome.

When we look at ‘obstacles’, these are only temporary and there is always a way around, you just have to be focused and have the right mindset.

Take the recent inquiry we received from Bill who has a bit of experience in the electrical linesman industry, but now wants to see what he can do in terms of getting a mature electrical apprenticeship. Bill is a motivated guy – he just needs a little bit of help and assistance to point him in the right direction.

Every mine site relies heavily on electricity to run the entire mining operation, from accommodation and administration buildings, to mineral processing plant and even electric haul trucks which require recharging daily.

With this in mind, we can see that there is always going to be a need for qualified electrical specialists in the mining sector.

The big question is, where are electrical apprenticeships to be found when you are a mature age student? We have known people to get a mature age apprenticeship in their 40’s, so the sky’s the limit in terms of age. Many people may not agree with this – however, as we said before, getting a job in the mines is as much about mindset as well as experience and ability.

For those people who have a bit of electrical experience and are looking for mature age apprenticeships, here is a quick review of how to go about it.

How to find mature age electrical apprenticeships in the mining sector in Australia

There’s 2 ways to begin the search for apprenticeships.

1. Find apprenticeship schemes with mining and resource companies

2. Look for apprenticeships with mining contractors

Many people won’t have a clue where to start, so here is a step-by-step checklist to follow.

Step by step guide to mining apprenticeships – electrical

  • Go to Google and type in these phrases
    “Mining apprenticeships electrical”
    “mature age apprenticeships electrical”
    “electrical apprenticeships mining 2014”
    “mining electrical apprenticeships 2014”
    “electrical apprentices mature age”
    “mature age electrical apprenticeship”
    “mature age electrical apprentices”
    This is just a sample of the types of searches you can begin with. After you enter the search phrase, you will see a list of links to� websites that have information on what types of apprenticeships are available and how to go about applying. This is step one of the discovery process where you will build your knowledge of the apprenticeship opportunities in Australia.

Analysing search results

  • Mining Apprenticeship Jobs | Indeed.com

    au.indeed.com/MiningApprenticeship-jobs

    Jobs 1 – 10 of 20 – 20 Mining Apprenticeship Vacancies available on Indeed.com. one search. all jobs.

  • Mining apprenticeships in australia – iMINCO

    iminco.net/miningapprenticeships-in-australia/

    If you’re searching for Mining apprenticeships in Australia, it’s time to brush up … your timing is fantastic as typically 2014 apprenticeships are offered between … a couple of apprenticeships are up for grabs, including an Instrument Electrical�…

  • Rio Tinto Coal Australia – Apprenticeships & traineeships

    www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au “� People & careers

    An apprenticeship offers on-the-job experience, mining training and formalised study all while getting paid to do it. … In New South Wales, up to 12 electrical and mechanical apprenticeships are made … 2014 Rio Tinto – All rights reserved.

  • Fortescue Metals Group Ltd – Apprenticeships

    www.fmgl.com.au “� People and Careers

    Applications for all FIFO and residential positions for 2014 are now closed. … August 2014. It is a prerequisite at Fortescue that all apprentices have completed a�…

The above is a sample of results from a search for “electrical apprenticeships mining 2014”. That seems like a logical place to start right.

The list will change as different search terms are entered into the search engine.

The next step…

Separate the mining apprenticeships for electricians into 2 sections

  • Apprenticeships & Jobs
    Some companies will advertise directly on mining jobs boards like SEEK, Indeed, Career One etc. This is a good place to start and build knowledge on the companies who are actively promoting apprenticeships in Australia. Create a list of these companies and research them thoroughly.
  • Apprenticeships & Employers
    Directly contacting mining companies and contractors is another proven way to uncover electrical apprenticeships in the mining sector.Simply by conducting a search on Google for “electrical apprenticeships job mining 2014”, the information at hand is more than enough to get started.What you will be looking for are the companies and employers that are advertising for apprentices.For instance, searching for “electrical apprenticeships job mining 2014”, bring up Rio Tinto Coal, Monadelphous, Fortescue Metals Group (WA), Newcrest Mining, Leighton Contractors and many more.

The final word…

Searching for electrical apprenticeships online in the mining and resource sector can be achieved using Google and other search engines. This is the first place to start.

Keep things simple by following these simple rules and guidelines

  • Be clear on what it is you want to do in terms of the apprenticeship.
  • Are you ok with working underground or would you prefer to be working above ground?
  • What goals have you set yourself for the next 1, 3 and 5 years?
  • Do you want to work away from home and are you prepared to move in order to realise your apprenticeship dream?
  • Have you created a target list of mining companies and contractors who offer apprenticeships?
  • Have you researched the top 5 mining companies in Australia?
  • Have you created a solid list of mining jobs boards that advertise mining apprenticeships?
  • Do you have additional skills and experience you can offer employers?
  • Is your resume up-to-date and shows your experience and knowledge of the industry in a positive way?
  • Are your social and communication skills sharp and honed in readiness for an interview?

Resume tips for successful mining job applications

These are just some of the questions you can ask yourself as you set your sights on an apprenticeship. Be clear and decisive on what it is you want to do, where� you want to work (what field) and whether or not an apprenticeship is really something you want. Apprenticeships can lead to solid careers in any industry, not just mining. However, like everything in life, there is a time when hard work and effort is required to come out the other end with the skills and abilities to do the job.

For some, being a mature-age student is something they can adjust to, because the end-goal is worth the effort. Whereas for others, the thought of learning a new skill over a period of a few years, whilst the earning potential is diminished presents a whole new challenge.

It’s never an easy decision to embark on a new career, especially if you are a mature-age student who has a� family to support. These decisions are not made lightly, however, if you follow the advice and information in this article, there will be a clear answer for you at the end of it.

Australia needs trade apprentices. The mining and resource industry as well as the construction and manufacturing industries can only survive if new skills are learned by an army of people who are willing to undergo the training required. Qualified and experienced trade professionals with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic will almost always find employment – make sure you are one of them; and reap the financial rewards that go with it.

Get the iMINCO Mining Apprenticeships eBook

Download the free eBook here: Mining Apprenticeships 2014

iMINCO Project News