How to get into mining with no experience
What’s going on?
The mining and resource industry has gone through an adjustment phase. Just like any other industry in Australia, it has its good times and also times when things tighten up. What you have to realise is, the industry has not run out of steam.
Yes there have been cutbacks along the way, but there has also been a massive investment and restructuring going on behind the scenes.
The coal and metals extraction industry in Australia is ramping up for a record period of productivity. There will be many opportunities for people who are looking to get into the industry and are willing to contribute to the massive growth ahead.
Our last mining article provided entry-level applicants with some tips & tricks to help them get a foot into the industry. This article will detail some basic info on what kind of $$ you can expect and where to go if you want to apply for these positions.
Where are the jobs?
The industry is diverse across all states. There are 7173 jobs in mining currently on SEEK and 885 jobs in Oil and Gas.
There are always jobs to be found online for skilled, semi-skilled workers.
If you’re interested in landing yourself an entry-level mining job, check out our entry-level mining job list. Every one of these positions offers the candidate a foot into the mining industry, allowing you to eventually network into your dream role.
You can earn good money earn in an entry level mining job?
If you’re starting out and looking to see if a job in the mining and resource industry is right for you, then having an idea of how much you can earn can be a deciding factor “, wouldn’t you agree?
To help you out, iMINCO has put together a list of entry level mining jobs and indication of how much you can expect to earn in your first year. This is just an estimate to give you a bit of an idea, so don’t go taking this list as the definitive pay benchmark.
Depending on if you’re working a remote FIFO job, the roster you are assigned and your skills, attitude and experience – you could earn a whole lot more.
| Trades Assistant | $85-120K+ |
| Cleaning & Service | $80-90K+ |
| Kitchen Hand | $65-80K+ |
| Field Assistant | $65-80K+ |
| All Rounder | $80-120k+ |
| Administration Officer | $65-80K+ |
| Drillers Offsider | $80-100K+ |
| Mobile Plant Service | $70-90K+ |
| Laboratory Technician | $50-75K+ |
| *Salary estimates are a guideline only |
Click here for a complete list of entry-level mining jobs and where to apply.
The top questions people ask us about how to get into mining jobs with no experience
At iMINCO, we get literally hundreds of questions a week from people just like you who are trying to work out how to get mining jobs.
Q. I want to work in mining or oil and gas, but I have no idea where to start?
A. The best way to start is to combine increased knowledge with increased skills to give you greater opportunities. Look what jobs are available and see what requirements are needed for that job. As an example, if it requires you to have Confined Spaces training, you will need to invest in some training to get that certificate.
Q. Do I need skills to get a mining job?
A. YES. Just like any job, you will need skills. Obviously the skills you need will depend on the job you go for. All mining, oil and gas jobs require a Safety first focus. To increase your chances, increase your skills.
Q. Am I too old to get a start in mining?
A. The average age of people in mining is around 41 yrs old. You will find around 24% of people are over 50 and 7.5% are at retirement age. These are big numbers that show age is not a restriction in mining.
Q. I’ve got no experience in the industry and i know mining companies look for this, but I’m a hard worker and I’m willing to give it a go.
A. Companies are looking for hard working individuals. If you are willing to work hard for the company you need to let them know in your interview. A hard working new starter is always better for the company than an experienced person who is lazy.
Q. What courses I can do to help me be more employable?
A. Look to the mining induction as a first step, then improve your chances with courses like 4WD training, confined space, work safely at heights or if you want to drive a haul truck the haul truck course will give you experience on large mining machinery.
What’s next?
Call us on [email protected], we can give you some options on how to get started.
