The Step by Step Guide to Getting Mine Site Job
From No Experience to Signed Offer the Exact Process
Decide a Role and Region
Figure out what you want to do. Realise what Skills you already have and What you are Best At. Have a look through the Salary and Pay Section of this website to see if the Role you are Most Suited Pays well and what you are Expecting. If you are looking for More Money then your Current Skills or Trade Offer then consider Up-Skilling to get the Mine Site Jobs and Roles that Pay Really Well and can Catapult your Financial Life to the Next Level! If you are mostly seeking FIFO and Mine Work to Buy a House or Pay Off a Mortgage then Money Really Does Matter. But if Enjoying what you do, or are Naturally Most Skilled at, then Stick with that Role bcause it's always easier to do something you are a Natural at doing. Ask yourself the Question .. Do you want an Entry-Level Production Role (Operator, Cleaner) or a Trade (Mechanical Fitter, Sparky, Boilermaker) ..The Pilbara pays best but the Kalgoorlie Goldfields are easier to Commence into. Pick one and go with it
Get the Required Tickets and Qualifications
White Card, Standard II Mining Induction Clearances, Working at Heights Certificates, Confined Space, First Aid and CPR, Medical Assessments and either HR Truck Licence or Your Trade Certificate. You will need all or many of these to Get On site. Focus on getting the Most Common Tickets and Qualifications that suit Broad Ranging Roles so you can be Multi-Tasking and Hire-able on almost any Mine-Site so you will have work all year round or whenever you want to work. Without Tickets and Qualifications and meeting Minimum Health and Safety Requirements you have no chance of Getting a Job at a Mine Site. So all these Skills, Certificates and Assessments are Super Important, without them there is No Mine Site that will accept regular "City Based" Qualifications
Build a Mining Focused Resume
Speak with HR Recruitment Agencies focused on getting new Workers into Mine-Site work in Australia There is a formula and format for Successful Applications into Mining Work Australia. List all the Tickets, Licences, Assessments and Qualifications you have at the Top with Expiry Dates. These are the first things Employers will look for when scanning a Resume. Mine-Site Jobs are Very Popular and Highly Sought-After due to the High Paying Salaries, so you have to have a Slick Resume, Up-to-Date with all the Best Attributes about yourself and what you can offer to the Mining Company that would make them want to Hire You vs. the 100's or even 1000's of other Applicants. Every Job Phrased in the Language of a Mine Site such as "Operated" or "Reported to Shift Supervisor" is "Complied with JSA/JHA" Don't use Creative Fonts. Just be blunt and upfront about what Skills and Qualifications you Have because this matters and they will only Approve Applicants who already have the Certifications and are still Valid and In-Date .. even an only recently Expired Ticket will negate you from being accepted in a Role. So spend some time to get everything in order before applying
Apply OFTEN and A LOT
Aim for 20–40 Applications a Week for the first month. Apply via SEEK, Direct Company Career Pages, and Register with Three Labour Hire HR Recruitment Companies focused on Mine Site Roles. Don't be Discouraged if your first applications and attempts don't work. It can take time to break-into the Mining Community but persistence and perseverance will prevail. Once "IN" with the Mining Companies, you will have an Easy Time getting Roles and Job Offers in Future. It's ALWAYS easier when you are already involved in Mine-Site Roles to get the next job or Upskill from an Existing Job because Mining Companies Like Employees who are already in the know and involved with the aspects of mine site work. It's always easier for a Mining Company to Hire someone who is already familiar with Mine-Site Procedures and the Inductions, Assessments, Tickets and Certificates Required to "Work-on-Site" .. so sometimes it might be Optimally Strategic to enter the Mining Sector through a Lower Paying, Simpler Skill and Qualification Role and then Upskill later when already in the Mining System and Database
Phone Assessment and Acknowledgement
When completed the above Steps, when done right, providing your have the necessary Qualifications, Certifications and Tickets, you should finally here from Recruitment Company or HR Directly. Usually with an email or Phone Call. The concept here is they would like to have a Quick 10 Minute Chat to become familiar with you and the Roles your likely suited for. They will try place you within the Minesite and get you started. They'll check your Tickets (Make sure they're Valid and In-Date, including your Drivers License) your Availability (when can you start) Work Roster Flexibility and any Medical Red Flags, such as pre-existing Medical Injuries or Conditions. Be Enthusiastic and Helpful to everything they ask as this Phone Call is important. It's one of the Closest Steps to Actually Being on the Mine-Site.
Pre-Employment Medical Assessment
This Stage is often done at Doctors or Medical Centre Connected with the Recriutement Agency or Mine Site Company. The purpose is to Assess your Health and Check for any Medical Conditions, Asthma, Heart Problems, Pre-Existing Injuries such as Back or Knee problems. They will be thorough and rarely miss anything, so be upfront and Honest about your current Medical State and Previous Health Conditions because they have access to your Medical History and will check with Thorough Medical Examination usually Coal Board or WA equivalent, which includes, Audiometry (Hearing and Eyesight) Spirometry, Drug and Alcohol Screen (these will also be done On-Site Daily so no Over-Drinking as this will lead to Failure and Dismissal). They will also check Musculoskeletal and Fitness (get you to perform Push-ups and Squats) We Recommend you get a Good Sleep the Night Before, No Alcohol for 48 hours (No turning up Hungover) and Hydrate as this is the Part Where Most Candidates Fail. The Medical Assessment is Strict because they want fit and able Workers On-Site with Minimal Health Conditions or Pre-Existing Injuries. The Mine-Sites are Screening out for Potential Future Compensation Claims so they are very Thorough in their Assessment Process.
Site Interview and Assessment
If having Passed ALL The Above Steps, you can now Congratulate Yourself and Feel Good about making it through the Application and Screening Process. Having Passed the Above means you will soon be Boarding a Plane and Heading to Mine-Site. This is your Big Moment. The time when all the Hard work and Effort of Application Process Stages has actually Rewarded you and you are Landing On-Site at the Mine. Once there your be asked Behavioural Questions about Safety, Teamwork and Dealing with Fatigue. Bring Physical Copies of Every Ticket and Back-up Electronic Copies in your Phone or Laptop. Have them organized and Ready for when they ask. Carry a Notebook or Notepad and pen so you can write down the Information Presented on First Days at the Mine-Site as they expect you to Remember and absorb the Instructions they give about Working on Mine Sites in Australia. It's very strict up there, and you MUST Follow all orders, Especially when it comes to Mine-Site Safety, Regulation, Looking out for your Fellow Workers, Knowing 1st Aid Procedures and not getting Drunk at the Bar or before work as they do Spot Checks and Thorough Alcohol and Drug Screening before Shift Commencement. The aim here is to provide a Safe Work Place for all Workers at the Mine-Site as you are Operating with Heavy Machinery and Large Scale Mining Processes, Injury is Very easy if not Concentrating, so Following the Rules and Regulations VERY Important. They have a Zero Tolerance to Bad Behaviour or not following Mine-Stie Protocol. Feel free to Ask them Questions about the Roster and Camp features. Where are the Dining, Drinking and Gym Centres. Where you are and aren't allowed to go. Where is the Supervisors Office. Who to Report any Concerns or ask Questions about your Role or Accommodation Stay at the Mine Site
Offer Induction and First Swing
Rolling in with the Above Section, your Employment Contract arrives and the Site-Specific Induction takes place. The Previous Step can also be performed at Local City Induction Centre or On-Site Depending on the Mining Company. Larger Companies have Induction Centres in City and On-Site. Smaller Companies usually just On-Site. When you Fly to the Mine-Site you'll Meet your Crew. This is a good time to Introduce yourself to the rest of the Teams you'll be working with. Don't be a hero on day one, just perform the Tasks asked of you and follow directions. If someone needs Assistance, help them, this is where you'll make good comradery and friends. If you have Questions ask your fellow workers, or if its Most Important, Speak to the Supervisor
Who to speak to
- Labour Hire Recruiters HR — Programmed, WorkPac, Mader, One Key Resources. They fill Most Entry-Level FIFO Roles. When you get some Experience and familiarity with Recruitment they'll chat with you often about your experience and progress with the Role and let you know if there's New Offers and Upgrades to your possibilites within the Mining Companies
- Internal Employment Management Teams — Rio Tinto, BHP, FMG, Roy Hill, Northern Star are Large Corporations and have Specialized and Dedicated Recruitment Centres and Staff. You can Apply Direct
- Training Providers — Skill Hire, MTC, iMINCO. There are Many Mine-Site Specific Training Companies, Especially in Perth Western Australia. Some run "Guaranteed Interview" Pathways for Trade Certified Graduates.
- Trade Contractors — Monadelphous, Civmec, NRW, MACMAHON, GR Engineering and More. This is where most with Trade Qualifications will be Inducted and Recruited to Assigned Roles.