Before the actual mining process could start, the areas where previous mining activities have been conducted must be totally uncovered and dugout to ensure the safety of the workers. With the help of technology, workers can operate the machines from afar. Employees can also monitor the progress of the activity from a safe distance from the mining site.

The intensive operations implemented by the Kalgoorlie mines have caused a huge demand for professionals possessing technical skills such as pipe fitters, electricians, mechanical engineers, and mining engineers to name some. And since the company hires hundreds of employees for their operations, the Kalrgoorlie Mining Company applies that fly-in fly-out employment culture, instead of accommodating and requiring employees to stay on site.

There are numerous mining jobs offered by the Kalgoorlie mines so arm yourself with useful and accurate information and the process will be a lot easier for you.

Finding Jobs in Kalgoorlie

Knowing someone who is already working in Kalgoorlie can be used to your advantage, since friends and families that are already within the mining industry can add boost to your chances of getting the right mining job for your skills. So if you have your own contacts, use them to get your dream job.

If unfortunately you do not know anyone working in the mines, you have to exert the extra effort to apply for a job and get hired. You can start by searching for openings on online job sites and look up in the specialized recruitment companies category, so that you could categorize the job openings based on the area and industry of your choice. After pinpointing which ones you could apply for, you could contact mine companies through their official websites.

Even if you have no previous experiences in the mining industry, there are many companies offering training and apprenticeship programs, to give interested individuals the chance to learn the basics and have the hands-on experience which they can use when applying for a job in Kalgoorlie mine site.

There are numerous ways of finding a mining job that will suit your skills and expertise however, having no experience in the industry should not be a hindrance since there are many ways that you could still get it the mining industry. You could start by looking for jobs with the help of recruitment companies, since they can provide you the information that you need regarding the expectations in the mining industry. Since the Kalgoorlie mine site requires more workforce for their operations, applying for a job will be easier and there is a higher chance of being hired compared to applying other industries.

This is a dramatic increase on their previous target of 10 driverless dump trucks as a part of the 2008 ‘Mine of the Future’ program and definitely speaks of the success of these autonomous haulage systems.

The move follows a two-year trial of Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) technology on trucks at the West Angelas mine, which has performed well above expectations. (source)

 What Are Driverless Dump Trucks?

Komatsu’s Autonomous Haulage System work off pre-defined courses to autonomously navigate between different set points.

Navigated by GPS as well as a secondary navigation process these driverless dump trucks can navigate in the complex mining environment and can haul a 290-tonne (320-U.S.-ton) payload of overburden and ore without a driver (see Komatsu article).

How It All Works

Source: http://www.komatsu.com

What Does This Mean For Dump Truck Driver Jobs?

This is the big question from a job seekers perspective?

Is there any point in getting dump truck driver training if all mines are going to eventually adopt this driverless truck system?

In the short term, there will still be dump truck mining jobs because this is just one mining company using these trucks in one location. However, as for how quickly these autonomous trucks will be adopted by other mining companies – that is anyone’s guess.

They can be great because:

• You Get A Basic Look Into The Resource Industry
• Shows Employers You Are Proactive With Your Job Seeking
• Give You Important Skills To Work Safely In The Mines

 What Is Involved In A Mining Induction Course?

The widely recognised induction course that almost all training providers run is called ‘MARCSTA’.

These courses usually run for a full day and are quite inexpensive, and you will learn:

• Access and apply site safety procedures
• Apply personal safety measures
• Apply operational safety measures
• Maintain personal well being for job
• Identify and report incidents

Mining Induction Courses Western Australia

There are quite a few training providers who run the MARCSTA mining induction course, so the best option is to check them all out and find one that is located near you.

Here is a selection of MARCSTA Induction Courses In Western Australia:

• Aveling – Bassendean WA
• Training Course Experts – Perth
• Safety Risk Training – Erskine, WA
• Strudwick – Kalgoorlie
• Richards Mining – Wangara and Mandurah

So if you are serious about getting a job in the mining industry, especially an unskilled job, then a mining induction course is one of your best places to start.

I have been itching to check out this book ever since I heard about it a couple of months ago because I know of the biggest problems that most people face when looking at oil rig jobs is that they have no experience and this book is written by an everyday Australian who had never worked on a rig before, yet basically walked straight into a $70k/year career (that he is happy to announce was for just 6 months work!).

So I email Matt and asked if I  could have access to a copy to review  and he was more than happy to oblige.

What Is ‘How To Get A Job On The Rigs?’

‘How To Get A Job On The Rigs‘ is an ebook (can read on your computer in PDF format) written by a Queenslander by the name of Matthew Cinnamond to help people who are currently looking at working on an oil rig, but have no experience and don’t know where to start.

It is not very expensive, at just $34.95 and comes with some great bonuses (which I will talk about a bit further down).

So let’s take a look at what you can expect when you buy, and a couple of the extra goodies that come with it.

What You Will Learn:

• Exactly what Matt did to get a job on an oil rig with no experience!
• Where to find ‘no experience’ rig jobs (and it’s not on ‘jobs websites’.
• The 4 simple training courses that are not expensive and will put you ahead of your competition
• An overview of the jobs ladder at an oil rig and and overview of each position in it.

PLUS:

As one of the bonuses (the one I found most valuable), Matt has taken hours to compile a list of oil rig companies around the world and compile their details to make it easy for you to contact them. They are separated into their respective countries so that you only are shown the ones in the country you are interested in.

>> Get ‘How To Get A Job On The Rigs Mines’ Now

My Thoughts On The Ebook

I’m happy to let you know that I really enjoyed the ebook and not only was I kept entertained throughout, but I LEARNT A WHOLE LOT!

Now I don’t want you to think that if you buy this book you will instantly get yourself a $70 oil rig job  – because it is not a magic pill (and most people won’t actually do anything about the information). BUT, as someone who has never worked on an oil rig, I felt that it gave me a great overview of what the rig companies expect from applicants, how and where they find their new employees and and a good overview of what to expect to feel after my first day/week working on a rig.

The tips throughout are in themselves worth the $34.95 pricetag and with the following bonuses as well, I think anyone looking for a start in the rig industry should pick up this book if only to know what they are getting themselves in for.

>> Get ‘How To Get A Job On the Rigs’ Now

What Are The Added Bonuses?

• The 6 Boy Scout Knots
  Matt says that knowing how to tie knots is an invaluable skill to have on the rigs, so he has included an additional ebook that will show you how to tie some of the most popular ones.
• 7 Steps To A Well Written Resume
  Your resume is really important and having one professional done can cost a couple of hundred dollars. Learn how to create your own professional resume and set yourself ahead of your fellow applicants.

If you are interested in a job on the oil rigs and don’t know where to start, then I definitely recommend grabbing this ebook. It’s only $35 and it will give you a good overview and set you up properly to find a job on a rig even if you have no experience.

>> Get ‘How To Get A Job On The Rigs’ Now

I am not surprised when people first start looking into mining jobs that they always initially go straight to the big mining companies like RIO Tinto to see what jobs they have on offer.

The problem that they almost always face though, is that if you do not have any experience than there is nothing available for you  – which means there is no entry into the mining industry, but this is where mining contractors come into play.

What Are Mining Contractors?

Mining contractors are the companies that work with and for the major mining companies to help with different aspects of the exploration, extraction, and transport processes. They are usually much smaller companies, but due to the growth in the Australian resource industry there are now quite a few substantial mining contractors.

Why Should I Approach Them About Jobs?

The fact that they are smaller is the main reason you should look at contracting them. It is so easy to get lost in the hundreds of applications that the big miners would continue to get, that even if you do have the qualifications and experience – you still could easily get looked over.

Benefits Of Contacting A Contractor:

• More Likely To Take Unskilled Workers
• Less Competition For Positions
• More Likely To Have Unadvertised Positions

As you can see, a few great reasons. Why not consider calling some of the contractors that are based in the areas that you are looking for work?

If you are looking to learn who some of these companies are, there is a condensed list of some of them below.

Who Are Some Of The West Australian (WA) Mining Contractors?

• Australian Contract Mining
• Boom Logistics
• Clough
• Golding Contractors
• Leighton Contractors
• Macmahon
• Mitchell Group
• Wilson Mining

This is just a few of the hundreds of mining companies that work in the mining industry. If you are looking for work in Western Australia then why not consider getting in touch with some of these contractors as well as the big miners.

While these are two of the job options in the mining industry, there are a lot more than you think and quite a few of them do not require your hands to get dirty.

Administration Jobs In The Mines

On our page related to unskilled mining jobs we list a couple of positions that would allow you to get a job in the mines – without actually working IN the mines. One of these positions was that of administration, so let’s take a look at what is involved and whether there is opportunity to arrange a FIFO work roster.

Where Do I Find An Admin Job?

This is the easy part. There are plenty of jobs websites and the majority of them not only have administration jobs in mining communities – but the also have plenty of them!

Your best bet is to search Jobs.com.au, Seek or one of the many other sites and see what is available in the areas that you are hoping to find a job.

Current FIFO Mining Admin Jobs

What Is The Job Criteria?

Obviously both the job description and the criteria are going to be different for each job but the majority of admin jobs require some form of experience – so it might be best to get some local experience if you do not have any already.

It is best to check the individual job descriptions to know exactly what will be required of you.

Can I Get An FIFO Roster?

FIFO jobs in Administration are available in the mining industry as I am sure you would have already found out if you have searched the career websites.

The one thing you will most likely find though with most of the admin jobs offering a fly in fly out roster is that they have a much stricter criteria, which usually includes multiple years of experience.

Let’s take a look at who the big players are in detail before listing a selection of other companies who have mines in Western Australia.

The Big Players In The WA Mining Industry

1. BHP Billiton

   When a company is planning to spend $10billion on capital investment projects (with the majority of it funneled into their WA projects), you have to see them as a major player in any industry. This is what BHP Billiton have planned for their WA investment including (but not limited to) the development of Jimblebar mine and rail links and mining equipment.

   With a market capitalisation of over $188billion and becoming officially the worlds 3rd largest listed company – BHP Billiton employ over 41,000 people and is definitely a big player in the mining industry of Western Australia.

2. Rio Tinto

   Another major Australian mining company, Rio Tinto has some pretty impressive statistics in relation to their contribution to the WA economy.

   Somewhere between the $3.7 billion invested into local infrastructure and the face that Rio Tinto equates to 26% of the total economic contribution to mining activity in the states, you will begin to see that they have done a lot for the local industry – plus they more that 7,500 people and work with around 27,000 suppliers.

3. Fortesque Metals Group

   Holding more land than any other mining company (including BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto) makes Fortesque the largest tenement holder in Western Australia. Founded by the new richest man in Australia, this mining company, with it’s $20 billion market capitalisation (having only shipped it’s first coal to China in 2008) is definitely one to watch over the coming years.

   It’s two largest projects are the Chichester Hub and it’s Cloudbreak mine.

Other Mining Companies

Now there are literally 100′s of companies that service the mining industry in Western Australia, so it is not possible to list them all, so here is a condensed version to get your search started.

• Newmont Mining
• Integra Mining Limited
• AngoGold Ashanti
• Apex Minerals
• Riversdale Coal
• Apac Coal
• The Griffin Coal Mining Company
• Aquilla Resources

This list will continue to have more businesses listed, so make sure you bookmark this page and return regularly to stay updated.

Owned by the company behind Australia’s richest man (Andrew Forrest), Fortesque Metals Group, the Cloudbreak mine produces 39 million tonnes of iron ore each year and its plans to increase this figure fell over due to financing problems from its Chinese investors.

About Fortesque Metals Group

An Australian mining company with a market capitalisation of almost 20 billion dollars, it is interesting to know that the company only loaded it’s first shipment of coal in 2008.

Fortesque holders over 80,000km2 of land (more than both BHP and Rio Tinto), and has two main mining hubs – the Chichester and the Solomon.

Cloudbreak is located in the Chichester operation and is currently processes 110,000 tonnes of coal each day.

Jobs At Cloudbreak Mine

Job at the Cloudbreak mine in WA are on a FIFO basis, with most workers being flown in and out of the West Australian capital, Perth. However, they do also fly employees from other regional locations throughout WA.

Fortesque have a ‘family friendly’ rostering system which works on a 8 day work roster, and 6 days at home. This allows workers to spend quality time with their family, without have to spend weeks away at a time.

Lodging is provided and rooms come with attached ensuites as well as a TV with all FTA channels as well as additional ones. All meals are provided for and there is a range of recreational activities available.

If you are looking for a job at Cloudbreak, you should get in contact with one of the mining recruitment companies in Perth.

Tragedy At Cloudbreak

Mining has always been publicised for its work tragedies and Cloudbreak is no different.

First with the rail line that Fortesque built to transport their coal, where 2 workers were killed during a cyclone in 2007, and more recently in late 2010 when a worker was killed at an onsite workshop and operations where suspended as both a mark of respect and to ensure the safety of employees.

If you have no experience and no qualifications then trying to get chosen for mining vacancies can start to feel like an impossibility. With sometimes more than 200 people applying for the same unskilled mining jobs, unless you have a heap of experience or know the right people it is almost impossible to even get noticed.

So, What Are The Benefits Of Getting A Mining Traineeship?

Since the biggest struggle with people trying to get a job in the mines is the lack of work experience, this literally fixes that problem!

By signing up for a mining traineeship (if you can get one), you are almost guaranteed a couple of years solid work, and the qualifications and experience at the end of it to progress into a higher level of job.

How To Get A Mining Traineeship In WA

There are basically three simple ways that you can find a traineeship or apprenticeship  in the mines:

1. Browse The Internet

   There are a lot of great career and job websites on the internet and they have a lot of current mining jobs on their books. Search through and see if you can find a traineeship that suits what you are looking for and start applying.

2. Contact Specialist Recruitment Firms

   There are also some specialist mining recruitment agencies in Perth that have networks with the big mining companies and may be able to help you find more specific jobs.

3. Talk To The Companies Themselves

   Aside from that, if you live in the area of plan on moving to a mining community prior to accepting a job, then you could visit and contact the mining companies directly. You will most likely have greater success targeting the small companies and most of the national and international miners use recruiting companies.

Getting a traineeship in the mines is a great way to get a foot in the door, so if it is something that interests you, show some initiative and start searching for your next job.

The reason that this mining job is so popular not just in WA, but Australia-wide, is because it is seen as the ideal unskilled mining job for people who are looking at getting a start into the industry with no experience.

So let’s take a closer look at the job role, what is involved and how you can get one for yourself.

What’s Involved In Being A Mining Trade Assistant?

Trade assistants work with qualified trades people, be that boiler makers, fitters, or metal forgers and basically your job is to be a go-fer for your trades person.

Your responsibilities is to hold and position metal ready for work, to pass tools required and hold those not. As well as that you may be required to spot weld – so prior experience there is a good advantage.

A good starting salary for this position would be $40-50,000/year.

Where To Find Trade Assistant Mining Jobs In WA

The thing that you never get told is how hard it is find actually get a trade assistant job. While there may be plenty getting advertised, there is also a lot of competition and when you also add to the mix how close the mining community (it’s not what you know but WHO) – it lowers you chances even more.

However, before you get discouraged that you are up against possibly hundreds of other applicants, TheResourceChannel gives a couple of fantastic tips on how to get your foot in the mining ‘door’.

So be wary of any website or company that will ‘guarantee’ you a mining job in Western Australia and just be sensible with your applications and try getting even some basic qualifications that may help with your application.