If you’re looking to get your foot in the door within the mining industry the best thing you can initially do is do some research!

Research 

Spend some time researching mine industry websites in order to get a feel for what type of mine jobs there are on a mine sites.

If you have no mining experience and little in the way of industry relevant training, doing your homework on what types of unskilled mining jobs are available and what you can seriously see yourself doing is a great way to steer yourself towards employment in the mining industry.

Mining recruiters get frustrated with applicants who apply to do ‘anything’ as it shows that an applicant has no real ‘focus’ on any particular employment role or job type.

Certificates/Documentation

The next step is the investigate what tickets and licences are required or are looked on ‘favourably’ by mining recruiters for the particular mining position you have chosen to target. For most mine jobs, a number of licences, tickets and qualification are either required or looked upon favourably by mine recruiters.

Look to obtain the more generic mine tickets first, as they will not only be cheaper to obtain; but also are essential for you to even step foot onto a mine site.

Essential Mine Tickets/Qualifications/Documents 

Police Clearance
MARCSTA (Mine Safety Training)
Advanced First Aid Certificate

While having a Police Clearance may not be required for all mine sites, but for the majority of mining operations police checks are the standard.

Safety on a mine site is of the utmost importance, and having the MARCSTA certificate is required on most mining sites and at the very least ‘highly regarded’ by all mining employers and recruiters. Also having an Advanced First Aid certificate will be another feather in your cap and show recruiters that you understand and appreciate the importance of safety on a mine site.

Resume Preparation 

Even if you have no mining experience or specific mining related training, it is still extremely worthwhile preparing a polished resume for your targeted mining position.

The key really is to relate non mining work experience to the mining position you’re targeting. For example if you were targeting a dump truck position and you have experience as a freight courier or truck driver, you really need to sell your experience and expertise of previous work experience into the position and role that your targeting.

Networking

Do some networking to see what positions are available at which mine sites and what the conditions of employment are at each site.

Things such as……

• Accommodation 
• Meals 
• Work rosters 
• Site access 

At this point you really need to identify which area and mine site you’re looking to gain employment in. As the next step will probably require you to travel into the area of the site and apply at the site’s recruiter’s office for the best possible chance of securing an unskilled mining job.

If you’re looking to score the ultimate of unskilled mining jobs, enrolling in a dump truck course will hugely increase your chances for seriously being considered for a dump truck operator position on a mine site.

Unskilled Mining Job Tip: If you are on unemployment benefits or don’t have a trade certificate of Cert III or higher you may qualify for a government education grant/subsidy or qualify for assistance under the Australian Apprenticeships Access Program. Check the Department for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations DEEWR for details.

Although dump truck courses are far from cheap, completing a five day dump truck course is the single best investment you can make to fast track yourself into a career into the mining industry.

Things to look for in a Dump Truck Course Provider

• Look for a reputable dump truck course provider which specialises in mining operations
• Make sure upon completion of your dump truck course you will receive a National Plant Operator Certificate for Haul Truck
• It’s a good idea to inquire as to the type of dump trucks used in the training course. Typically new model 100 tonne dump trucks are the industry standard.
• Ensure that your chosen training provider also includes additional training modules such as RIICOM201A - Communicate in the workplace, RIIOHS201A - Work safely and follow OHS policies and procedures as well as the Senior First Aid course and the MARCSTA course.
• Identify a dump truck course provider that will also help you find a dump truck driver position after your course. Many reputable course providers work closely with local mining operators and will also offer job placement services.

Professional Training providers will often start your dump truck training on a computer simulator before jumping into the real thing.

The dump truck simulator will be your first experience of what it is like to be in control of a 100 tonne plus machine and help you to gain experience and the ‘feel’ of controlling such a large and heavy piece of machinery. It’s here that you have the chance to learn from any mistakes.

If necessary you may spend a whole day on the simulator before you jump into a real dump truck, but for most people less than a half day driving in the simulator provides most people with the confidence for the real thing.

Most dump truck courses are held over five days and it pays to travel to a course providers location where you will be looking to find a dump truck position so your course provider can give you accurate information of which mining operations are looking to hire dump truck operators in the local area as well as help you secure one of the best mining jobs you can get.

Minimum requirements for you to start work in an unskilled mining job?

Every mining site typically has different minimum requirements so it really depends on the site which you are applying for.

Most mining sites require the following to fill Unskilled Mining Jobs.

Vehicle Licence: most mining companies will require you to have a current Australian drivers license as you could be required to drive on and off site as part of your employment.

HR or Heavy Rigid License: this of course depends if you are seeking a position as a dump truck driver although some mines do not require you to have a Heavy Vehicle License, any mining site will look favourably on any employee candidate who holds a HR license and or has heavy vehicle experience.

MARCSTA: or Mining and Resource Contractors Safety Training course, this course on most mining sites is the standard induction course for any mine site employee. having done this course you will be regarded highly by mining employers.

Advanced First Aid Certificate: Mine sites are inherently dangerous places and although extremely high standards of safety practises are routinely observed accidents can and will happen. Having completed your advanced first aid certificate can only increase your prospects of employment on a mining site as it is encouraged that all mining workers consider completing an advanced first aid course.

Police Security Clearance: At some mining sites a Police Security Clearance is mandatory and in some cases special security clearances are required if the site mines precious metals or stones such as gold or diamonds. It is best to check with the local mining employment agency to clarify what security clearances are needed to work in each local mine sites.

Despite all the media hype of big mining companies screaming out for workers, it's not nearly a walk in the park getting some of the entry level unskilled mining jobs with without any experience.

Although you could try and apply through the major job employment websites your best bet is to go to one of the remote mining locations and apply directly at the employment agency offices in one of the major regional mining centres such as Kalgoorlie.

But before setting off into a remote mining area there are a few things you can do to greatly improve your chances at securing well paid employment in the mining industry.

Depending on what type of unskilled mining job you may be looking for there are a number of short courses which can greatly improve your attractiveness to mining companies.

Here's a few options for making yourself a more attractive candidate for many of the unskilled mining jobs.
MARCSTA (Mining and Resource Contractors Safety Training Association) not all mines require you to do this course but even if a mine site doesn't require a candidate having done this course, it certainly makes you more valuable to a mining site.

A HR or Heavy Rigid Vehicle licence, although on many sites you don't need a truck license to drive the huge dump trucks, mining companies will look favourably on anyone who has a heavy vehicle licence and some heavy vehicle driving experience behind him/her.

A (MWHS) or Mine Workers Health Surveillance, this will in most cases be provided by an employer once you have successfully secured a position on a mining site although it an excellent idea to get a general check-up at your GP before setting out to a remote mining area just to make sure you haven't got any undiagnosed health issues. It can be really annoying to travel to a remote area only to fail your pre-employment medical check.

Advanced First Aid Certificate, this is not essential but mining sites are very hazardous places and a mining company will look very favourably at anyone which has a current Advanced First Aid Certificate.

Drug screening, you can count on drug and alcohol screening will take place upon a successful job offer. In any case it's a good idea to increase your fitness and general health well before you set off for a regional mining area. The work in many cases will be tough and the environment will likely be hot and dry.

Some other things to keep in mind is that some mines require you to undergo a security check although this is the case predominately for precious metal or diamond mines.

If a mine site requires any special security requirements you will be notified and specific requirements by your employment agent alone with any documentation you need to fill out. Generally speaking many mines do require a National Police Certificate so it's worthwhile organising one before you set off to a remote mining area.

An article in the Australian has our Prime Minister frustrated that more of our unemployed young people are not prepared to travel and live in the country in order to secure unskilled mining jobs.

Though many motivated and aspiring mining workers say Ms Gillard should wake and smell the bullshit!

Comments on employment forum and social networking sites paint a different picture of mining companies and their secret misgivings for expensive Australian workers preferring to use the national labor shortage farce to pave the way for the expansion and wholesale acceptance of the 457 visa program.

Horror stories of committed and motivated workers seeking the most unskilled mining jobs are serially being turned down due to lack of experience or any number of lame and weak excuses in readiness of the governments acceptance of the need to import foreign workers to satisfy the mining industry's appetite for cheap labor.

A comment from an article in the Australian reads......

'Skills Shortage is just mining company bull when they are seeking permission to bring in compliant labour on 457's for the few jobs they do have, and leave millions of Australian citizens on the dole scrap heap.'


And similar comments are easily found everywhere on the internet so one wonders why Julia is offering her shoulder for the mining industry to cry on?

It would hardly surprise if a new 457 visa program was quietly introduced as a sweetener for the mining industry to give Julia a break on the new mining tax regime.

Only time will tell if true blue Australians get totally overlooked for even the most unskilled mining jobs.

At present the mining industry is fast running out of credibility and the present government really needs to decide who's side its on?