help with getting a mining job?

[Ben-e-boy]

I work at a mid size mine in the Hunter.. We are weathering the storm pretty well, still putting on fitters and operators.. But most in the valley are pretty fucked. Some worse than others.

I am in the same boat, Except I work in quarries that supply road base for the coal mines haul roads in central Qld. 50 odd people were layed off at the start of the year, the mines went spending money, so they weren't buying product. I survived because there is only 1 sparkie per shift, one of the only contractors who stayed.
There still is money being spent around the place though, there are wash plants being built, the company I work for has a couple of crushing plants on the go for various forms of surface mining companies.

The hunter is mainly coal isn't it?

[Dirk Diggler]

The Hunter is only either coking coal or thermal coal. No other product here. Western NSW has gold and magnetite though.

[ktmarty]

I sort of agree with Ben-e-boy. I recently got on a SEQLD gas pipeline as a TA, no experience, no tickets, no nothing. A mate is a welder on site and put my name up. Without that no chance.

I actually am a qualified sparky and have HC truck, bobcat, backhoe, excavator, loader, forklift but this plus the experience gained on site in QLD didn't seem to count for anything when it came time to apply for other positions ( I wasn't happy where I was ). Applied for heaps and got nothing but rejections, certainly no interviews.

Don't know about mining as such but pipelines are a funny little industry. Everyone knows everyone and you're either in or you're NOT. Good luck

[Beni C]

Its a funny environment over here in WA atm, I work for one of the bigger Iron Ore miners (will let you guess which one) and we are not slowing up by any means. There is still opportunity to make a buck but what you need to do is be employed by the miner and not work for contracting componies that are bought on site to do work, in there lies the challenge.

I am one of the very lucky ones that is staff and I work an office job in the city, not on site and it does pay pretty well. There is a catch though, I had to go back to school at 26 and it took me 4 years to get here, now just turned 30 I am reaping the rewards.

In saying that though dont beleive everything you read in the news, there is still plenty of work over here its just that there is a big focus on reducing operating costs atm and thats where everyone get the impression that the work is drying up. All that means is the contracting companies are getting screwed big time to reduce thier rates and not increase costs.

Good luck with it mate.

[Dirk Diggler]

What do I get for guessing correctly?

Rio tinto

[Beni C]

Not a lot mate, but yeah Rio!!

[4wdreaming]

You would have to be lucky or know someone, to get one here in the bowen basin things have slowed down a lot.

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[Dirk Diggler]

Not a lot mate, but yeah Rio!!

Things aren't looking that bad for us here, we just kicked off another group induction for 9 operators (pit and chpp) here. And next week 2 fitters start. Thank god as I would seriously hate to be looking for a job in this industry right now..

[BoojaBear]

I work with HD in the mines. Most of the mines and contractors have put out a employment ban.

[4wdreaming]

Hey bear you open cut or under ground with HD
Iam underground workshop

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