r/mining 6d ago

Job Info Biweekly Job Info Thread

5 Upvotes

Please use this thread to ask, answer, and search for questions about getting a job in mining. This includes questions about FIFO, where to work, what kinds of jobs might be available, or other experience questions.

This thread is to help organize the sub a bit more with relation to questions about jobs in the mining industry. We will edit this as we go to improve. Thank you.


r/mining Apr 27 '24

Australia Keen on getting a FIFO job on the Mines in Australia? Then read this.

404 Upvotes

Ready for a reality check? (And an essay?) Written by someone who has done this long journey.

So you've been cruising on TikTok/Insragram or whatever other brain rotting ADD inducing app you have on your phone, and you see a young guy/chick make a video of their work day here as a FIFO worker on an Australian mine and how much money they make, and thought "Neat, I can do that!". So you head here to ask how? Great! Well, I'm here to answer all your questions.

Firstly you need to be in Australia. Easy right? Jump on a plane and you're here. WRONG.

You need a work visa, ignoring WHV for now (we will get there later), you need something useful for the Australian nation, do you have a trade or degree that will allow you to apply for a working visa or get sponsorship for one, through a skills assessment? Check the short or medium term list.

If no, tough shit, no chance Australia is letting you in.

If yes, great! Let's get working on that. Does your qualification line up with Australian standards?

If no, there are some things you can do to remediate that ($$$$). If you can't do that, tough shit.

If yes, great! Fork out $1000+ for a skills assessment.

Next step! Many visas require a min amount of experience, 2/3 years. Do you have that and a positive skills assessment?

No? Tough shit.

Yes, great! Let's put in your expression of interest! (Don't forget your IELTS test) 1-2 years later. You're invited to apply for a visa. Fork out $5000 & 1 year processing.

1 year later - Yay you can come to Aus! Congratulations!

Now assume you have a WHV, wonderful opportunity for young people to get to know the country. Remember you can only work at one place for no more than 6 months, unless you're up north or from the UK.

Either way, you're now in Australia. Just landed in Perth, sweet. Go to a hostel "sorry bud we're full", ah shit, you're on a park bench for the night because there is no accomodation and the rental market is fingered. Ready to pay $200-250 a week for a single room?

Anyway, you're here from some other country, with your sport science BTEC or 3 years experience at KFC, and decide to apply for a mining contractor, driving big trucks is easy right? WRONG. 90% of "unskilled" jobs require full Australian working rights (PR minimum), so if you're on a WHV, you're probably fucked, if you're on PR you have a chance.

So you decide to try for the camp contractor, I hope you're happy washing dishes or cleaning toilets, because thats what you're going to do as a "unskilled" labour; probably going to earn about $25-$30 and hour, working a 7 days, 7 nights, 7 off roster, sweet you're making cash. Get home after your 14 days working and you're fucked for about 2 days from fatigue. You get to enjoy 3-4 days before you have to think of going back. Also you'll probably get drug tested everytime you come to site from break.

Talking of money, to get $100k you have to get at least $34/hr on that 14:7 roster to just hit it. Unlikely as a camp contractor without a bit of experience. You could try get in as a trade assistant, though that will usually require a variety of tickets ($$$).

Also camp catering contract work doesn't count towards the WHV renewal days, except under some circumstances (I admit I'm not too familiar with anymore). So you need to go and work on some farm getting paid a pittance (if anything at all), that or get incredibly lucky with finding an actual mining/exploration job.

So you're still with me, that's good, thought you'd get distracted by instagram/tiktok.

It's not impossible, and some do get lucky, but it's not the gold mine your think it is, the FIFO lifestyle is hard, and unrelenting; long hours and long work weeks, and incredibly difficult with no useful qualifications or skills. Also, if you're overseas hoping to get offered a job to come to Australia, that is 99.9% not possible unless you're a professional (engineers, geos etc), and then still difficult.

Let's look at what you CAN do to get on the mines, as we do need personel, just not pot washers.

Get a trade: Electricians, welders/boilermakers, mechanics (heavy diesel, light and auto-electrical) and plumbers are in demand. You will need a couple years experience and will have to do an Australian conversion course ($$$$), a mate of mine told me something like $2-3k for the UK to Aus sparky conversion (feel free to correct me). You will then need to make your own way to Aus and get a job from here.

Get a degree: Mining engineering, geotechnical engineering, Geology, Metallurgy, surveying. Or any degrees that can lead into those roles (Chem eng, Mech eng, environmental etc etc). Can land you a role in Australian mining. As a grad, you can get sponsored to come out if you're lucky, if not you'll have to make your way over, many of the countries with these courses are eligible for WHV. You can work as those roles on WHV.

If you do come with good skills, and are well connected and personable, you can get employer sponsorship, especially as a professional, but it will always be a hard road to walk on, and being on a Temp visa for years, not able to buy a house and build your life, is challenging.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask below.


r/mining 5h ago

Canada Has anyone made the switch from carpenter / superintendent?

2 Upvotes

Interested in rotational shift work and I feel like I’ve exhausted all avenues of typical construction work. Can anyone share their experience how they got into the industry from residential/ light commercial?

I am a superintendent, have owned a framing company and did that for 7 years, about 15 years total carpentry experience

Am I hireable or might I struggle? BC located will go anywhere


r/mining 12h ago

Australia Geotech engineer into mining

6 Upvotes

Hi all, currently an early career geotechnical engineer with 1.5 years experience undergrad, and 2 years graduate. Have Bachelor of Eng (hons) in civil, Aus resident/ citizen etc.

Looking at changing roles to mining and I see there is quite a few in up for grabs for grad mining engineers and similar. Noting that a lot of these say “ mining engineer degree / or equivalent “. I Understand I’ll need to learn essentially all of it from scratch, and not looking to jump straight into a role.

Am I wrong to think that I would be a fair candidate for grad mining engineer roles, if the 3.5 years experience as a professional is weighed up compared to not actually completing a specific mining engineer degree?

Reckon I should just go for it? Any tips otherwise? Thanks in advance


r/mining 11h ago

Question Need durable tablets for entering PLOD on drill rigs in West Africa - Suggestions

4 Upvotes

Looking for suggestions and what people have been using for in terms of a durable tablet brand. We are planning on buying some tablets for a few diamond and RC rigs to enter PLOD instead of rewriting them from paper to excel etc. The mine is in Burkina so has a heavy wet season and lots of dust, sand, and heat. I'm looking at Samsung Active5, but not sure if they would withstand the environment.

Cheers!


r/mining 19h ago

Canada Mining career pt2

3 Upvotes

Hello guys I recently came in here asking for tips on how to join the mining industry with no experience and a little construction experience.

I’m 20 living in Sudbury ON, and always had a passion to work in the mines yes I know it’s not an easy process but right now I’m feeling like it’s kinda impossible. I’ve applied to over 75 entry level jobs like driller helper or assistant, nipper, etc, I’ve even reached out to companies I’m not sure where to go from here, I know not having my surface or U/G common core really hurts me but all I want is something that’ll get my foot in the door and in all honesty I do not have 11k to do the U/G common core course, I was told by people on here keep applying and someone is bound to train me but what do I actually got to do to get my foot in the door, anyone who works in the mines currently around Sudbury Ontario can give me a few tips that would be great I really don’t wanna give up.


r/mining 1d ago

Canada Getting into a mine as a haul truck operator

7 Upvotes

Could use a bit of advice by someone with actual experience in the industry. I’m a 19yo male who recently graduated from a heavy equipment school in southern Ontario. While I don’t have the most experience yet, school gave us lots of time on different excavators, dozers, and rock trucks and during my time I operated a wheel loader for snow removal around my city.

I know getting into a company as an operator this young is a bit difficult since everywhere wants years of seat time. that’s why I’ve been looking more into haul trucks and remote work to get my foot in the door with a company.

Was surprised but got accepted to Syncrude Base mine in a haul truck back in June but failed my G first attempt so they declined the offer and said to try again later if I wanted (prolly would’ve failed marijuana test if I went through with it then anyways.)

Debating trying again there in a few weeks once I’m clean but curious if there any mines in Ontario that are similar and don’t require much experience to start out and where I should look.

I know Alberta doesn’t want that much training before you go out (just paid $90 for some oil and gas awareness course) but wondering if I really need surface common core before hand as looks like it’s a few hundred dollars and only offered in Thunder Bay.

Thanks.


r/mining 1d ago

Question Thoughts on SDRC after the latest board shakeup?

3 Upvotes

Sidney Resources recently appointed former Idaho Governor Butch Otter as Chairman.

Given his background in government and regulation, I was wondering how people in the mining industry generally view appointments like this. Does bringing in someone with that kind of experience typically play a meaningful role in project development, permitting, or stakeholder engagement?

The company has already been operating its test mill in Emmett, so I was curious whether appointments like this tend to have a practical impact on advancing a project, or if they're more about long-term governance.

For those with experience in mining or project development, how much influence can board appointments realistically have on a project's timeline?


r/mining 1d ago

Australia Airleg/jack leg stoping

7 Upvotes

Can someone please explain in layman’s terms how on earth airleg stoping works, how the scraper is installed/used and ultimately how the dirt gets out of the hole. Do operators go under unsupported ground? I understand it’s unavoidable when drilling rises but i just can’t figure out how the airleggers get in, drill and charge without at some point being under rock with no bolts/mesh for narrow vein stuff.
The scraper from my understanding needs an anchor point across the far side of the stope correct? How do they put it there? Pre-charging?

Kind regards,
Confused service crew member about to take a job with an airleg mining contractor at an airleg mine


r/mining 1d ago

Canada FIFO Eskay Creek / Skeena Gold + Silver

7 Upvotes

What can anyone tell me about the FIFO policy with Skeena Gold + Silver? Specifically flying from Abbotsford


r/mining 1d ago

FIFO EXPAT TO AUS>PNG

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone

First time poster.

Recently have the opportunity for an expat role in PNG.

Am wondering how the visa process works with a criminal record. Have a failure to appear conviction from 6 years ago, nothing prior to that and nothing since.

Thanks in advance for any comments / assistance.


r/mining 2d ago

Humour Deswik PingPang Game

32 Upvotes

Deswik PingPang Game play

Hi All, a while ago I have developed few web based mini games sharing in this group. But I always having a desire building a game inside of Deswik and today I am announcing the first ever in the world - Deswik PingPang Game.

The manager think bro is working so hard but acutally playing the pingpang game inside of Deswik lol anyway I don't know where to sharing this amazing build maybe some of guys in this group will find interesting. Building a game is just the beginning, technically more powerful tools can be built inside of Deswik ppl knowing how useful having a customisable Deswik plugin knows what I am talking about.

Okay. thanks for watching this video, take care everyone.


r/mining 1d ago

Canada I am interested in pivoting to the mining industry

0 Upvotes

I am a lawyer and originally planned to go into mining, I took a different path and I regret not following my gut feeling which was to go into the mining industry.

I was looking to make connections with mining professionals and learn more about the industry.


r/mining 2d ago

Question Moving from Canada to Australia for a 2-3 years - Feasible?

4 Upvotes

I'm approaching 6 years of experience as a mining tech in a pretty complex UG mine in Canada. 3 years in surveying (I have a degree in Geomatics) and 3 years in drill and blast (stope designer for the most part).

Working abroad as an expat for a few years has always intrigued me, but considering I'm not an engineer, I'm afraid my choices are limited (even though my responsibilities right now correspond to an engineer role).

I'm even open to study : do 1 or 2 years mining programs even exist? Would they be relevant?

And finally, what is the mining consulting market in Australia? Do they even employ non-engineers, especially foreign non-engineers?

Thank you!


r/mining 4d ago

Europe The Little Frenchman illustrated June 6, 1903 School museum - The mine by Christophe

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144 Upvotes

r/mining 4d ago

Canada A massive 125 tonne boulder of lead silver galena, from the Silverton silver rush of the 1890s, West Kootenay British Columbia Canada

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60 Upvotes

r/mining 3d ago

Question Assay company recommendations

7 Upvotes

I’m looking for a assay company that will be able to analyze raw ore samples. I would like it to test for gold silver lead arsenic mercury copper iron etc. I’m a prospector and would like it to be a reasonable price under $150 does anybody have recommendations for assay companies


r/mining 3d ago

US Maine Forges & Mines #blacksmith #art #education #history #prospecting #traditional #maine

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1 Upvotes

I just wanted to share a new channel we launched here in Maine to tell the Maine Blacksmith's Guild story and how we are not only saving Maine's ironworking heritage but our mining heritage as well. We work hand in hand together, mining & craftsmen, one cannot exist without the other.


r/mining 3d ago

Africa Seeking Strategic Investor for Established Gold Mining Project – High Potential Opportunity

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0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out to serious investors interested in the natural resources/mining sector. I own and operate a permitted gold mining project with significant proven reserves and active operations.
Project Highlights:
• Located in a stable jurisdiction with strong infrastructure and existing mining activity.
• Current operations include exploration, drilling results, and initial production capability.
• Independent geological reports and assays confirm substantial gold deposits with attractive grades.
• All necessary permits and licenses are in place (environmental, operational, etc.).
• Clear path to scale production with additional capital.
We’re looking for a strategic partner to provide growth capital (ideally in the $X–$Y range) in exchange for equity. Funds will be used for:
• Expanding drilling and resource delineation
• Equipment upgrades and processing plant improvements
• Accelerating production timelines
This is a hands-on opportunity for someone who understands mining, wants transparency, and is willing to conduct full due diligence. I’ve got full documentation ready: feasibility studies, reserve reports, financial projections, title deeds, and more. Happy to share under NDA with qualified parties.
I’m not looking for passive “quick flip” money — I’m seeking a long-term partner who believes in responsible, profitable gold mining.
If you’re an accredited investor, mining professional, or represent a fund/family office with interest in precious metals, please comment or send me a direct message with a brief intro about your background and what you’re looking for. Serious inquiries only — tire-kickers and spammers will be ignored.
Happy to provide more details, answer questions, or set up a call/Zoom. References and site visits can be arranged for the right partner.
Looking forward to connecting!
Thanks,

Chunya Mbeya Tanzania 🇹🇿


r/mining 4d ago

Question End of internship gifts idea?

7 Upvotes

So in 2 weeks I will be done with my internship, I'm currently working with the geophysical exploration team and I'm thinking of gifting them but I have no idea what would be appropriate. I was thinking of bringing chocolates for the whole office and writing few handwritten notes to my mentors.


r/mining 5d ago

Canada Trying to start a mining career!

6 Upvotes

Hello guys I got a few questions about joining the mining industry, I’m 20 years old right now with no mining or underground experience and do not have my common core, I do have around a year of construction experience and I did take a level 1 trade school class, I was just wondering if it’s possible for someone like me with not any experience at all to get my foot in the door in a mine, I have family and friends who work in the mines and that’s where my passion comes from I have been applying at almost every position I seen on indeed hoping I’d get an interview and not much luck yet, I know about the shifts and I’m willing to work any type of shifts right now, does anyone have any tips for me that can help me get my foot in the door of the mining industry? I currently live in Sudbury ON.


r/mining 5d ago

US 45yo entering Diamond Driller's assisstant role, too Old? (Alaska)

14 Upvotes

45yo, (recently) prior military and looking to go into the mining and Heavy Equipment Operating industry in Alaska, and later internationally.

I'm pretty pumped on the role. Remote camp life is not an issue for me.

My concern is, How Physical is this role? Is it routinely washing out fit 25-year-olds?

I have put on some weight in my old age, but was still keeping up and (in some cases) outrunning the young guys during PT tests while still in uniform.

I think I can handle it, but I do have some middle-aged joint issues.

Is 45 too old to enter this industry? Is there room to advance me to a Driller, and potentially a foreman in <10 years?

Thanks for your insights


r/mining 5d ago

Question What does it feel like being a geophysicist in a mining comp?

8 Upvotes

A small consultant firm geophysicist here. Just wondering how does it feels like. Upside downside so on


r/mining 5d ago

US Still Crushing, Iron Annoyance

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9 Upvotes

r/mining 5d ago

Question Anyone recognize this Bond Gold Canada Golden Patricia Mine hat? Found it and curious about its history

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12 Upvotes