Getting into the mining industry can feel like an uphill battle. A lot of the time, you need previous experience or expertise to be eligible for a mining role, but how do you get the experience to begin with? #chickenortheegg

That’s why we thought we’d provide a little advice around how to make your CV more attractive to mining companies, so you can achieve your dream career in mining today!

Transferable Skills

Let’s talk about transferable skills, understanding mining terminology, and standing out from the crowd.

Ok, so what are ‘Transferable Skills’?

Transferable skills can be defined as “skills, abilities or expertise which can be used in a variety of roles or occupations.” , “A skill or ability or expertise which may be used in a variety of roles or occupations. Examples could be great communication, problem-solving or self-control.

But how does this relate to the mining industry?

Glad you asked! You don’t necessarily require mining experience to enter the industry (we all have to start somewhere right?). Now let’s think about the everyday duties and activities that you undertake to get through life and make a list.

Here some examples that are mining-related:

• Driving heavy vehicles
• Construction work or operating
• Manual labour
• Processing
• Communication
• Mechanically minded
• Good under pressure
• Multitasking / prioritizing
• Systems experience

Now there are a lot more skills that you could add to the list that directly relate to requirements for mining roles. All of these should be added to your resume when applying for mining jobs.

However, it’s important to read the job descriptions – how do your skills apply to that role? Think about what additional value you can add.

HOT TIP – Make these points very clear in your resume, don’t let them blend in with lists or long paragraphs.

Understanding Mining Terminology

Sometimes, it can be difficult to understand what you’re actually looking at when sifting through available roles. Are there any entry-level roles out there? They seem to all have technical names that you may not understand.

So, if you have strong capabilities and a passion for manual (labour) work – look for roles such as;

• Field Assistant
• Process Technician
• Shot Firing
• Blast Crew

These are all physically demanding roles that are a great entry point for the mining industry.

Know your worth… and don’t discount yourself!

You might not have the mining experience, but the experience you have is worthy. It’s important to know your skill set and having the right attitude can get you to the right position.

TIP – Don’t apply for everything! Apply for what you are suitable for. A scattergun approach will just become background noise to the recruiter. At the end of the day, no one likes rejection (giving it or receiving it).

How to stand out

Do you ever feel like your screaming in a crowded room?

Here are some quick, simple and proven tips to get yourself noticed when applying for jobs:

• Make your resume tailored for the role
• Put your transferrable skills at the top of your resume
• Make your ‘experience and skills’ clear and, if possible, use the language of the advert (the adverts are generally written by the person reading your resume so speak to them).

Online presence; are you on LinkedIn? If not, create a profile today and put a link to it on your resume.

According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates.

Social Media Platforms (such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn) become your online resume/portfolio, so it’s imperative that you check your online presence and check that it’s in line with the company’s values. If in doubt keep it Disney friendly – if you wouldn’t see it in a Disney movie maybe take it down OR change your status to private!

If you’d like to learn more about how to #unleashyourpotential with Chandler Macleod, visit our website at www.chandlermacleod.com