Metal ore mining jobs are expected to grow by 16.3% over the next 10 years which is over double the expected national workforce growth rate. With higher commodity prices and an electric energy trend that positively impacts mining for copper, nickel, lithium, and more, opportunities for mining jobs are looking strong.
If you’re new to the mining industry or are a mining professional looking for new opportunities, you may be wondering how to best find mining job openings.
4 PLACES TO FIND MINING JOBS
As a mining staffing and recruiting agency, Rangefront has decades of experience in the mining employment industry. Below are some of our top tips for finding mining jobs.
1. EXISTING NETWORK
One of the best places to start looking for a mining job is within your existing network. Even if you don’t yet have a professional network in the industry, reaching out to any friends, family, or associates in the mining industry may present opportunities. Having connections within the industry can mean you learn about job openings before they are publicly posted or can give you an extra leg up when the company is evaluating candidates.
2. JOB SITES LIKE LINKEDIN OR INDEED
If you don’t have an existing network or if none of your contacts are aware of current opportunities, you can check local job boards as well as LinkedIn and Indeed. Ziprecruiter is also a good resource for local and national job openings. If you search “mining job openings” or “mining jobs near me” in Google, it will present a list of local openings from multiple sources.
3. RECRUITING SERVICES
There are mining staffing and recruiting companies that work with mining companies to help fill mining job openings. For instance, Rangefront has a list of mining job openings on our website. The benefit of applying through a recruiting service is that even if you don’t get the specific job you applied for, the mining staffing company can add you to their network of candidates and will reach out if a new job opening becomes available.
If there are no current openings that fit your skillset, it’s still a good idea to get on the radar of these recruiting companies. See if there is a way to submit your resume to be considered for future positions.
4. TALKING TO MINING WORKERS IN THE AREA
Finally, you can also find open positions by speaking with mining workers in the area. Consider searching #miningjobs, #nevadamining, or #mining on Instagram or LinkedIn and see if there are individuals or companies posting that you can start a conversation with. Ask friends and family if they know anyone in the industry who may be willing to meet up, or find out what local bars or restaurants workers like to go to at the end of the day and strike up a conversation. No one will know the available or upcoming job openings better than the workers with their boots on the ground.
6 TIPS FOR FINDING A MINING JOB
Having trouble finding a position? Here are some tips to help with the job hunt:
- Have a clear list of experience. Every recruiter will want to see your previous work experience. Gather this information ahead of time in a digital document so you can easily copy and paste it into applications or can provide a resume if requested.
- Be up-to-date on certifications, if any. Many mining jobs require certain certifications. If you have certifications or have been certified in the past, it’s worth it to renew your certification and to have his information handy during a job hunt.
- Have references. Talk to previous employers who may be willing to provide a reference for you. Ask them if they can write a letter of recommendation or if they would be willing to let you provide their contact information as a reference, if requested.
- Build relationships. The mining industry is still relatively traditional, which means that relationships can be helpful for getting your foot in the door. Build your network wherever you can and keep up with the relationships, even if it’s just reaching out occasionally to check in and say hi.
- Consider travel. If you’re having difficulty finding mining opportunities in your area, consider looking for positions that may require you to temporarily relocate. This can especially be helpful during winter months where some mining areas may not be active.
- Don’t be afraid of contract labor. Although you may ultimately want a permanent position in a mine, contract openings are often more readily available. These positions can often lead to full-time positions. Even if they don’t, they help to strengthen your relationships with the mining company as well as the recruiting company, if you went through one. It also helps to strengthen your resume with additional experience.
CURRENT MINING JOB OPENINGS
Are you currently looking for a mining job? Explore our job openings today or submit your resume to be notified when new, relevant job openings become available.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BRIAN GOSS
President, Rangefront Mining Services
Brian Goss brings over 20 years of experience in gold and mineral exploration. He is the founder and President of Rangefront, a premier geological services and mining consulting company that caters to a large spectrum of clients in the mining and minerals exploration industries. Brian is also a director of Lithium Corp. (OTCQB: LTUM), an exploration stage company specializing in energy storage minerals and from 2014 to 2017, he fulfilled the role of President and Director of Graphite Corp. (OTCQB: GRPH), an exploration stage that specialized in the development of graphite properties. Prior to founding Rangefront, Brian worked as a staff geologist for Centerra Gold on the REN project, as well as various exploration and development projects in the Western United States and Michigan. Brian Goss holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Geology from Wayne State University in Michigan.
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