What It Takes to Work in One of the Most Popular Industries, Mining

When many of us thinking of mining jobs, we may envision a hard-hat worker, pickaxe in hand, walking down a dark mine shaft to toil for hours. We may think of striking gold or finding a diamond in the rough. However, mining is more than this and offers a vast array of jobs both above and below ground, in the field and in large office buildings. Mining companies are increasingly investing in technologies such as automated drills, drones and sensors as they source everything from aluminium and copper, gold, iron ore and uranium. In order to maximise the use of these tools and make processes more efficient, companies are employing geotechnical engineers, instrumentation techs, electrical specialists, and geochemists to work in concert with millwrights, craftsmen, and operators. So what is it like to work in mining with some of the biggest technological innovations? We’ll attempt to break down several of the most interest components of the mining industry.

The Big Players

With revenues in the hundreds of billions, the leading mining companies employ thousands of people worldwide at mining and metallurgical sites, oil refineries and large facilities. But three specifically stand out from the rest: Glencore, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 90 commodities. With 150 mining and metallurgical sites, oil production assets and agricultural facilities, they employ around 160,000 people in more than 50 countries. Rio Tinto, the world's second-biggest mining company by value and No. 2 shipper of iron ore, produce “materials essential to human progress” like aluminium, copper, diamonds, gold, coal and uranium — things you find in everything from smartphones to planes and throughout your home. BHP primarily operates in exploration, development and marketing of metallurgical coal, copper, uranium, nickel, zinc and potash. With approximately 128,800 employees and contractors working at 141 locations in 26 countries, the Australia-based enterprise has been investing in mining and petroleum since 1851.

The Culture

You may be surprised to know that the company culture for the top mining enterprises can compete with Silicon Valley tech companies. “Excellent development, global company with interesting role opportunities, great people and benefits,” says one anonymous employee, calling Rio Tinto a “great place to work.” A former HSE Representative for BHP said it has “excellent benefits, work-life balance and [is] family oriented.” The perks are also compelling. An employee at Glencore reported, “Excellent medical insurance, dental, optional vision, 401k matching, gym membership subsidisation, reasonable PTO policy, corporate discounts at Verizon and Brooks Brothers, and GM.” Rio Tinto invests in ongoing employee development with generous tuition subsidies for job-related courses (to $15,000) and provides a variety of in-house and online training opportunities. Furthermore, Rio Tinto offers 18 weeks maternity leave and offers onsite daycare at its head office. Move over, Google!

The Jobs

Like every industry, there are a vast number of jobs that make the mining industry as robust and profitable as it is. One of the easiest ways to comprehend the landscape is by organising the roles into major categories:

1. Mining exploration jobs (geologist, geo-technician, and hydrogeologist)
2. Construction jobs (construction manager, project manager, project control, project coordinator, estimator, and planner/scheduler)
3. Operations jobs (general manager, mine manager, chief mining engineer, and manager of technical service)
4. Engineering jobs (mining engineer, planning engineer, and project engineer)

Operations roles can be less science-based and involve more planning and strategy as well as monitoring work conditions. As with all companies, there are administrative roles and HR functions responsible for the high-level aspects of employment from labour law to staffing.

The Pay

In addition to mining being a thriving industry in the UK and around the world, many of the leading companies offer a wealth of perks, benefits and talented people to work with. Plus, on top of that, employee reviews on Glassdoor reveal the mining industry pays competitively. According to Glassdoor reviews, Rio Tinto, widely viewed as a mining-industry leader on technology, Senior Geotechnical Engineers make, on average, £88K. Operations Supervisors reportedly make £65K on average while Business Analysts earn £57K a year. With over 300 salaries reported for over 200 job titles, Rio Tinto’s salary pay is transparent and employees appear to be satisfied with their earnings, on top of everything else.

The Verdict

In addition to the rich history of mining in the United Kingdom and beyond, the industry has a promising and innovative future. From rapidly evolving technology to projects that contribute to the daily lives of people around the world, the mining industry is one that shows no signs of stopping. Consider a job in this dynamic industry today!