oh yeah i searched that topic that was created a while ago with the fella trying to get a job in oc health and safety and it was a good read but iam an outside worker, work with my hands blood sweat and tears. so a lot of good info but not what i was after.

countless CV,s and extra tickets I wouldnt normally use and still waiting for the "we will call you call, I gave up". Sorry I couldnt help. 3 or 4 years on, couldnt be happier though and realised there is more to work than mining! in case I offended anyone it is only what happened to me and my opinion!!

yeah i get that totally

hey mate im in exactly the same boat atm, i rang a heap of mining firms last week and they all told me they are chasing people with mining experience which doesent really help us because we all have to start somewhere, basically most of the receptionists told me to go and get all the basic tickets like HR liscense which is pretty much a minimum for any mining job, first aid and all the rest. they also said just to keep ringing back every week to see if they have any vacancies available, im going to go get my shotfirers ticket i think, seems an eay 4 or 5day course and should help me on my way.

hope that helped a little bit

cheers Wade

fatboyholla,

Contact Briertys in Maddington and talk with their HR department they are looking for staff at the moment, they have plenty of work in the mining sector, one of my sons works for them and finds them great to work for and the pay is exceptional, you have to work for it and you are in the Pilbarra, hot and dusty but you get looked after well. Worth a phone call.

Cheers

Old Banga!

if you dont mind working in the heat employement with construction companies up north are also worth a look. bigger variety of jobs on offer than mining and usually better pay due to longer rosters. not as stable as a career in mining though. iv'e found the bigger construction companies pay really well and look after the workers really well but once the projects finished being built they usually sack everyone. i started out as a labourer doing formwork carpentry in karatha 9 years ago. best move i ever made (money wise) most construction jobs are still 4 weeks on /1 week off unfortunately. things are changing though

a few construction companies worth flicking a resume to if your'e interested.....

-Thiess

-Macmahon contractors

-Decmil

-Leighton

-Cimeco

-Monodelphous

-Killarnee Formwork

I'm heading that way myself after 6 years in retail. Luckily my dad's in the biz so he's hooking me up with a job on the blast crew :) It's not what you know, it's who you know :)

your killin me here kinga86

Mate have a go at any drilling companies seeking offsiders..... There normally a few in Saturdays paper.....that's how I got into it anyway
If you've got a HR liscence one of em might put you on.......pretty good coin but it's hArd hot and dusty work!!!!

Try....... wallis drilling
Ausdrill limited
Orbit drilling

I work @ Westrac Mate, and there always screaming for FIFO servicemen, 2 & 1.

over 100k a year for being a driver and grease monkey,

2 positions open at the moment, www.westrac.com.au go into careers and they are in there.

Its definitely who you know. I've been trying for years. I left as an offsider doing 3 and 1 for 18months as a 19yo now 24. And after I working my butt off I asked to go fifo they said no so I left. I now have my ohs ticket and still can't get in as a TA. Its utter bs but goodluck mate hope your break comes soon. I've had a number of top blokes try help me out from fishwrecked but there's only so much referrals can do. Honestly don't do drilling its so shite

This is kind of a vent, but an informative one, and in no way directed to the OP because he sounds like he's got the right atitude. The ammount of people that I speak to thinking they can just slot into a $150k a year job is ubelieveable to say the least. In addition to that, the ammount of those people thinking they can start making demands and unrealistic requests in the first 12 months in the job is ' suprising'.

Start at the bottom and work your way up, no one ever starts at the top, on the best money, with an unreal roster. Talk to someone who's on one, they've been in the game for as long as I've been alive - that's the reason they have the role they do. Do your time at the bottom and show your superiors you have the right attitude to your job, they'll notice it if you do, they're always looking for it. Once you've cracked this it's all down hill. If the company thinks that they can benefit from investing in your education and development, they'll invest in you and you will both benefit.

I've got all the tickets mate still nothing. Haha might have to change my name to something more common though:p

i suggest you become a kiwi,pom,scot,irishman or philipino, guaranteed a job up north then, must say they are pretty good most of em, if i was you i would go for john smith... common enough?

I'm up at the pilbara working for a mob up here at the moment. I got a job through work pac a couple of years back. Send your resume' to

newman.industrial@workpac.com

They subcontract out to the bigger companies and they get your name out there. After you send your resume' to them make sure you give them a follow up call to make sure they got it. Then every couple of weeks or so give them a call on (08) 9177 9722 , that'll keep you on their minds for a possie somewhere.

After getting contracted out for a while to the company they send you to say, Rio or FMG, they then get the choice to get you onto their books. Worth a shot!

Also get in touch with Ausdrill. They're a good place to start and often hire people as offsiders who are new to the industry.

Best of luck.. That polywelders will come in handy for De-waterering...

Hamo- your spot on there mate! I've been in the industry coming up 6 years and the amount of people that walk in and expect it all just to happen for them is unreal. I started as an offsider, worked me way up and it wasn't until after about 2 years I started having a bit more say.

dont get me wrong fellas not expecting anything but the bottom of the pile and ive never had a problem stickin it out for a few years and trying my arse of to get the best out of myself, problem is getting the start in the job to be able to prove that. all really good advice an a couple of good suggestions appreciate all your help

and i am starting to realise that its easier for overseas people, met a kiwi friday and he has been in WA under 2 months has a job already as a TA, kid has no experience and didint even complete year 12.  bit of a shame really and i think it has a lot to do with the AUS government. got plenty to offer but being passed up for unskilled, actually ill stop there before i say what i really think. 

thats a thought, mature age apprentice. are they hard to find hard to get any ideas, ill do some research

When I started in the mining industry it was a 6 and 1 roster, no ensuites and if your aircon worked well you didnt tell anyone as they would swap it for theirs! The money was good but only because of the roster but we didnt get breatho'ed every day so some blokes left a fair amount of money in the wet mess. Some people back then said it was hard, I thought it was character building. Now I run a roadtrain from Perth to Broome/Derby 3 times a fortnight and earn more money than the mines would ever pay me.

i'd say bug the employment agencies that look after the mining companies, my bro went this way and got in the door to Rio and it worked for him and i know a few other who have done the same. The big companies love employment agencies, they ask for someone and they get them in, if they aren't up for it, kick that one out and bring in the next guy. You get the call and hed to site, you are then possibly doing your 3-6 month probation and before long you go on the books onto a better roster and pay etc etc.

Be persistant holla, keep ringing and sending the CV out there mate, construction is gonna boom in the next year or two with Chevron building 2 gas plants, Oakagee maybe not far away and Rio and BHP's port upgrades they are going to need bulk people, i'd be ringing your John Hollands, Thiess, Monodelphos, AGC, Contract Resources, Kentz, CBI's etc etc if you want to go that way or keep bugging the agencies and be prepared to get on that plane at the drop of a hat.

Best of luck mate.

 get an mc licence aswell even better to drive alot of machinery and also get a resume from my partner $100 ,thats how a friend of mine got in after trying for years,also get the right tickets,i have had a few people ask from this site and 1 guy wanted a resume sent without paying first but my partner said no unless you come to our place to organise,and its done proffessionally

cheers for all the advice guys got a few better ideas , now the resume sending and knock backs begin

plenty of knock backs already :) anybody no what sorta money fifo cleaners or kitchen hands are getting, ill do anything just to get a start

 Go to www.compass-group.com.au and go to the careers page and apply there, always hiring new staff can't hurt to try I have been with them for 10 years.

Cheers

Shane

 Don't have to go to the mines to earn big bucks , look closer to home . Young blokes who are doing contracting works for me are earring $250-$300 a day . Works out to be as much and in some cases more than you'd earn up north with out the always long hours and bull that goes with it . Last couple blokes we have got working for us came straight off the plane from the UK as we can't find local fella's who want to work and have the attitude .

For someone  with no skills or  experience  in the industry I  would  recomend moving to  Kalgoorlie. All the  smaller  gold  miners will pretty  much  take on  anyone to  operate  mobile   or  fixed  plant.  Start at the  bottom and   gather as much  training as  possible  seek out  larger   companies  like Barrick or Newmont where there will be plenty of oppurtunities to work fifo within the state. It may also increase   your chances of  getting picked  up  by  the  Rio's and BHPB's.

You could have  a punt  moving to karratha, newman or  hedland but  is  much tougher with  the  stupidly  high  costs of  living and  with  a  lesser chance   to  pick  up  a job  directly in  the  industry.....move  to kalgoorlie.

Start ticking the box 'do you describe yourself as aboriginal?"....puts you right at the top of the list....sad but true

haahahaha dick dog lives

Try www.reddirt.com.au or talk to Greg Jones or Dom there about getting in through them. Dont have his number just now, but should be able to get in touch with him through their web site.

Cheers

Dale

yeah have heard about reddirt will deffinatly give em a call now i got a name to go with it, thanks mate

 I'm in the floorcovering industry , commercial fitouts office space, hotels, schools etc .The guys contracting for me do earn what they make but the hours are pretty flexible . Our trade is suffering like a few around town with no new blood coming through . Good vinyl installers these days can make an easy 500 a day , like i mentioned before guys on wages with one of the contractors who do my work earn average 250 a day depending on what they can do . Doing a job in Karratha at the moment for Rio , so the opportunity to work up north is there every now and then to earn a few extra dollars and do a bit of fishing as well .  There are many good opportunities with in the trades around Perth . Once you got a job in the mines they want their pound of flesh and you pay your fair amount of tax . Contractors down here who have a good work ethic , can earn twice as much as up there and pay usually smaller rate of tax at the end of it all . Best part of it all if you contract you don't have to ask for day's off and go fishing when you want .

Hardest part is learning the trade . What's your back ground and what you interested in ?

Try this company might beable to set you up with some work mate. http://orebody.com.au/AboutUs.htm

 as an ex miner i will give you some advice.

12 hour shifts times 12 is 144hrs a fortnight. double the 'standard' 38 hour week. prepare to be exhausted on your first two days off. now you have adjusted back to normality,wife hands over the reins and kids.'here ive had them for two weeks its your turn now'....

so much for a week off...

i toiled hard for a long time living in the town(before fifo became normal , early 90s) stayed out of the pub and came out of the hole all the better for it.

if you are single, have a good work ethic and can cope with the mental and physical toil go for it.however if married or in a relationship you may. e better off staying put and having a crack at something else. council job ay? plenty of time off to maybe do a 2nd job? shelf paciking at woolies pays 25 an hour.....

barlow yr spot on mate....most of these folks think the $$$$ is good, its only good due to long hrs worked not the hrly unless u have no qualifications,,,,be prepared to miss bdays, births, marriages, xmas or new yrs break depending on yr roster

if yr single minded and can handle being mostly farked when u get back esp if u do days n nites, fine, but there is  a price to pay for it

and worse if u get stuck in crapsville like mt newman or similar, eating red dirt 24/7

my advice keep away from iron mines nickel and coal mines...do a couple of yrs, keep out the pub and get back to perth b4 u go stir crazy

I do FIFO now but only work in the mine villages or a major contractors village like here in K-Town and make some good bucks doing so. Step out of my room, walk a 100m to my office, work 11 hours a day doing walk arounds, go and talk to people, look after return to work plans for people, go for a great tea around 16:30 each day and back to my donga. Doesn't get much better than that. Dont miss the shift work or getting filthy dirty every day either.

Cheers

Dale

Mines are great.. come join us !

 Just a regular chef worked my way to a supervisor, great pay 2 on 2 off plus holidays. So less than 6 months a year at work and less than 100 meters to work

Dicko its my opinion only...im/was a boily and ive worked in some sheet holes with some real knuckle heads that if they were given a brain they still would be stupid....i spent enough yrs doing shuts, refits and some maintenance  and  commissioning to have a fair idea wot its really like....i guess some trade papers gave me more opportunity to say yes and no

cooking 200mm thick buckets to 200deg celsius in 40deg followed by 25kgs of flux core welding aint my idea of fun.....i hated iron ore mines, dirty friggen places.......mount newman is the spincter of the pilbara....... i generally stuck to gold with some stints at club argyle.....boilys and service crew cop it hard in hot places the worst imho........if yr a driver sitting on yr rse all day well it just aint that hard is it in a/c

many up there become disfunctional humans and cant handle perth when  they come back........im not saying this is applicable to u Dicko but after yrs in the goldfields/up north etc, ive seen enough and what you can become if ya lose it

Have a plan, make yr cash, HAVE A TIMEFRAME AND GET OUT, its not all about $$$$$ as you will find out when u hit yr 40's every1 is shacked up has a life and yr left holding it with yr own hand to contemplate

i went to uni got more paperwork to wipe my rse with and now lead a much better quality life in perth looking at skirt each day and not wondering wot it looks like anymore. ....good luck boys

Dodgy there is a reason why the majority of west aussies fifo. most put other life things aside to chase the coin and forgo many life experiences= high divorce rate and unless yr near the sea and drag the family up and can take advantage of fishing, its boring being stuck 300kms from anywhere isnt it unless u peess $500 plus up against the bar to numb the senses

average shorter life span of 10 yrs on average for those working on mines due to dust and other hazards

there is a high % that u might have lots of cash, but be lonely and youll have time to contemplate yr life choices, ive made mine, youve made yrs, we should catch up when yr 60 and see if ya view point changes...everyone has a different life path and lessons to learn

dodgy i simply see too many middle and older aged men from mines cashed up, little life and no family after yrs up north, just take a look around at yr crew, fun in yr 20,s, bearable in yr 30's, deal breaker in yr 40's

thats enough from me on this topic

enjoy the cup of cement and good luck

Good luck with the job hunting Fatboyholla.

FIFO is a hard gig, especially when young families are involved. Everyone is trying to get infront and depending on circumstance and training, not everyone gets to go home each night and spend it with their families. Comparitively good rosters these days though - back in the 80's when I was working away, 13 and 1 was the go. Thats weeks as well sports fans, but it wasnt the 'norm', it was just for the project, then home and back to the old job.

Unfortunately these days most people have big debts to pay and usually the only place to get the hours of work is away from home.

There are yay's and nay's for each debate.

Good luck with your search.

As far as leaches go... All the things that make a community. Kids going to the local school, mrs helping out with local gym or dance studio, playing cricket/footy for the local teams, volunteering for the local VMRS or firies. Ain't no fifo's to be seen giving anything back. Even the whole attitude in the pub the night before fly out causes trouble.

I think you might be missing the point actually. Your still asking for the free ride. Cream job and cheap rent.... Carry on I'm done.

And as far as a cream 8 and 6 roster goes. That's a long way from the truth. I do 5 days a week. Restricted to 56 hours. Adult Apprentice at 32 with wife and 2 kids. Make ok money but no free rides, just enough to pay for the fishing trips.

nah mate i think you are, i dont have a cream job, job security and i wish i was part of a community.

i think your taking the piss, even the cream job isnt a free ride and i know it, if you have what your describing/talking about then you should know better than making comments like you are, pull your head in.

if you get a job up north fatboyholla it would be interesting to read your opinions as time passes.STAY OFF THE PISS and pay off a house instead.you can drink forever,but you dont want to pay off a house forever....mmm coopers

wow not too much info in that lot of dribble thanks guys, its my choice to try and get into mining if you want to debate fifo versus live in please start another topic. this one has lost the point.

thanks to all those for the suggestions and ideas

Good luck Fatboyyella, end of the day, most people are trying to satisfy a financial curiosity/need. I have been on both sides, FIFO can trash the fabric of local life, but are the locals keen to continually work on shutdowns to maintain the plant.

Good luck mate - like I said before, you seem keen, so you should be ok.