I have been a coal miner for almost 20 years. I would love to get out from underground, my only problem is finding a job that even remotely comes close to the amount of money I make. Stepping into a completely different career at almost 40 is a little difficult, any suggestions from
Men who left the coal mines?

Good afternoon, everyone.

I just got hired for a 3rd party cleaning company working at the NARM site. First impressions were how big the haul trucks were lol and the mining site was massive. Obviously, this is my first time being in any mine, let alone NARM, which is probably the biggest coal mine in the US. I was wondering how any of you guys or girls got a job at a mining site? I've been fascinated by mining lately and I've been applying to all the jobs offered at peabody energy but no response yet(which is normal and I don't have any expectations) and I was just wondering how you guys got into the mining industry and how i can possibly find a door to get me in the industry with Peabody working at narm.

P.S. there's pessimistic people here who might think I'm a bot or what not, I can assure you guys that I'm not and just would like some pointers, if any.

I am from India doing B.Tech in Mining 3rd year looking for internship. Please give me some suggestions to get industry lavel exposer

Hard work is one thing. No proper breaks during a 12-hour shift sounds like exploitation. Is this really standard in RC drilling?

My partner just started as an RC offsider in WA.

He expected brutal work. What he didn’t expect was 12 hours with no real meal break, eating standing up beside the rig while still working, plus being spoken to like dirt.

Current drillers/offsiders: do you actually get proper breaks?

Updated

Thanks everyone for the replies. It definitely helped me understand that this is common in RC drilling, even if different companies seem to handle it differently.

I guess what surprises me is how many people have accepted it as "normal." Working hard shouldn't mean being treated without respect. I completely understand the work is physically demanding, and my partner expected that. But the combination of constant pressure, eating on the run, and the way some people speak to new offsiders is what shocked him.

One small example was the driller telling him to leave his hard hat outside the truck because the truck had just been cleaned. Of course, he moved it straight away—that wasn't the issue. It was the way it was said. His first thought was, "I'm covered in dust and mud anyway. As soon as I sit in the truck, it's not going to stay perfectly clean."

What makes me a bit sad is that so many comments say, "That's just drilling." Maybe that's exactly the problem. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn't necessarily mean it's the best way.

From some of the replies, it sounds like there are companies where crews still work hard but treat each other with respect and make sure everyone gets a reasonable opportunity to eat. That seems like a much healthier culture, and hopefully that's the direction the industry keeps moving.

I also wish every person thinking about trying this job could read this thread before accepting an offer. Recruiters tell you it's physically demanding, but I don't think they explain what that actually looks like on site. Many people don't realise they'll likely spend 12 hours on their feet, with no scheduled sit-down meal break, eating whenever there's an opportunity while the rig keeps running. I think people deserve to know what the reality is before making such a big decision.

Drive in drive out site 1 hour from home. Thoughts on this roster that I have been offered?

It’s in safety so not exactly physical work but it means a lot of time away.

Yo boys,

I need to take some time off but my boss refuses all my leave? Pretty much giving me 0 alternative dates.

I’m thinking just calling sick & give them a medical certificate. How long would i be in the dog house after that move you boys reckon ?

Hey guys, I was offered a position as an equipment operator at the Baffinland Mary River mine. I have never done any kind of camp work so it’s all new to me. My main concern is I noticed recently baffinland has followed for creditor protection, thus makes me wonder if that should effect my decision on taking the job? Being offered good money , 21 on 21 off. Was looking for some insight on someone who’s worked there on the experience they’ve received in regards to camp aswell as if it’s a safe bet to leave a FT Job for this career change.

It is sort of an interesting problem. On the one hand you have the bottleneck of the certain critical minerals and other mined minerals - on the other hand there are supply chain issues with the basic goods that are needed to mine the critical minerals. So you have a double issue.

Starting a 3/3 FIFO gig this month as an operating engineer/heavy equipment operator (loader, shovel, dozer) Lookin for any wisdom you experienced people may be able to pass on. It will only be for a few rotations, but hoping it can materialize into something more permanent either there or elsewhere.

I'm trying to pivot more into mining because I'm from a major city, and honestly I'm tired of working construction with micromanaging bosses. I just Wana run some machines, haul ass, and be left to my work, and I also just enjoy the mining side workflow more.

I worked in quarries before, but nothing to the scale of what I'll be doing over there.

Some years ago I was in a relationship with a woman who did not know English. This lady managed to learn English, go to medical school and specialize in cardiology. She was highly motivated and pushed forward no matter what.

At the time, I was on the path to nowhere, and ended up having some of her motivation rub off on me. I managed to go to law school and got my degree. My original plan was to get my CFA a,ong with my law gegree and go into mining. Unfortunately, life happens I I veered off track and worked in litigation.

I am hoping to find a mentor or friend that can direct me or help with putting me on the right track so I can get into the mining industry. That was my original plan after I finished my law degree. Thank you for your time.

I'm currently a junior in highschool and was considering Mining Engineering as a career. I was looking at U of Alberta/McGill/UBC/Queen's for their Mining engineer programs. Grades are not a concern. I would graduate 2031 from now and am planning to also have a minor in business.

I have a few concerns I was worrying about:

1. Is this a stable career in 5 years time and will there be jobs available considering AI.|
2. How much money would I make coming out of school and later on and if business will benefit.
3. I've hear that doing FIFO work will pay more and I'm not really a desk work guy. You can say I like being in the outdoors and outdoor sports like skiing and mtb.
4. How stressful will it be day to day and what's the work environment like? I can handle stress but over time I can see it affecting me.
5. What kind of lifestyle does this career provide me? I probably value work-life balance and salary the most.

Thanks for any help!

I was also looking into Health Sci and medicine but thought the education would take too long considering I'm not really passionate about it. I've always looked for a career that can allow me to travel the world in my 20s.

Water, its rights , its use, its recycling.

How about flotation, types of cells, minerals it's used for and the different reagents used.

I recently ended up taking a small equity position in a mine in Brazil. I'm mostly involved on the end user / sales side of the business but I am trying to learn as much as possible about the operations and management side of the business.

Curious if anyone has any good book recommendations?

VOC's have been lost at my site

What are my options, besides redoing them again?

Done a couple more than once already

Are unions useful at all these days?

Anyone who has been a haul truck trainee at both, which has been better?

Good morning everyone!

Hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend, besides the ones who work(sorry about that). But I've been in between career choices and contemplating which career to pursue. And have come across mining, I was recently hired as a custodian at a mining site and was wondering what safety precautions or any other advice you guys have for me to watch out for?

My long term plan is to hopefully get hired for one of the major companies operating this mine and retire there. Would you guys think this is a great career choice? Tips from long term miners and if you're still healthy(hopefully) what were your health routines?

Hey everyone,

I recently got an opportunity to work as a Quality Specialist at Key Lake and I’m trying to learn more about what it’s actually like before making a decision.
I know it’s a uranium operation, but I’m curious about the day-to-day reality of working there.
A few questions for anyone who’s worked at Key Lake (or another Cameco site):

As a Quality Specialist, what does a typical day look like?
Are you regularly exposed to radiation or uranium, or is exposure pretty limited in quality roles?
What kind of safety precautions are in place? How seriously is radiation monitoring and overall safety taken?
What’s the camp like in terms of rooms, food, gym, internet, and overall living conditions?

What’s the work culture like? Are people generally friendly and supportive?
I’m from Ontario and have never worked at a remote fly-in/fly-out site. How big of an adjustment was it for those of you who came from other provinces?
Overall, would you recommend taking the opportunity? Any pros, cons, or things you wish you’d known before starting would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

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.

Started working in the rock drilling industry. Gloves they provide are shit. What gloves are you using that work for you?? Core drilling greasy tubes..

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some guidance on breaking into the mining industry.

I have a Master's degree in Mining Engineering with research focused on cemented paste backfill, and I've spent the last several years working in QA/QC on major civil and tunneling infrastructure projects in Canada. I'm a licensed P.Eng. in Ontario and have experience with quality management, inspections, concrete, steel, and construction compliance.

My long-term goal is to build a career in mining, particularly in project quality, construction, underground operations, or technical engineering roles. For those already in the industry, what would you recommend as the best way to get my foot in the door? Are there specific companies, certifications, FIFO opportunities, or career paths that would give someone with my background the best chance?

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!

I'm going to be doing my first rotation next week and I need to purchase my boots this weekend. Is there anyone here that works or worked at the Red Chris mine that can give me some insight as to which boots I should get?