Are you overqualified for a job in the resources industry?

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I so often have frustrated job seekers contacting me wanting to know why when they have a degree, or in some cases more than one degree, can they not get a job driving trucks on a mine or as a laborer in the oil and gas industry, or any sort of job in the resources industry?? After all logically, one would think that it would be easier to get a job if you are more than qualified – even overqualified – for the opportunity. However, in reality, this does not seem to be the case.

The trend at the moment seems to be that more and more often, professionals from various industries decide they want to get involved in the resource industries. The biggest draw card to this industry are the extremely lucrative salaries paid in the industry. There is also has a certain challenge and excitement associated with this industry, which makes it attractive to many job seekers from other industries, who want to get a foot in the doorway. When a job seeker who has a degree and a wealth of professional experience, gets turned down for a job driving trucks, they can get very frustrated, and insulted, and in many cases take it personally. To make matters worse, when they ask why they were not successful, they are simply told that it’s because they are “over qualified”.

So what does a recruiter generally mean when they tell a candidate that they are over qualified?

What it basically means is that you haven’t taken into consideration, the main criteria as to what the recruiter is looking for, for a particular role. This is normally around experience and qualifications. If you are an Accountant, with 10 years’ experience in accounting, this doesn’t mean that you have the right qualification to operate heavy equipment, nor does it mean that you have the experience and the right skillset to do so. Frustrating yes, but if you look at what is required for the job, then it is really understandable….

Another key factor that recruiters take into consideration is the likelihood of a person staying in the job once they start. For an accountant who is used to working in the corporate world, in comfortable offices, to suddenly find themselves in the middle of nowhere, often based in harsh terrain away from their family and comfort zone, the reality is that many of them will decide that it’s not for them after all. Employers assume, often correctly, that the over qualified candidate will leave at the first chance they land a better job. Another worry for the employer is that they will become disgruntled and unhappy in the job, which may affect their performance.

Candidates from other industries wanting to break into the industry need to also remember that even though driving trucks does not involve obtaining a 4 year degree, there are certain criteria that are required for the job, and companies generally also look for candidates that have the relevant experience and hours required, behind their names.

Taking all the above into consideration there are many job seekers from other industries that do get lucky and manage to break into the resources industry, even when they hold a couple of degrees and are generally regarded as “over qualified”. However it may take time, persistence and a bit of luck.

It is also important to tailor your application to suit the role you want to move into. Before submitting your resume, always attach a cover letter giving as much information on why you are wanting to make the move, what you can bring to the new position that would make you valuable, and ensure that any relevant experience that you may have is emphasized on your resume.

It will be up to you to make a convincing case as to why you would be suited to the job. You need to study the job description very carefully and to point out exactly why you would be a good person for the job. You may even need to consider doing some relevant training. You will need to be able to persuade the employer that you really want the job, and make a commitment that you wold stay in the job for a certain amount of time.

You need to look carefully as to why you want the job. Simply saying “I need a job” is not going to be an adequate answer in the interview. You will need to communicate to the recruiter that you really want that particular role… so you need to do your homework, and think about what you are going to say when they ask why you want the job.

At the end of the day you need to be able to show the recruiter not only that you can do it, but also that you want to do it!!

What does the Red Seal mean for tradesman in Canada?

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I have had numerous requests from tradesman wanting to work in Canada as to what the Red Seal (the inter-provincial standards red seal program) is, and how it affects tradesmen in their profession.

The Red Seal was established in 1959 and represents a standard of excellence for industry. Through the program, tradespersons are able to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their provincial/territorial certificates by successfully completing an inter-provincial Red Seal examination.

There are currently 55 trades included in the Red Seal Program on a national basis, including Boilermakers, Carpenter’s, Construction Electricians, Heavy Duty Equipment Technicians, Heavy Equipment Operators, Industrial Electricians, Industrial Mechanics (Millwrights), Instrumentation and Control Technicians, Machinists, Metal Fabricators (Fitters), Mobile Crane Operators, Welders, Sheet Metal workers, amongst others.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship is an agreement between an apprenticeship who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker, i.e. the person will be earning whilst leaning. An Apprentice will combine on the job experience with technical training, with the aim of producing a certified journeyman. Once the Apprentice has completed the necessary training and acquired the necessary skills, the Apprentice will receive a Certificate of Qualification.

So where does the Red Seal Program fit in here?

The Red Seal Program represents the industry’s recognition of an inter-provincial standard of excellence for the skilled trades. Apprentices who have completed their training and become certified journeypersons are able to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their provincial or territorial certificates of Qualification and Apprenticeship, once they have successfully completed the Inter-provincial Red Seal examination.

Should you be doing the Red Seal Program? And what are its benefits?

The Red Seal provides reassurance and absolute certainty that the tradesman is qualified to a standard of knowledge and competency that has been defined by Industry, and which involves a rigorous vetting process within industry from coast to coast. It means that the Inter-provincial Standards Red Seal Program acknowledges their competence through Canada without further examination. The Red Seal basically provides a stamp of approval on the tradesman’s capabilities and provides greater mobility for skilled workers across Canada. The Red Seal program allows qualified tradespeople to practice their trade anywhere in Canada where the trade is designated.

Tradespeople who hold a Red Seal can also work anywhere in Canada, including Alberta without further training or additional testing.

What do you need to qualify for a Red Seal?

In order to qualify for a Red Seal, you have to hold a valid certificate in a trade that participates in the Inter-provincial Standards Red Seal Program. You would also need to ensure you submit the correct application form and fees applicable, and also will need to successfully pass the Red Seal exam.

For more information on the Red Seal, and to see if it’s something you should be considering, click here:

Unhappy with your salary? How to go about getting paid more…

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Feeling you are being underpaid for what you are doing can lead to feelings of resentment, and it is not uncommon to feel frustrated that you are being underpaid, but not really know how to go about changing the situation.

If this is the situation you are finding yourself in, there are some things you can do to change things. However, before you barge into your manager’s office demanding an increase, you need to do a bit of homework, and get all your facts together. It is never easy asking for more money, and having a good logical argument to back you up, is important.

Firstly do your homework. Do some research and find out what people in similar positions would be earning. Find out if your salary is really not in line with what others in the same position would earn. Try when making these comparisons to do so with people not only in the same role as you, but also in the same industry. Salaries can vary tremendously from industry to industry.

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Mining Engineer salaries in South America

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South America, like Africa, has for some time now been viewed as a continent rich with resources. Gold, iron and copper are but some of the resources found in South America. For this reason Mining Engineers have been in demand in South America, and Mining Engineers have generally had the opportunity to choose between a number of different countries in South America that are involved in exploring and mining for resources, as to where they want to work.

It has become custom for many Mining Engineers from other parts of the world, to be based in South America. Mining companies from all over the world including Canada have rapidly expanded their operations in Latin American in recent years.

When looking at salaries in South America, it seems that we have a similar picture to what is going on in Africa, where expatriates Mining Engineers are inclined to earn a fair amount more than local Mining Engineers. This does however seem to be the trend in mining at the moment, expatriates are generally paid more, in order to compensate for the personal sacrifices that they have to make in their personal lives.

What are Mining Engineers in South America earning? Continue reading →

Mining Engineer salaries in the United Kingdom

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A fair amount of the Mining Engineers who qualify in the United Kingdom will not spend much of their working life based in the United Kingdom. Even if they are based in the United Kingdom, the chances are that they will spend extended periods of time, working away from home. The vast majority of Mining Engineers from the United Kingdom will find themselves based in South America, Australia or Africa amongst other regions. For Mining Engineers who specifically want to work in the United Kingdom, there are not a lot of traditional Mining Engineering roles available. There are however jobs available in related areas such as tunneling, quarrying and also construction.

What can Mining Engineers in the United Kingdom expect to earn?

Mining Engineers based in the United Kingdom can typically expect to earn a starting salary of between £20,000 and £25,000. Once a Mining Engineer in the United Kingdom has around 5 years’ experience, they can expect their salary to increase to around £45,000. Once Mining Engineers have around 10 years plus experience, they can expect to earn an average of around £65,000. We do however have reports from our salary survey of Mining Engineers based in the United Kingdom who are earning from £75,000 up to roughly £90,000, with 10 years plus experience.

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Scammers are constantly on the prowl. How to spot a scam job from a real job

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Sadly scammers are on the increase, with more and more fictitious jobs appearing on job boards, and more and more unsuspecting job seekers being conned into parting with their hard earned money, or becoming victims of identity theft.

What is a job scam? A job scam occurs when a scammer poses as an employer or recruiter, and offers attractive employment opportunities which require that the job seeker pay money in advance. This is usually under the guise of work visas, travel expenses or background and or credit checks that are required for the job. Once the money has been paid over the scammer disappears, and the job seeker is left with no job, and out of pocket.

Whatever the scammer’s technique is and how they go about their modus operandi, their goal is always the same. To separate you from your cash, or to obtain your confidential personal information, that can be used in identity theft.

The problem is, that scammers are becoming more and more crafty in the way they operate, and it’s becoming more and more difficult to know what is a scam and what is a legitimate job opening.

It also appears that more and more often, the scammers are targeting job seekers from overseas, such as hopeful immigrants or contractors, where they use the lure of huge salaries, work permits and paid travel as ways of enticing the job seeker to part with their money.

So how do you recognize a job scam, and what signs should you look out for?

  1. Never part with your money. The golden rule is, any job offer that requires that you pay a fee in advance, is probably a scam. Most reputable companies will absorb these costs themselves. Another warning sign, is if the recruiter offers to train you for the job, in return for money. NEVER pay money across ever. No legitimate company or recruiter will ask for money upfront. Not for anything.
  2. Do some research on the company. Visit the company’s website. If they do not have one, or it does not have contact details, then you need to tread cautiously. If there is a company website, compare the contact numbers, email addresses etc., to what would appear when doing a Google on the company or in a company directory.
  3. Free email accounts. Any recruiter or company that corresponds from a free email account such as Yahoo, Hotmail or Gmail is very likely a scammer. Legitimate job related emails will come from corporate accounts.
  4. Do a Google search on the company. Do a search on the company name and see what information you can find. Compare it to the information that you have been sent.
  5. Check scam lists. Always check with organisations such as Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to see if the company has been reported as a scammer.
  6. Offers without interviews. Always remember that reputable companies are not going to offer you a role without interviewing your first. Flattering as it may seem that they were so impressed with your resume, that they have offered you a position without meeting you first, the reality is, that you are probably being scammed if this happens.
  7. Work from home. If this appears in the job title, the chances are very real that it is a scam. The chances of making money in your pajamas may sound enticing, and the idea of making a lot of money whilst being able to work from home is just too good to pass for many gullible job seekers, and because of this, it is a favorite with scammers. Unsuspecting job seekers have been falling for this type of scam for years now.
  8. Receiving offers for jobs you did not apply for. If you receive an offer in your inbox for a job that you have not even applied for, and it sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.
  9. Salaries that are way over what you would normally earn. Getting paid a really high salary is not the norm for all job seekers. Any legitimate employer will evaluate your skill set and experience, before deciding on what you are worth. If the company offers you a salary that is completely out of your range, and experience, you are probably in the process of being scammed.
  10. Don’t hand out personal information. Never part with your social security number or personal information. By divulging this information, you may just be setting the scene for the scammer to pose as you to apply for credit cards, and run up massive bills in your name and ruin your credit record. The only time you should be handing over personal information such as social security numbers, is after you have been hired and are setting up payment and tax information.
  11. Be cautious of emails with grammatical and spelling mistakes. Most online fraud is carried out by scammers outside of the United States, with English often not being their home language, so check the grammar and spelling carefully when communicating.
  12. Fake URLs (websites). Scammers often use fake URLs to mask themselves as large well known corporates. Double check the URL, or the web address of the company. You may think that you are on a well-known company’s website, when you are actually on a bogus website. So always check the URL first.
  13. Vague sketchy job descriptions. If you read the job description and at the end of it, you are not really sure what the job actually entails, or if the role states that there is no specific skill necessary for the job, you are probably about to be scammed. The majority of jobs will require at least some experience or qualification.

The consequences of falling prey to scammers, can include identity theft, the loss of your hard earned money, and illegal charges to your credit card. It can be a very hard lesson to have to learn, and devastating for already cash strapped job seekers. Don’t learn the hard way. Before falling prey to unscrupulous scammers, do your homework and checks very carefully.

 

Based on location, what you can expect to earn as a Mining Engineer

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Mining Engineers have for the last few years, been snatched up, with many of them being made multiple lucrative offers before they have even stepped out of university. The reality is that the vast majority of Mining Engineers have, when graduating, been in a position where they could pick and choose, so far as employment opportunities go.

With the recent downturn in mining, how Mining Engineers globally are going to be affected, only time will tell. Other professionals in mining are already starting to feel the pinch, including Geoscientists. It appears from recent reports coming out of Australia as well as other regions that Geoscientists are starting to suffer job losses. How badly Mining Engineers will be affected is hard to predict, but due to the fact that there has been such a shortage of skills in recent years, hopefully Mining Engineers will not be affected too badly.

What can you expect to earn as a Mining Engineer, depending on where you are working, based on BASE pay i.e. before benefits

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Canadian mine workers may have to work smart, to stay employed

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I have just read an interesting article in MINING.com, written by Anthony Halley, which said:

Canada’s mining sector failed to book a single IPO in the first quarter of 2013, financing for junior miners continues to dry up, and Canadian miners abroad are facing increasing local opposition.

These are tough times for Canadian mining.

At home

Domestically, senior executives of Canadian juniors complain that the market is the worst that it has ever been. After one of the greatest resource sector bull markets in history, mining project valuations have now, in the eyes of some, become irrational.

“A bull market will always go higher, and a bear market will fall farther than you expect it will,” cautioned Frank Giustra in a recent article for ceo.ca.

The gloom was felt at Toronto’s PDAC international mining convention last month as the reality that many juniors will eventually go bust continues to set in.

“We have a crisis in the small- and mid-sized companies that are exploring. And there is a lot of selling that’s happening,” says MaryAnn Mihychuk, PDAC board member.

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Mind your manners, when it comes to interviews

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Minding your manners is not just for children, we as adults need to also brush up on our manners and etiquette from time to time, especially when job hunting….

When it comes to interviews, good manners and etiquette are vitally important, and how you behave in the interview, may mean the difference between getting the job and being overlooked for it. It’s not all about having the right experience and skillset. Regardless of what role you are interviewing for, the chances are you are going to have to work with others at some stage, and recruiters will look for good communication skills, and somebody who is respectful and polite to those around them.

What can you do during the interview to improve your chances?

Shake hands when you meet for the first time, and introduce yourself, and then, shake hands again when you get up to leave, and thank the interviewer for having taken the time to have met with you. At the beginning of the interview a little small talk is fine, to start off with, but don’t overdo it. Always let the interviewer guide the course of the conversation, never highjack the interview. Listen and pause before answering a question, it gives you a few seconds to get your thoughts together, and it also shows courtesy in that you are not interrupting the interviewer.

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Mining Salaries – are you priced right?

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Are you satisfied with your salary? How does your salary compare with others in the mining industry? Are you being underpaid?

We believe that everybody working in mining, should know their worth.

The statistics are that roughly, across all industries, 89% of Americans feel that the most important factor in considering a job opportunity is salary. Another statistic is that over 50% of Americans, across all industries, believe they are underpaid. Given the importance of salaries and how much we are earning, as it impacts on all aspects of our lives, how do you know if the job you have just been offered is priced right? And are you being offered a market related, competitive salary? It is at times like this, that salary surveys can prove to be of tremendous value. This is particularly relevant to the mining industry, where readily available information on salaries, tends to be sketchy and vague. It is vitally important when asked during the interviewing process by a potential employer, what your salary expectations are, to be prepared and to know your worth.

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