Launch a Career in the Canadian Mining Industry
Friday | November 1, 2019 | by Alex Parsons
The mining industry has historically provided a wealth of jobs across Canada. You might think that working in this industry involves heaving a pickaxe in a dark mineshaft, but fortunately, this is an outdated stereotype. The sector is rich with a diverse range of jobs and opportunities. In fact, more than a few skill sets are necessary to sustain the Canadian mining industry, making it an environment very welcoming to internationally trained professionals.
The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) is an independent, non-profit organization that leads collaboration among mining and exploration companies, organized labour, contractors, educational institutions, industry associations, and Indigenous groups to identify and address the human resource and labour market challenges facing the Canadian minerals and metals sector. MiHR launched its Mining Professional Immigrant Network (M-PIN) in late 2018 to facilitate better connections between newcomers and Ontario mining employers, and to help newcomers secure meaningful employment.
M-PIN operates through online and in-person connections. It is funded by the Government of Ontario, with support from the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) and Professions North/Nord (PNN). Plus, there is an online social network called ENSEMBLE: The Mining Diversity Network. This is a platform that encourages discourse on diversity in mining. The network offers project information and resources such as an events calendar, discussion forums, and job postings; it also regularly hosts webinars.
M-PIN hosted several events in 2019 in various cities across Ontario as a way of bridging the gap between immigrant job seekers and prospective employers. The network also provides a customized training program for human resources practitioners in the sector to help employers better recognize and address potential barriers to employment that internationally trained professionals encounter.
How to Find a Mining Job in Canada
The Canadian mining industry is bursting at the seams with jobs, making it a very good industry for internationally trained professionals to enter. Finding and applying to jobs is easy, since hundreds of mining companies across the country post job openings on their websites. However, if you are seeking broader options, online job boards can help.
Careermine, the world’s largest dedicated mining job board, is one of the best resources available for finding mining jobs in Canada.
Careermine provides detailed information about hiring companies and is available in four languages—English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian—to better serve its diverse users. Like most job boards, Careermine lists open jobs, trending categories, and the most active employers. It also advertises more than 2,000 new job postings weekly, though many of these might be for positions outside of Canada.
Other good mining-specific boards include Northern Miner Jobs and the Mining Association of British Columbia’s Job Board. The latter is limited to jobs in British Columbia.
General job boards such as Indeed, Monster, or Workopolis are also worth checking out. All job boards work more or less the same, in that you search which job or company you are looking for and the location in which you would like to work. LinkedIn is another good place to find jobs. It also allows you to create an in-depth profile that showcases your work experience. You can use its social media and messaging functions to connect with employers and other job seekers.
Top Ontario Mining Companies
Below are the Ontario mining companies that published the most online job postings in the past year. Check out their websites or Careermine pages (note that not all are on Careermine) to see the openings they are currently hiring to fill.
- Newmont Goldcorp
- Vale
- Cameco Inc.
- Detour Gold Corporation
- Orica
- Alamos Gold Inc.
- Hudbay Minerals Inc.
- Sherritt International Corporation
- Kinross Gold
- ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Canada
Unexpected Jobs in the Mining Industry
Mining companies often hire for positions unrelated to actual excavation, many of which might not even be located near a mine site. Locations vary, but most jobs are situated at a mine site, exploration site, or corporate office. It is possible to find a diverse range of job opportunities at each of these locations.
Mines and exploration sites are often self-sustaining communities. As such, they require positions that ensure that all workers have a safe and secure place in which to live as well as work. Positions such as security guard, cook, doctor, and janitor are often commonplace—and just scratch the surface of the types of jobs needed to keep these sites operational, apart from the position of miner itself.
Corporate offices are usually looking for more administration and executive-type jobs, which are necessary for the successful operation of the company. You can expect to find positions like IT specialist, communications coordinator, accountant, executive assistant, human resources specialist, and many more based at corporate offices.
10 Unexpected Jobs in the Mining Industry
The following 10 job postings are all from online openings posted in Ontario over the past year. They are just a sample of the hundreds of positions that attract applicants from all backgrounds—regardless of experience or education—to jobs in the mining industry.
- Human Resources Specialist
- Food Service Supervisor
- Legal Counsel
- Disability Management Specialist
- Dental Laboratory Technician
- Carpenter and Painter
- Content Writer and Strategist
- Janitor
- Security Guard
- Technology Consultant Sales
Conclusion
The Canadian mining industry has a steady number of mining jobs available and a variety of ways to apply for them. Many are jobs you might not expect, since hundreds of skill sets are necessary to keep the industry going. There are also organizations, like M-PIN, which offer specialized programs that help newcomers get acclimated to the mining industry and meet with prospective employers in person.
For more information on how to join M-PIN, check out this website.
Related Reading
How to Select the Right Canadian Province Depending Upon Your Immigration Goals
Alex Parsons is a Communications Coordinator for the Mining Industry Human Resources Council. He graduated with a bachelor of journalism from Carleton University in 2017.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of World Education Services (WES).