From Site to Celebration: Navigating the Challenges of a FIFO Christmas

Experience tells any FIFO worker that spending Christmas away from loved ones is challenging. The geographical gap between the worksite and home becomes more pronounced during the holiday season, particularly when there are young children involved.

Nevertheless, the show in the mining industry must go on. Preparing for the emotional hurdles of the festive season can help alleviate the sense of distance and preserve your well-being. Whether it’s your inaugural or twentieth FIFO Christmas, strategise to make it a positive experience with the following steps.

Stay Involved

Just because you won’t be physically present doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the festivities. Plan and purchase gifts in advance. These presents will serve as a connection to your family and friends on Christmas morning, especially if accompanied by a special, thoughtful message.

Plan for a Second Celebration

Before departing, schedule a second Christmas celebration for your return – the FIFO Festivities. This alternate celebration can become a unique family tradition and gives everyone something to anticipate.

Indulge Yourself

Pack a special treat, be it food or drink, to make your trip a bit distinct. Have loved ones write you messages, promising not to open them until Christmas Day, perhaps during a ZOOM catch-up. This adds an element of anticipation for both you and them.

Maintain Positivity

Avoid negativity, both externally and internally. Keep your self-talk positive, appreciating what you have – a job and your health. If fellow workers are venting their grievances, distance yourself to maintain a positive mindset.

Embrace Technology, Moderately

Leverage technology to stay connected with your loved ones on Christmas Day. Video calls allow you to witness the joy of opening presents and sharing the moment. However, don’t let constant online updates throughout the day make you feel more isolated. After the initial connections, consider taking a break from digital communication.

Celebrate Responsibly

While it’s tempting to drown sorrows in alcohol, be mindful of celebratory drinks. Instead, focus on organising on-site festivities or activities like physical exercises or Christmas trivia. This diversion benefits not only you but your colleagues as well.

Remember You’re Not Alone

Remind yourself that you are not alone in this experience. Essential workers worldwide share similar challenges during the holiday season. Keep in mind that Christmas is just one day, and you are part of a broader community facing similar circumstances.

In essence, with thoughtful planning and a positive mindset, a FIFO Christmas can be a bearable and even meaningful experience.

The Importance of Effective Communication Skills In Your Business: Navigating the Depths of Mining and Resources

Effective communication remains a critical component for success in any business, and this holds especially true in industries like mining and resources where intricate processes, safety protocols, and collaboration are paramount. Even in solo endeavours, communicating findings and updates is crucial. Business owners in these sectors must articulate expectations clearly to ensure operational excellence. Inadequate communication can lead to errors, failures, and even legal consequences, making proficient communication a crucial preventive measure.

Here are five key reasons why effective communication is the bedrock of success in mining and resource-based businesses:

Fosters Relationship Building in the Mining Community

In the mining and resources sector, positive interactions and open communication channels are vital for building and sustaining relationships. This extends not only to internal teams but also to external stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and the communities where mining operations take place. Establishing trust is fundamental, given the environmental impact and community involvement often associated with resource extraction.

Cultivates High-Performing Mining Teams

Transparent communication within mining teams is instrumental in fostering efficiency and collaboration. In an industry where precision and safety are paramount, team members sharing ideas and concerns freely can enhance not only morale but also spark innovation in safety measures, extraction processes, and equipment optimisation.

Essential for Managing Resources and Employees

In mining, effective communication is vital for managers to ensure that all team members understand their roles and responsibilities. Clear communication channels are necessary for disseminating safety protocols and operational updates. This, in turn, leads to constructive feedback, safer practices, and healthier working relationships.

Drives Sustainable Resource Management and Organizational Growth

Clear communication in the mining and resources sector goes beyond internal dynamics. It is also essential for conveying the company’s values and commitment to sustainable resource management. Effective communication helps potential clients and investors comprehend the company’s approach, leading to growth through increased interest and support for environmentally conscious practices.

Promotes Transparency in Resource Extraction

Regular and transparent communication, both internally among team members and externally with regulatory bodies and the public, fosters an environment of trust. Transparency in reporting environmental impact, safety measures, and community engagement builds trust not only in the company but also in the industry as a whole. This transparency extends to brand credibility and the trust that employees have in higher management, crucial for maintaining a positive and responsible image in the mining and resources sector.

Effective communication is not just a soft skill in the mining and resources industry; it is a strategic imperative. From ensuring safety to fostering innovation and building trust, the ability to communicate clearly and transparently is integral to the success and sustainability of businesses in any sector.

LinkedIn: 7 tips to rock your personal brand

LinkedIn? Why would I want to be on LinkedIn? I don’t own a multi-billion-dollar company – so why would anyone want to connect with me?

Well, long gone are the days where a logo would tell clients everything they needed to know about your company and the most colourful advertisement would catch attention. People aren’t buying into that anymore. People are buying into people. The fact is, if you are in business, your online presence portrays yourself and your business to the world. It is estimated that there are 10-15 million engineers worldwide – your personal brand needs to be strong enough to stand out in this cluttered environment.

As engineers, it’s time to get into self-branding and the best platform to start that journey in the business world is LinkedIn.

Branding on LinkedIn simply means knowing how to highlight what you have to offer. With millions of accounts on LinkedIn, without fine-tuning your “brand”, you might get lost in the crowd. Stand out from the pack by rocking your personal brand with these seven tips.

Design Your Narrative

When someone first comes in contact with your profile, they will make an instant decision to keep reading – or pass on to the next profile – who is probably your competitor. Because of this, you need to focus on optimizing your profile to make it stand out.

To do this, choose the past jobs to put on your profile and which parts of these jobs to highlight – ensuring that these directly match the brand you are wanting to build.

Add Keywords

Think about what someone might type into Google if they were searching for someone like you. What are your job titles or qualifications? Consider where you’re located, your business name, etc.

Add your Elevator Pitch

If someone messages you or you want to talk to them about your brand, have a good 30 second elevator speech ready. If it is in online message form, you can use a one paragraph pitch instead. Keep it short, simple and straight to the point. Your pitch is only as good as the weakest link.

Focus on your connections

LinkedIn is a professional networking account, so simply going out and connecting with your friends really isn’t necessary. Sure, it can boost some exposure, which is fine, but you need to focus on the quality of your connections. Don’t just connect to connect. Seek out people in your field, look for those you admire or who represents their company in a way you like.

Use the Publisher Tool and Share Other Content

Consider writing content on the subject matter you’re interested in. Create a weekly or bi-weekly blog based on your personal brand. This will help boost your exposure and bring additional connections. And if you read something that represents your brand well, even if you didn’t create it yourself, share it and like it. Others will see this. This can bring about new connections simply for leveraging the other content.

Customise your URL

When you create a LinkedIn account you’ll end up with some garbled mess of a URL. So make sure you customise your URL. It helps it stand out on a page.

Industry Photo

Use a profile photo that represents not only your professional side but connects with the industry. Try to keep your branding images consistent across all of your online pages.

CV Strategies for Mining Professionals: Secure Your Next Career Move

Whether you’re just embarking on your journey in the mining industry or have spent years shaping your career, this concise guide is your compass for crafting a Curriculum Vitae (CV) – commonly known as your resumé – that stands out from the crowd.

Your CV serves as the key to unlocking coveted interviews, making it imperative that your resume shines with compelling content, showcasing your strengths and unwavering dedication to securing the job you desire.

Recruiters and employers look for:

Detailed experience

No need to be vague – clearly list the responsibilities you have had in previous employment. Some action words relating to the mining industry include: prepare; ensure; plan; review; operate; conduct; analyse; develop; schedule; launch; execute; coordinate; inspect; monitor; maintain.

For inspiration, LiveCareer has some CV examples for various mining industries.

Your qualifications

Include a list of licences you hold (and classes), qualifications and machinery operating tickets relevant to the role, including the date you obtained them and the expiry date (where applicable). Having the right qualifications, tickets or mandatory licences can fast-track your chance of employment. For drivers for example, an HR-X, dump or heavy truck licence is required for entry-level mobile equipment operator positions. There are other compliance certifications that can get you ready for work in the mining industry including courses about elevated work platforms, entering and working in confined spaces, an introduction to mining, or working at heights.  

Physical labour experience

If the role you are applying for is a physical one, list previous experience that shows you are capable of hard labour. This can include farming, construction, or volunteer firefighting for example. Likewise, as your job may require physically long hours and rosters away from home, employers will be looking for evidence of good physical health, so list any examples which show your physical interests or interests that help your mental wellbeing. If you’ve taken a fitness test, share your results on your resume. Unlike other 9-5 jobs, health and fitness is often important in mining.

Reliability

When you list your work history, ensure you list the dates you started and finished those roles. If you have had any time out from work, have an explanation ready as employers who are looking for stability and reliability will want to know the reason.

References 

Choose your referees, which are previous supervisors or managers, wisely. They are of vital importance when recommending you for a job, so tell them why the role appeals to you and that way they will know what skills to highlight during a reference check.

For more tips on choosing the right referee, visit Mining People International’s article.

Your commitment 

If you are new to working in mines, be willing to show how committed you are to wanting to work in the industry. Outline any courses you have done to prepare, or skills you have gained that are transferable to the job you are applying for. This includes instances where you have worked in a team, or jobs that require strong communication or problem-solving skills. While you should list this in your resume it is also a strong selling point for your cover letter.

Your social media presence

Recruiters and future employers now look online and at social media accounts to see what appears publicly about a person. It is a first impression, so ensure you are happy with the way you appear online or on social media.  You want your CV to do that talking, not anything that may paint you in a negative light on social media.

The mining industry is always in need of good talent and the financial rewards are often satisfying too. Hopefully this list gives you some insight into what employers and recruiters look for.

Sources & further reading:

Mining People International

RecruitWest

LiveCareer

Discover Innovation in Mining: MEC Mining at the 2023 AusIMM Underground Operators Conference

We are thrilled to share that MEC Mining will be exhibiting at the AusIMM 2023 Underground Operators Conference! This premier gathering brings together the best in the underground mining industry to explore the latest advancements and trends.

Join us at Stand 15 to learn how we can help elevate your underground operations with improved efficiency and productivity. We look forward to connecting with fellow industry professionals and sharing our expertise.

When: 27 – 29 March 2023
Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Register here : https://www.ausimm.com/conferences-and-events/underground-operators/attend/registration/

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to discover innovation in mining!