Starting Your Career

Find a Job

Learn the skills you need on the job at a mineral exploration or mining site. It’s important to spend some time preparing before you begin your search for work. It can be stressful, so here are some tips to help you:

Find someone to help you

Is there someone who can help you from your local AHRDA location, or someone in your community who can help you with your search? It’s always good to have some extra support. Call on a BC AMTA program coach for help.

Prepare yourself

There are lots of information and templates online to help you prepare for your job search, from writing resumes, to understanding how interviews work. The Government of Canada has a good website, designed especially for young people to help with things like building resumes and knowing what to expect as you look for work: Prepare your job search.

Get feedback

When you are ready to start searching for work, show your resume to people who have experience in the workplace. Better yet, share it with people who are responsible for hiring. They may have useful suggestions for improving it. You can also ask these people for advice about interviews.

Contact your local ASETS - Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (Formerly known as AHRDS)

If you're wondering where to find a job, how to upgrade your skills, or are looking for support through your job search process, the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) may be your answer. ASETS is a community-based strategy – part of the bigger Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program – that supports Aboriginal organizations to design and deliver labour market training to Aboriginal people. Today, 80 ASETS holders across Canada develop and deliver programs in more than 400 locations to help people interested in upgrading their skills and looking for work. Each ASETS holder has programs best suited to the community it serves.

ASETS help people of all ages, but many have youth programs too, so be sure to ask your local ASETS office whether they have programs suited to your situation specifically for young as well as older people and those looking for a career change. You can also find more information here.

Job Hunting

If you are thinking of starting your career in mineral exploration and mining out on the job, it’s up to you to find someone to hire you. Job hunting can be challenging and time-consuming so it’s important to keep a positive attitude and stay focused on your job hunt.

You’ve got a resume ready and it’s time to start your search! Try one of the many different job sites where you can look for work. Try a few of these to start:

You should also search the websites of companies operating exploration or mining projects in your local area. Check out the maps on our site to show you where the projects are located throughout BC. You’ll also find links to company websites and career sites.

For more information about BC AMTA employment partners be sure to check out their websites!

AMTA Industry Partners

Central Interior

Northwest

ASETS Offices in BC

ACCESS - Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society

108 - 100 Park Royal
West Vancouver, British Columbia, V7T 1A2
(604) 913-7933

Cariboo-Chilcotin Aboriginal Training Education Centre Society

205 - 197 North Second Avenue
Williams Lake, British Columbia, V2G 1M1
(250) 392-2510

Coast Salish Aboriginal Employment & Training Society

103B 5462 TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY
Duncan, British Columbia, V9L 6W4
(250) 746-0183

First Nations Employment Society

101-440 Cambie Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2N5
(604) 605-7194

Metis Nation of BC

#905 – 1130 West Pender Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1H2
(604) 801-5853

North East Native Advancing Society

P.O. Box 6847
Fort St. John, British Columbia, V1J 4J3
(250) 785-0887

North Island Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Aboriginal Management Board

Suite 103 2005 Eagle Drive
Campbell River, British Columbia, V9H 1P9
(250) 286-3487
North Vancouver Island Aboriginal Training Society

Okanagan/Ktunaxa Aboriginal Management Society

101 - 1865 Dilworth Drive, Suite 339
Kelowna, British Columbia, V1Y 9T1
(250) 769-1977
Okanagan Training & Development Council

Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment & Training Association

1591 4th Avenue
Prince George, British Columbia, V2L 3K1
(250) 561-1199

Shuswap Nations Tribal Council Society

304 - 355 Yellowhead Hwy
Kamloops, British Columbia, V2H 1H1
(250) 282-9789

Central Interior Partners in Aboriginal Skills Employment Training Strategy

Skeena Native Development Society

PO Box 418
Terrace, British Columbia, V8G 4B1
(250) 635-1500

Central Interior Partners in Aboriginal Human Resource Development

#304 - 355 Yellowhead Highway
Kamloops, BC V2H 1H1
(250) 828-9762


Sto:lo Nation Human Resource Development

Bldg. #8A - 7201 Vedder Road
Chilliwack, British Columbia, V2R 4G5
(604) 858-3691

Seasonal Jobs

There are lots of seasonal jobs in the mineral exploration and mining industry. Because most of the on-site mineral exploration work is completed during the months when there is no snow on the ground (May-October) there are usually several summer jobs available in the mineral exploration camps. This might be a great way for you to get to know the industry and decide if this is the right career for you.

Several people have started their careers in the industry after spending a summer working in a mineral exploration camp. More information on mineral exploration projects near you.

“I recommend a career in the mineral exploration and mining industry, but first finish high school and then find an occupation you’re passionate about. I was lucky. I knew early on I wanted to work with rocks.”

Jim Morin, Ph.D., P. Geo.
Aboriginal Minerals Training, Mining Technology Program. School of Construction and the Environment, British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Real Life Stories

Ed Asp

For Ed Asp, prospecting and trapping is a way of life. His father was a placer miner (placer is a deposit of sand and gravel containing valuable metals such as gold, tin or diamonds) and it felt right that Ed would follow in his father's footsteps, prospecting and trapping to support his family.

Read more...