Jobs in the mining industry have evolved over time; in the past, a person with little or no education could easily find work in a mine, but today, many positions require a college diploma or extensive training and experience. A mining trainee is someone who is either preparing for or currently undergoing job training in the mining industry. A mining trainee may be required to have a college diploma, but in some cases, a position can be obtained with only a high school diploma or no education at all. In today’s mines, such jobs are less common than in the past.
A mining trainee’s responsibilities vary depending on the type of job the trainee is preparing for. A machine operator, for example, will typically complete an apprenticeship during which a more experienced operator will teach the trainee the necessary safety and efficiency techniques for operating the machine. A dump truck driver apprentice will learn how to operate large hauling vehicles properly, as well as participate in classroom training. There are numerous other mining trainee positions available, each with its own set of requirements for completion of the training period.
Some jobs that require a lot of education and experience will also necessitate a mining trainee period. The trainee will benefit from the knowledge of more experienced workers during this training period, which could last anywhere from a year to several years. Working with a more experienced geologist, for example, will help the mining trainee learn more industry-specific skills as well as more efficient methods of gathering data. Geologists, for example, will usually have the foundational skills for completing various jobs as they pertain to mining because they learned such skills during a college degree program.
A mining trainee’s pay will typically be lower than that of a full-time, experienced employee, but once the traineeship is completed, the trainee will be eligible for higher pay and possibly even better benefits. The rules for pay and benefits, as well as the length of traineeships or apprenticeships, will vary by employer. Local laws governing apprenticeship programs or traineeship periods may bind the employer in some cases. A trainee may be responsible for obtaining certifications required for legal work in certain parts of the world during the training period.