Meet Kym, one of our dump truck operators at Clermont Coal
Did you know that currently only 16.7% of those working in mining across Australia are female?We know that’s a number that can and must be improved, which is why we’ve taken part in many initiatives with both our clients and independently to play our part in changing the industry, with our percentage of female employees in mining sitting above the national average at 21%.Mining has always had a pretty blokey image, however, the industry is starting to change. Each year the opportunities for women to build careers in the industry are increasing. One such woman is Kym, one of our employees out on site at Clermont Coal, who is not only a hard-working operator but a devoted mother. Kym’s site manager Samantha caught up with her to talk about working in the mines, and the key to balancing the job with parenthood.What is your background?After leaving school I spent a couple of years as an apprentice carpenter before moving into some sales positions. For the last 5 years I’ve focused on being a mum and being active in our local community with the local fire service and the SES.How do you balance being a mum and working on a mine site?The key is to focus on a plan and get organised. I have to meal prep a week in advance and be ready with school lunches. Letting go of the Mum guilt is the hardest, but I keep telling my girls and myself that my role in mining is benefiting our family and helps us afford the lifestyle we live and the holidays we take. With that, I’ve accepted that there will be good days and there will be bad days. We are very fortunate to have wonderful childcare- my mum looks after our children while we are on shift, so we know that they are in very capable hands. When I’m on night shift I will try to video call the girls before bed if my crib breaks line up. My mum is great for sending through photos and little updates during the day of what their up to as well! Then on days off we try to plan something special as a family to make up for the time away from them.How did you get your start in mining?I am lucky enough to live local and know quite a few people at Clermont coal. A very good friends husband handed my resume into the haulage superintendent at a time they were hiring greenies (new to industry). Within days I was lucky enough to get a call from WorkPac.What do you think are (if any) the main barriers are for women in mining, and how do you think they overcome the setbacks?I don’t believe there are any setbacks for women in mining. There are plenty of women on our site, from haulage, workshop, field maintenance and administration. Working your way to the top will not be an easy or a quick task, but that does not mean it cannot be done. So long as you focus on working hard and presenting yourself in a positive light to other people, you will have a good shot at successfully achieving everything that you want to in the mining world.What do you enjoy about work and why did you choose mining?I love coming to work each day, there hasn’t been a shift I haven’t wanted to be here. I get to be more than just mum. I get to drive 200 tonne dump trucks and get paid for it! Clermont isn’t really a huge place and jobs are very far between. My husband works at Clermont Coal, so does his brother, my sister and her husband, so I guess it’s the family tradition now.What is your 5-year goal?Our five-year goal is to still be here in Clermont and chipping away at those financial goals we set before moving here. I would love to be multi skilled on equipment by then and be part of the Emergency Response Team. One day I aspire to be a leader in our industry, showing women that anyone can do and be whatever they want.
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The Dos and Don'ts of Interview Wear
When it comes to a job interview, the first impression you make is crucial.In research conducted by Classes and Careers involving over 2,000 hiring managers, 33% said they know if they’ll hire someone within the first 90 seconds of an interview. One simple way to make a positive impression from the get-go is wearing the right outfit, so keep reading for our dos and don’ts of interview wear!Do: tailor your outfit for the company/roleThe way you dress for the interview will depend on both the type of role you’re going for and the company you’re interviewing with.If you’re going for a professional role in an office environment, stick to business wear. However, if it’s for a role in a work environment with a less formal dress code, such as hospitality, retail, or trades, business casual will be suitable. Business casual is more flexible, but there’s a few basic rules you should follow: nice pants or a skirt, a nice practical shirt, and smart shoes.Do: wear appropriate footwearNo matter the role you’re interviewing for, leave the thongs and sneakers at home! For men, dress shoes or a smart pair of boots are the way to go. For women, a nice pair of shoes like loafers, heels or ballet flats are usually your best bet.Do: prepare beforehandYou should never leave it until the day of the interview to decide what you’re going to wear. Take the time a few days before (in case an item you want to wear needs a wash) to pick out an outfit.Don't: forget to iron!It’s one thing to have an outfit prepared for your interview, but always make sure you take that extra step and iron the night before if needed. If you’re rushing out the door on the day of the interview you may not get the time to do it, and crinkled clothing will make you look unprofessional.Don't: underdressIf you’re really not sure what to wear, remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed! As a general rule, clothing such as singlets and shorts are too casual and won’t be considered appropriate interview wearDon't: forget basic grooming beforehandWhile wearing the right outfit is important in making a great first impression, also be sure that you’ve done any necessary grooming beforehand. Make sure that your hair looks neat and tidy and wear some perfume or cologne (just be sure not to use too much)!For more tips, check out our infographic which cover 34 crucial tips for your next job interview.
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WorkPac's guide to nailing your next job interview
You’ve put together your resume, you’ve applied for the job, and now you have the interview! But how do you get that interview to score you a job offer? Keep reading for WorkPac’s guide on nailing your next job interview.Before the interviewMemorise the job descriptionThe job description tells you everything the employer wants and what the position requires, so the most important thing you can do before an interview is make sure you know the job description back to front. You should also be prepared to answer questions about how you’ll fulfil what they’re asking for with the role. For example, if they’re asking for someone who’s committed to safety, take the time before the interview to think of examples where you’ve demonstrated safe work practices. Being able to provide examples that demonstrate what the employer is looking for will help you stand out as a strong candidate.Do your researchShow that you’re passionate about getting the position by doing some research beforehand on the company you’re applying to work for. People want to hire someone who understands and cares about the company, so taking that extra time to do a bit of background research will send the right impression to a prospective employer.Show that you’re passionate about getting the position by doing some research beforehand on the company you’re applying to work for. People want to hire someone who understands and cares about the company, so taking that extra time to do a bit of background research will send the right impression to a prospective employer.Make sure you're preparedIn most cases you’ll need to bring and up to date resume along with you. The interviewer will also want you to bring any licenses/tickets/qualifications relevant to the role you’re applying for, so make sure you have all of this prepared in advance. Also spend some time the night before getting an outfit prepared so that you’re not rushing around in the morning trying to put something together. If you’re not sure what to wear, smart casual is usually the best way to go. Also plan out a travel route to the interview the night before and allow yourself some extra time just in case.During the interviewWatch your body languageBody language really affects how people form their first impressions of you, so make sure their impression is positive. Maintain a good posture from when you walk in the room to when you sit down, being sure to never slouch or slump. When you first meet the interviewer/s, give them a firm handshake and a smile, and be sure to make eye contact. You should also keep making eye contact throughout the interview and avoid looking down at the ground, as this will make you look timid - just don’t go overboard and stare at the interviewer the whole time!A lot of us also have little ticks and habits we fall into doing when we’re nervous, which can make you come across as restless, bored or anxious. If you have some of these habits, such as fidgeting with your hands, playing with your hair, or tapping your foot, just stay aware of them so you can catch yourself early.Be confidentMany people are scared to come across as confident in an interview in case it makes them look arrogant, but confidence is often the key to a great job interview. You don’t need to boast, but you should be able to speak about your skills, experience, and ability to succeed in the role with confidence.Always direct focus during the interview to your strengths rather than emphasising your weaknesses. Interviewers will often ask what you think those weaknesses are, so be sure to emphasise your willingness to learn and improve in any areas you’re not as confident in rather than talking yourself down. This will help you come across to the interviewer as confident and capable. If you’re looking for advice on how to kick off your job search or writing a resume that stands out, be sure to check out all the posts on our blog!
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WorkPac's guide to kicking off your job search
Are you looking for work or a change of job in 2019? Keep reading for our tips on what you need to know before you start your job search!For tips on getting your resume ready be sure to read our latest blog , and for advice on how to find a job with WorkPac check out these tips from our recruiter of the year.*Links:Jobs on FacebookCareer Builder SurveyHow to change Facebook privacy settingsHow to control visibility on InstagramHow to protect tweets
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Want to a resume that stands out? Follow these tips!
Do you want to freshen up your resume for 2019? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading for WorkPac’s guide on crafting a great resume.Use dot points instead of paragraphsThere is nothing worse than digging through an over-complicated resume to try and find what a person’s skills and experience are. Make sure your resume is straightforward and easy to read, and always lay out the information in dot points instead of paragraphs. This is so much quicker and easier for a recruiter or employer to read!For example, instead of writing:In my previous position at X, I supervised a team of 35 people. This experience means I have a wealth of knowledge on supervising for projects in construction, as well as strong leadership skills. I am also very organised, so I am able to successfully work to deadlines.Put it into dot points:• Previously supervised team of 35• Strong leadership skills• Knowledge on construction supervising• Organised• Able to meet deadlinesMake your work history countIt’s important to include the right information when outlining your work history. We recommend including the following:1. The name of the organisation/business you worked for and your job title.2. The month and year you started and finished in the role.3. Make sure you include a list of your skills, experience and qualifications. For example, if you are an operator make sure you expand this and explain the types and sizes of machinery that you have experience operating. Don’t forget to include your RIIs and Site Authorisations with your application.4. Duties: in dotpoints, list all your duties in that role and the work you completed day-to-day.5. Achievements: you should also outline in dotpoints any great achievements you had in that role. For example, if there an instance where you were able to make the workplace more efficient or helped improve workplace culture, make sure to include it. Also include any awards or acknowledgements received such as employee of the month.Laying out your work history this way ensures the person reading your resume is receives the details they need without information overload. Again, remember to use dotpoints here so that it is clear and concise.Adjust your resume for the roleInstead of submitting the exact same resume for each role, modify it slightly for the role you’re applying for. Employers will outline exactly what they’re looking for in the job description, so if you really want the role you need to prove that have the skills and qualifications. For example, if the job advertisement asks for someone who is proactive and takes initiative, include under work history some brief examples of where you demonstrated that in previous roles.Don't lieThis should be an obvious one, but don’t bend the truth on what your skill-set and experience is just to get a role. If there’s a certain ticket or qualification you don’t have, or a skill you haven’t learnt yet, just be honest about that and make it clear that it’s something you’d be willing to learn or obtain if you do get the role. You’ll be expected to talk about relevant skills and experience in your interview so if you’ve lied it will become apparent and make you look untrustworthy, which will hurt your chances of finding work with that company in the future.For more tips on landing a role in 2019, make sure you also check out our other post which covers tips on finding a job from our 2018 recruiter of the year.
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Six Tips for How to Land a Job from Our Recruiter of the Year!
Are you looking to land a new role in 2019? We had a chat with Jennifer, WorkPac’s 2018 Recruitment Coordinator of the Year, about what helps someone stand out as a great candidate to a recruiter.In her last 4.5 years with WorkPac, Jennifer has placed people in roles in mining, civil, retail, white collar, admin and commercial. Beyond being a fantastic recruiter, her experience and knowledge of a variety of industries makes her the perfect person to give tips on putting together your resume and nailing the interview with your WorkPac recruitment coordinator. Here are Jennifer’s top six job tips:1. When it comes to your resume, keep it simple!The best resumes are ones that are super simple and easy to read. Or as Jennifer puts it: short, sharp and shiny! When talking about any tickets and licences, outline them in dot points instead of long paragraphs, as this is much easier for our recruiters to read and gives them the information they need quickly. You can learn more tips on writing your resume here.2. It’s not just where you worked, it’s what you did:When outlining your work history in your resume, Jennifer says to make sure you provide a brief description of your duties in your previous roles. It’s not enough to just say you worked as a labourer, recruiters need to know what you did as a labourer in that role – were you digging trenches, laying pipes, putting up temporary fencing? Knowing these details will help your recruitment coordinator work out what roles you can be matched to.3. Arrive to the interview preparedRecruiters want you to bring along a copy of your most recent resume and all your tickets and licences along to the interview. For clothing, stick to smart casual; you don’t need to wear a three-piece suit, but make sure you look presentable. You can read more tips on interview attire here.4. Be confidentDuring the interview, Jennifer believes it’s important that you can speak confidently about your skills and experience. It doesn’t matter if you’re more of a shy person, so long as you can clearly talk about your attitude, approach to safety and the roles you’ve worked. For more great advice for your interview, we’ve compiled 34 crucial tips here.5. Keep the conversation professional and positiveBe careful to not let the conversation steer negative; Jennifer says people will often talk about disagreements with previous workmates or speak poorly of former employers, which comes across as unprofessional. Even though our recruiters are very friendly and want you to feel comfortable speaking with them in your interview, you need to keep in mind that we’re your employer.6. Be specific about the type of work you’re looking forAs Jennifer explains, if we don’t know what kind of work you’re looking for, we won’t be able to find you work. People often say that they don’t mind the work they do, or they’ll do anything, as they think it increases the roles they can be put forward for. However, it does the complete opposite. Our recruiters want to know the specifics on what roles you can do and what roles you want to do. So before the interview, make sure you know what you want and can clearly tell us! If you can’t decide, check out our job vacancies to get an idea of what’s out there.
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