It can be discouraging looking for a new job in the mining industry as an older worker. Throughout the mining industry, many companies are seeking to hire younger employees in the hopes they can groom them into employees who will stay with the company for 20 years or more.
Unfortunately, this can lead to employers overlooking older employees just like you who still have a lot of life to give the company. Here’s some advice on how to help move your resume to the top of the stack and increase your odds of getting a job in your field.
Look in the Right Places
Looking for a job in the mining industry is no longer as simple as checking the classifieds for open positions. Instead, it’s important you’re checking the right locations.
Social media, company job boards, and job search websites are all great ways to find open positions, but they’re not always effective! These positions are often met with stacks of applications, making it difficult for your resume to stand out.
Working with a staffing company, however, will help open doors and grant you access to jobs that aren’t necessarily posted publicly. Search firms like Resource Erectors can also connect you with positions that are more likely to be a good fit for your needs.
In many cases, your contact within the staffing company has direct contact with the hiring manager, making it easier for them to point out your resume and your skills instead of letting it get lost in the shuffle.
Fix Up Your Resume
Your resume needs to display your past accomplishments, your experience, and your skills, and it needs to do it fast: the average hiring manager looks at a resume for just six seconds before making the initial decision.
A great resume has several key characteristics:
- It lists accomplishments and achievements, not just past job roles.
- It includes hard numbers when possible. Hiring managers like to know that you’ve saved past companies money or offered them specific value.
- It showcases all of the skills you’ve learned over past jobs. This might, for example, include past management experience even if your last job didn’t involve management.
It’s best to prepare your resume in chronological order so employers are able to view your most recent jobs at a glance. Adding a short list of bullet points to your intro summary is a great way to highlight your skills in an immediate way, making it easier for employers to see exactly what you can offer their company.
If you’re still struggling with creating a great resume, use this guide to better prepare your resume as a mining professional.
Also, don’t forget to include your cover letter! This should be written specifically for the company you’re hoping to work with. Describe your skills, clarify anything that isn’t obvious from your resume, and make sure to include information about the specific job you’re applying for.
A cover letter is a personal touch that tells the interviewer more about you and how serious you are in the position you’re applying for.
Bring Your Best to the Interview
The interview is one of the most critical pieces of the job search process. For some older workers, interviewing with a representative half their age can be daunting.
These steps, however, can make you stand out and help you move into a new position.
- Take the interview seriously. Don’t just assume that you have plenty of experience to move into the position; instead, go at it just like you did when you were after jobs early in your career! Take the time to do your research about the company and even about the person who will be interviewing you.
- Focus on the company’s needs. How can your experience and capability benefit the company? What sets you apart from other potential candidates? Rather than focusing on yourself, focus on how you can offer something to the company.
- Avoid sounding condescending. Remember that you don’t have anything to prove to your interviewer. By being personable and conversational, you can build rapport that will improve your odds of being hired.
- Ask the right questions. Most interviewers will give you a chance to ask questions about the company. Aim for questions that generate discussions and lets you know more about what the job will look like if you get it.
- Practice your answers ahead of time. Preparing for tough interview questions is one of the best ways to improve your confidence and lead to a better performance during the interview.
If you want to be sure that you have everything you need to head into your interview successfully, review these interview preparation tools. They’ll allow you to approach your new job with confidence.
Getting a job as an older worker can feel incredibly challenging, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. If you’re looking for a job in the mining industry, contact us. We’re not just looking to fill open roles. We work with companies who treat their workers well and take the extra steps to pair workers with companies that will be a great fit for them.
