Mining engineer : Training

New mining engineers are likely to be trained in a variety of areas. At the beginning of your career, you will need to adapt quickly to working on site and learn new skills from more experienced colleagues. Depending on the nature and type of mine in which you are employed, you will also have to learn appropriate practical skills. The varied nature of the industry means that you will be required to constantly update your skills and knowledge throughout your career.

Membership of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)  provides a range of continuing professional development (CPD) and networking opportunities. Fellows and Professional Members of the IOM3 can also qualify for registration with the Engineering Council UK (ECUK)  as chartered engineers (CEng). To gain CEng status, you will need to submit a written report and satisfy an assessment panel that you have the skills, specialist knowledge and competence to practise as an engineer. See the IOM3 website for full details.

Reading the specialist press, for example Materials World  (magazine of the IOM3), The Mining Journal  and Mining.com , keeps you up to date with the latest news and opinion in the industry and can be useful for anticipating future career opportunities.

Employers may encourage further study at Masters level. Postgraduate courses are available to professionals already working in the field as well as graduates with a related degree, such as engineering or geology, in areas such as mining engineering, mining geology and applied geotechnics.