Can you help a Russian mining engineer? I often get personal emails from readers of this blog seeking advice or help. I cannot help them all; but I try to answer them all and give my opinion that might help them.
Here is a recent email that I received. I repeat it in the hope that some mining company can help this young man, and because it presents so personal and poignant a picture of mining people in Russia. I have edited the email to protect the identity of the young man. Contact me if you need the full details and his CV.
I am 25 years mining mechanical engineer. I live in Russia. I have been working for 5 years. Due to my responsibilities I am dealing with project design of such things as: materials handling, water drainage, and ventilation.
Please, don’t think that all this 5 years I was seating at the same place and didn’t want to make a move to a new a job or responsibilities. The following things below also deny [belie] this fact:
1. I have performed a market report about Russian mining Industry for a European company.
2. I have laid the foundation of business relationships between a Russian mining company and a European mining company.
3. I have been already interviewed by a Canadian company for a position as chief mechanical engineer. Unfortunately I didn’t have experience of dealing with process plants and the surface infrastructure. So, they refused me.
My problem is that current conditions which are going on in Russia don’t allow me to feel satisfied in what I do, because of corruption. Nobody is interested in the quality of the project. The fact is that with out project each mining company can’t start any construction work at the mine site. In other words they can’t start investing money or to ask banks for a loan. That’s why very often they just ask engineering companies to do something and it doesn’t matter what the level of quality it will be. As a result I have some doubts that projects in which I took part were realized in reality.
Russians say that conditions which I am looking for are exist abroad. I heard it from different people, some of them had experience of working there. My desire work is to spend 50 percent of my work time at the mine site and other 50 percent to spend working at office.
Would you be so kind to help me with an advise. Do I have any chances to work in Australia or Canada? What should I do for that reason? Any companies which might interested in my experience?
A cooment sent to me by email.
Apparently, Alberta Provincial Nominee Program has rather strong focus on mining engineers. This person should definitely look into that. The only problem is that, as far as I know, mining engineer is a regulated occupation and before he applies for this (or any other) program, he should get his diploma re-certified by the Canadian accreditation board (it’s not a P Eng, it’s something entirely different, there’s info on that on the APNP site). Once he gets his diploma certified he can apply for P Eng, jobs, etc. Another place I can recommend is headhunters who specialize in mining engineers, such as Future Step, Cowan International, Swan, etc. That is a good starting point.
If his English is good and he is fluent Russian, then there may be opportunities next door in Mongolia where there is a mining boom underway. The original soviet exploration reports are all in Russian.