Today, I received the following in an email. The writer asks a number of questions relating to his decision to go into mineral engineering. First I repeat the email, and then I set out my answers to his questions. If you too can help this fellow, please do so by commenting. Thanks.
I was recently accepted into the mineral engineering program at the University of Toronto. I’ve been following your blog for about a year, to get to know more about the industry. It’s about the time of year in Canada when we have to start accepting university offers.
Your post “Should I Become a Mining Engineer” was great! The stats back that up too, seeing as how its one of your more popular postings. But I was wondering if you could flesh it out a bit. Maybe some more concrete information. I’d like to know your opinion:
- Do you think it’s worth it to get a P.Geo (professional geologist) designation as well as the P.Eng?
- What do you think the impact of computers/artificial intelligence/robots/automation will be on the profession? Have you seen the Jeopardy! episode where that supercomputer Watson beats the human competitors?
Also:
- What is a typical day like for a engineer-in-training/junior engineer?
- What are the drawbacks of living in a remote mining site? What are the benefits?
- Do you know of any mining engineers that don’t like their jobs? Why?
- Why do you like mining engineering so much? Why is the work interesting to you?
- I’m a bit older than most undergrads (24 years old). Do you think being older is going to be a drawback in the new graduate job market?
Thank you in advance!
Here are some of my comments, thoughts, and answers to the questions posed.
I see no point in getting a P. Geo as well as a P. Eng. Both are honorable professions. But there are many differences. It is hard enough to keep abreast of things in engineering, as it is. It is hard enough to keep abreast of things in geology, as it is. To try to keep abreast of things in both engineering and geology, so that you maintain proficiency in both, is probably beyond most of us. I suggest that when young, it is best to choose one and focus on that. There is plenty of challenge in growing as an engineer or geologist without tying to straddle both. Inevitably life will take you in one direction or another and a broad educational background, while fun and valuable, will ultimately be swamped by the need to do specialist things in the line of work that fate dictates.
I started my career at a time when there were no computers. Now they are everywhere. But they have had no significant impact on what it takes to be a professional. Just like the old engineers from whom I learnt, I still have to get basic information; I still have to visit the site; I still have to think and exercise judgment. Experience is still more valuable than computer screen perusal. Of course computers and robots and artificial intelligence (such as it is) are used. But only to get more data, to undertake faster analyses, and to augment judgment. Personally I do not think they have changed what it takes to be a good engineer, and I do not think they ever will.
There is no such thing as a typical day for an engineer-in-training. It all depends on where you are, what you are asked to do, how you approach it, and what those around you do to teach, exhort, and challenge you. Some EITs are put in front of a computer and told to compute, for it is apparent they cannot and never will be able to do more. Some EITs are run ragged involved in every detail of a project for it is apparent they can do it, they thrive on it, and they produce, adding value at every step.
The drawbacks of living in a remote camp are that you are in a remote camp. You are away from the bright lights, the sports field, the pub, and the infinite variety of friends you find in cities. The benefits, at least to a young engineer, are higher salary, lower living costs, greater challenge and opportunity to learn and shine.
I have never met a mining, civil, or any other type of engineer who does not actually like their job. They have all been content, happy, and productive. I have dealt with some younger engineers wo have left engineering for finance and investment. They did it because they believed they could make more money that way; and they have—at least until the market collapsed and some came back into engineering. I have met many an engineer who has moved around and moved on. Most of us have left behind one or more jobs. Sometimes we were glad to leave that job—but we always moved on to another engineering job and greater job and life satisfaction. Keep in mind there are always somewhere messed up companies and nasty bosses. If you find yourself in such a company or working for such a boss—leave. As an engineer there are plenty of other nicer places and people to go and work with. You are not trapped in an unhappy situation–or at least should not be.
I like engineering and mining engineering because that is what I do, it is what I do well, it is what gives me a good income, it takes me around the world, I work with nice and intelligent people, I face interesting challenges, and I see something for it at the end of each day. How could I want more? I would do it all again given the choice.
I do not think being 24 years old is an issue. I hung around university for eleven years. It was fun and easy and the girlfriend was there. So I was about 27 when I got my first real job as an engineer. At this age (65) the age at which I started is irrelevant. So too it will be for you.
Good luck with your career.
Hello Jack (and fellow poster), I too have been following your blog. I too have recently received an offer (at the Camborne School of Mines) to study Mining and Minerals Engineering. To begin with I tried to be a doctor, but didn’t get accepted into medicine, but was glad about it as my work experience included the doctor saying: “why did I ever do this job!” Haha I’m sure he was joking, but the nature of the profession deterred me. As a result of talking to people, explaining how I didn’t know what to do with my intelligence; what field to focus the work for the rest of my life in, I came across Mining Engineering, was interested, and so applied for the course. (All of this has happened pretty much in the last 6 months.) I have, however, become unsure about this lifestyle, but your answers to the questions (which were pondering on my mind too), have inspired and provided me with confidence that I might actually become satisfied with my future choice. I’m 18 years old and I have grown to my age in the old mining town of Camborne (Britain), I have family that are enthusiastic about mining and have lived interesting lives around it. Me and my friends also, growing up, spent a lot of our time at a local wood, which is an old mining site! I have always been surrounded by mining, but until now, mining to me seemed to be in the past, as the old mining town of Camborne is old, and because the are hundreds of old (shells of) engine houses, now turned into mini tourist attractions in the county I live in. I must stop writing now however, as I must begin my day of study with a read of Albert Einstein’s book on special relativity, to prepare me for my physics exam, which is in a month, alongside other exams in the other sciences and maths.
Cheers, Luke.
All valid and great points.
I graduated from Hailebury 2 years ago at 26 years. I expected to start as surveyour or geologist at a mine. The interviews took me across Canada. Companies will fly you in to see you and experience the site.
What held most of them back was that my experience in mining was zero.
All valid points.
I graduated from Haileybury when I was 26 years old, two years ago this month. But to clarify for the rest, I received a two year college diploma in Mining Engineering.
At graduation, I applied to several mines and consultancies hoping to be a junior geologist or a junior surveyor. The interviews took me across Canada.
After a phone interview, if you are being considered a good potential mines will fly you to the site at their expense. So this way, I got to go to see the iron mines in Labrador, the Potash mines in Saskatchewan and the Coal mines of the Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia.
But the Mines would hold back as I had zero professional experience in a mining environment.
I was still looking for a job a year after graduation but I wanted discouraged, I just pushed on.
Last year, I received an offer from a consulting firm in Toronto as a designer. I thought I would only become a designer after achieving a few years of experience but for me it came way sooner than I expected.
Certainly I am very happy with where I am.
For you guys considering enrolling in a mining school the future looks bright. Just keep your eyes open. Devour every story related to mining – financial, technological or otherwise. You’ll shine more than the person interviewing you !
I am an experienced mining engineer with lots of grey hair but fewer years under my belt than Jack. I have always enjoyed my career because it was challenging and for the most part I had supervisors that allowed me to chase down new things as long as I got the basics finished every day. There have been the occasional times when work was frustrated by the personalities around me but not by the work itself, which is amazingly varied.
In fact it has been so varied that I have been involved in building mines, airstrips, camps, generators, boats, barges, trucks, roads, plants, trains, tailings dams, ventilation systems, pumping systems, haulage systems, bridges, cranes, cutting and planting trees, water treatment, sewage treatment, flora, fauna, archeology, teams, economic models, financing, hydro plants, emergency response, fire fighting, shops, warehouses….
Well okay I don’t really know much about many of those subjects except for the mining part but fortunately mining is about all of these things not to mention the cultural part of travelling and working with local people.
One of the biggest drawbacks of mining is the fact that it is an incredibly cyclical industry, experiencing the highest highs (like right now) and the lowest lows when everyone is just holding on to their jobs. For all junior engineers I would recommend getting some field experience first because when the next down-turn in the industry comes it will be field experience that serves you best for job stability. When all is said and done the application of science is really done in the field where rock is being moved and not in the office.
Well, I graduated in Mining Engineering from Queens in 1984 and have had a great career. I’ve just retired at 50 after 28 years of underground mining. The industry essentially paid double what others did so its all bonus time now. There were a few sacrifices but they were manageable. Largely related to girlfriends, raising families etc. But if you have an independent, self sufficient streak you will do ok. If you feel the need to be in a big city and take in every attraction it holds, this is likely not the career for you.
Thanks for sharing your experience guys! It will be very helpful!
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