The mining industry has come a long way in recent years, leaving far behind images of pit ponies and gas-detecting canaries. Modern mining is highly automated, employs lean principles, highly professional, makes full use of computer-aided technologies and very much focussed on health, safety and socially responsible and economical business.

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or (coal) seam. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt and potash. Any material that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or created artificially in a laboratory or factory, is usually mined. Mining in a wider sense comprises extraction of any non-renewable resource (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, or even water).

Engineering careers to the technical, supervisory and professional managerial roles typically start with a solid bachelors degree such as BSc in Mining, underpinned with mining and mineral industrial experience in the relevant discipline.

Technical Roles: CAD Draftsperson * Data / Information Officer * Electronics / ICT Technician * Environmental Officer * Geoscience Technician * GIS Technician * Laboratory Technician * Maintenance Technician * Metallurgical Technician * Mine Deputy * Mine Planner * Mine Surveyor * Open Cut Examiner * Project / Program Manager * Health & Safety Advisor * Surveyor * Technical Officer * Ventilation Technician

Supervisory Roles: Maintenance Foreman * Production Foreman * Plant Foreman * Shift Manager

Engineering Roles: Chemical / Metallurgical * Civil * Electrical / Electronics * Environmental

Geological / Geotechnical / Geoscience Roles: Materials * Mechanical * Mining * Environmental Scientist * Exploration Geologist * Geophysicist * Hydro Geologist * Mine Geologist * Resource Geologist * Metallurgist

Managerial Roles: Exploration * Mine * Operations / Production * Plant * Health & Safety

Starting salaries in the mining industry are very competitive with respect to other engineering disciplines. The possibility of rapid career advancement in the mining industry is high, due to the small scale of many mining operations. Many engineers move into supervisory or management positions at a relatively early stage in their careers.

Purple Squirrel is working with a number of global Clients having ongoing requirements for mining and mineral processing personnel in UK, Africa, South America, Canada and in the Middle East. To see and apply for our current job vacancies click here.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) will be implemented in the UK on 1st Ocotober 2011. The purpose of the regulations is to provide temporary workers with equal treatment in terms of basic working and employment conditions as if they had been employed directly to do the same job. The rights will apply after a 12 week qualifying period.

Following the 12 week qualifying period the temporary workers will be entitled to equal treatment, including: notice period, pay, working hours, overtime, shift allowances, antisocial hours or dangerous/difficult work premiums, breaks, holidays and access to training and collective facilities. Bonuses attributable to quantity or quality of work done (e.g. piece work and individual performance related bonuses) will also apply.

Equal treatment does not apply to sick pay, pensions or paternity/maternity leave. Bonuses and incentives not directly attributable to the quality or quantity of work done, but which are given for some other reason such as overall company performance will not apply.

For our engineering, technical, industrial and construction clients who currently have or are considering long term PAYE temporary employees, it will still be plausible to keep them. You will still be able to use Temps to have the flexibility you need in the workforce. You will still be able to use Temps to manage peaks and troughs in production output for example. You will still be able to use a Temp as a trial before taking them onto Permanent staff.

The most significant cost ramification which the department manager will need to be aware of, is if you do not have long term intentions towards the individual. After the 12 week window you will need to pay the same benefits as to your permanent staff and to the letter of the law, if you want to terminate their contract you will need to give the same notice period, which is often 4 weeks.

Since in Engineering, Technical, Industrial and Construction sectors many of our temporary skillsets are in something of a shortage. It may not be feasible to implement a break of service which must be a minimum of 6 weeks in ordy to comply.

Purple Squirrel Recruitment, as a Corporate member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation receives the benefit of their legal advice, helping us keep your company compliant with the latest guidelines.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Here at Purple Squirrel we are always being asked the current state of the current market for Engineering, Industrial and Technical hiring. Refreshed from the holidays and looking now at September and beyond to Q1 2012, I have to comment that the mood is overall fairly upbeat.

Demand for UK employment remained steady in August, avoiding the usual summer slump, according to the latest Reed Job Index.

The report reveals a 20% year on year rise in employer demand and while demand in some sectors fell, it rose in others to maintain the same month on month level.

New job demand slowed down across a range of sectors from financial services to manufacturing. Consumer-facing sectors saw the largest falls, with retail jobs dropping by 16 index points since July. But this was balanced by rising demand for new workers in other sectors, such as qualified accountants, purchasing professionals, marketing, media and creative staff. Purple Squirrel has seen this picture replicated across UK Engineering, Technical and Industrial companies.

Even though the jobs market is flat, Reed figures indicate that there are a fifth more new jobs available now than there were 12 months ago.  Good news. Employers are investing in the future again with investment in new equipment and with skilled staff.

Post holidays, the good news is that new positions are being released and major companies are planning for their 2012 recruitment campaigns now. Having taken months to get hiring approval signed off, no suprise hiring managers like to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. They target to fill positions now so that teams are in place ready for the new Q1 budgets, to start of projects in January.

So whether you are looking to hire or ready to make a move, timing for you could not be better.

• See all Purple Squirrel engineering jobs HERE
• Send us a job description for your engineering vacancy NOW

Popularity: 2% [?]

Purple Squirrel is today pleased to announce, that we have been awarded a major supply contract to promote UK Engineers for Saudi Arabia Expat contracts. This is exciting news for Job seekers in the UK Industrial, Construction and Energy sectors looking for long-term, good quality contracts abroad.

In total we have over 200 Vacancies to fill, all working for a major Corporation. The list of requirements is extensive covering disciplines at 4 career grade levels from Manager (in charge of a site) to Hands-on. Majority of roles require graduate level engineering degree qualifications ranging from minimum 5 years work experience to 20+ years.

Materials – Architects – Civil Engineers – Electrical Engineers – Mechanical Engineers – Piping – Construction – E&I – Instrumentation – Superintendants – Process – Turbines – DCS – Safety – Communications – Schedulers – Contracts Adviser – Welding – NDT – Technicians – Photogrammetry – Project Management – Turbine PM – IT – Planning – Cartograper – Surveyors – Cost Engineers – HR/Training

The packages on offer will be specific to each position and career grade. Will include allowances for accommodation, flights, life assurance, medical cover and car.

To view the complete list of engineering job openings, please see the Purple Squirrel website or JustEngineers or email with covering letter to jobs@purple-squirrel.co.uk stating the reference number.

Closing Date for Applications: 8th July 2011

Purple Squirrel Limited acts as an Employment Agency with regard to permanent vacancies and an Employment Business with regard to temporary assignments.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Deep down inside you know that you are a Purple Squirrel candidate, the elusive one that Company X is just waiting to hear about. Your dream job is just around the corner and the company yacht in the Cayman Islands beckons…. (more…)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Find your next Job on Twitter!

It’s true! Social Networking is catching on and latest figures suggest there are 510,000 Tweets daily. Not everyone wants to share latest tabloid gossip, there are plenty of others using Twitter and Facebook to find their next job.

We are therefore excited to announce that all jobs posted to the Purple Squirrel website, will now be fed live to Twitter and also Facebook in real time. It is therefore the fastest way to hear about our latest engineering , technical, construction, industrial and scientific jobs in the UK.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Figures released today from the Office for National Statistics show the unemployment rate for the three months to February 2011 was 7.8 per cent of the economically active population, down 0.1 on the quarter. The total number of unemployed people fell by 17,000 over the quarter to reach 2.48 million.

Whilst this does not herald a massive return to work for the UK Labour market, the trend is still holding steady despite global economic challenges. Regarding engineering, technical, industrial and scientific recruitment, Purple Squirrel observes that companies are easing the pressure on the previous approach of “do more with less resources” and are conservatively adding to headcount and investing in key projects again. In these sectors however the majority of roles will be filled by candidates changing companies rather than from the ranks of the long-term unemployed.
Companies such as Jaguar-Land Rover have recently announced a massive increase in their graduate programs investing heavily into developing new talent over the next two years. Good news for the young mechanical and electronics engineers, newly graduating. Purple Squirrel hopes this trend will continue.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Engineer at Rest

Sunshine, time away from the workplace and rest. These would appear to be motivating ingredients for our UK Labour Market. Purple Squirrel has noticed a four-fold increase in  active engineering and technical Job Seekers this week. Everyone has returned fresh and re-motivated for job hunting since the May Bank Holiday weekend. This can only be good news for the Employers who are hiring now and seeking to choose the best talent available for their project teams.

Whilst UK unemployment is holding at a relatively unchanged level since pre-recession days, future prospects are still relatively difficult to read. A report out today by The Work Foundation shows continued importance to the UK economy of the Services sector. Engineering and technical services play a central role along with IT, providing the professional and technological support that businesses depend on for innovation and growth.

Purple Squirrel’s advice to active job hunters is therefore to pay particular attention to your main sales tool – your CV and cover letter. Hiring Managers want to hire people who are achievers and for the most part having evidence that you can already do their job.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Advice for Engineering Graduates Facing the Challenges of Recession and Lack of Demand for Graduate Recruitment

You crammed for your exams, the Final Report (and late nights to finish it) are all a distant memory and you have emerged as proud owner of a shiny new Engineering degree. Congratulations!

Sadly, several months have now passed; you still have not secured your first engineering job in a meaningful role. Every day you get the same story, it’s because of the recession, and companies are in hard times. Perhaps you are even getting a little concerned that you will ever get a job?

Fear not, Purple Squirrel is here with some motivation and advice to get you on the first rung of the career ladder.

1.       Don’t waste too much time (now) with Recruitment Agencies

Recruitment Agencies serve a valuable purpose to connect you with future career moves, but it is highly unlikely to be them that get you into your very first job. Instead you are better served applying directly to your target companies. Companies in a recession are doing as much talent sourcing as they can in-house, all in an effort to cut costs. That means they will call the people to interview who applied directly rather than via an Agency.

2.       Make a list (a long one) of your target Engineering companies and start getting in touch with their HR team

When I was looking for my first company it was back in the 80′s recession when times were equally tough as now. Let me give you my numbers. I mailed out 200 CV’s with a nice covering letter (was in the old days before email and website uploads), followed up with phone calls and received back 50 application forms. I was invited to one interview assessment centre, where I was successful. If you play the numbers game, one of your contacts will be fruitful. You will though need to apply the same dilligence and perfection to application number 155. Spelling misstake And pooor For,matting are absolutely not allowed. No.

3.       Try not to appear desperate, only apply to relevant companies you would seriously want to work for.

Sounds obvious, but your career will last a lifetime and you will want to be happy in your work. Match your list of target companies to relevancy from your degree, personal interests and any previous work experience. So take the time to research each company that you apply to.

4.       Use industry associations and forums to get a wider list of companies to apply to

At this point in your career you will have heard of the big players, but don’t just apply to the name at the top of the proverbial food chain. In these times of full service supply, the OEM will apply pressure to the Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to carry the project workload, so this is where many of the job openings will be found. You won’t necessarily be familiar with all the names so these industrial associations and forums are invaluable to generate a wider list of companies.

5.       Be prepared to think laterally

A generalist Mechanical or Electrical engineering degree does not prepare you for any one industry. The technical know-how is transferrable across a range of sectors. Rail industry is currently booming, Aerospace is surviving, where Automotive is struggling somewhat. Companies are placing greater dependency on their teams in low cost regions (India, Eastern Europe and China especially). Great news if that fits your cultural background or you are willing to travel. Consumers still need Medicines and Food. Renewable Energy companies are also thriving. Companies who supply a diverse range of sectors for example in tooling, packaging or fasteners are more likely to be in better shape. Expand your industry Sector horizons beyond the obvious and there will be other graduate hiring opportunities.

6.       Ensure your time waiting for employment is spent in meaningful pursuits

However tempting, do not give up and spend all day with your Wii or Playstation for company. Employers will value the individuals who were still active mentally and developing beneficial skills for their future career. Register for a Masters course; take a practitioner’s certificate in either Project Management or CAD to build upon what you were taught in University. Register as an Associate Member for your engineering accreditiation.  Consider some charity fund raising work (everyone says they will one day, few actually do), or even go travelling. Your objective is to not stop adding skills and accomplishments to your CV just because you are temporarily without employment.

Get networking, stay connected

All industries have their various annual events in London, Birmingham, Manchester and also on the University circuit. These are ideal opportunities to meet new companies and hand out CV’s. Prepare your elevator speech – the 30 second introduction to you that makes someone want to keep your CV. Read the industry specific news, subscribe to daily RSS feeds. You are looking for the positive news snippets that give the clues that a company may be starting hiring soon – they won a new contract, opening a new factory, relocating a tech centre.

These are indeed tough times and you will need to take control of your own destiny to stay on top. Do not be disheartened by the rejections, treat every day as a new day. Your perfect job will eventually be there for you.

If you felt this was helpful to you, then do email your cv to mycv@purple-squirrel.co.uk and forward this on to another graduate job hunter. Better yet, send us a note and keep in touch when you are successful to secure your new job. Good luck!

The author Yvonne Paige is a recruiter with a difference, unlike many of her peers she graduated Brunel University in Mech Eng and had a successful multi-national career in  engineering, before taking a career break for family. These days she heads up Purple Squirrel, providing specialist recruitment solutions to Engineering Companies.

Popularity: 31% [?]

The government will announce today that the agency workers’ directive will not be implemented until October or December 2011 ­ the last possible date under EU law.

We understand that minister of state for employment relations and postal affairs Pat McFadden will make a statement later today and that the draft regulations will be published this morning.

The purpose of the directive is to give agency workers some of the rights of permanent workers after 12 weeks. Under the Directive “equal treatment” relates only to basic working and employment conditions of temporary agency workers (eg pay, working time); the Directive does not affect the employment status of temporary workers.

David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC),says: “With these announcements, the government is sending out a positive message to business. Additional employment legislation would be a real barrier to job creation at a time when unemployment could approach 3 million. 

“Small businesses consistently report that new employment legislation is the area of red tape that is most harmful to growth.

“Smarter regulation – reducing the burdens on business – is opening up as a key battleground between the main political parties. This can only be good news for the UK economy.”

Popularity: 30% [?]