Graduates in Mining

By Dr David Way Group Metallurgist Xstrata Copper

Dr David Way recently gave an insight of the type of graduates Xstrata are looking for to develop the future for their company. He recently gave a presentation regarding graduate opportunities with Xstrata to engineering students at the university of South Australia. David is the group metallurgist at Xstrata and holds a PHD in chemistry . He has been involved in the selection of engineering graduates for the last 3 Years and has successfully selected graduates to all most Australian sites including their major operation at Mount Isa and the rest of the group.  Xstrata each year select graduates from the disciplines of Mining Engineering, Metallurgy, Chemistry Geoscience, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering and in some support roles, such as Environmental Engineering, Accounting, Logistics, Human Resources and Information Technology.

David stated that an integral part of the recruitment and selection process was the companies vacation employment program which gives undergraduate students the opportunity to look at Xstrata’s operations and for site people to have a look at the quality of and motivations of potential graduates. This process is also aimed at providing hands on experience in both the working environment and the taste of living in regional towns and centres.

David said that Xstrata have a structured approach to the assessment process based on many years of successful recruitment of graduates to the company including the current chief executive of  Xstrata Copper - Charlie Sartain who started his working career as an Xstrata graduate and moved his way through both Australian and overseas operations to his current role.  David stated that, "not all our graduates will achieve that type of role but as a company we aim to give them the opportunity to achieve excellence in both there technical degree area and to develop their skills in the areas of supervision and management  which may lead to higher management."

Graduates within the Xstrata group are involved in a two year development program  which involves:

               -  technical competency development;

               -  work in two different operational settings

               -  supervision

David states that Xstrata look for:

Teamwork

Leadership

Technical Competence

Flexibility 

Practical Problem Solving

At Thorley & Associates:

We bring real hands-on recruitment and human resource expertise to our clients.  We act as a partner to our clients.

Our consultants have experienced the issues behind living and working in isolated and overseas resource environments.  We are aware of the company cultures and the challenges that they present. Our aim is to understand your business and offer experienced recruitment solutions to meet your current and future needs.

If you need somebody, our networks and capabilities can swing into action immediately.

We focus on professional, technical and executive contract and permanent placements for the mining, engineering and heavy industrial sectors.  We utilise a variety of advertised and executive search recruitment methods. 

We also have a separate human resource consulting arm where we provide a variety of hr business services and advice. 

People Coaching is one of our strengths:

We offer professional coaching and mentoring services designed to target areas that improve an individual's performance and career.  The process and support can be used to enhance a current career direction, refocus an individual or build competence and confidence to develop in one's current and future employment.  The process and support can be self directed, or requested as an enhancement to an organisations current development process.  Individuals or groups can be can be developed.  All levels of supervision and management can be targeted.  Why not ask us how this can benefit you and your organisation!!!

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