How to Become a Miner (Real Examples)

Brian Wishart

Brian is a coal miner in New Zealand and says that he always wanted to become a coal miner. He left school after the fifth form and soon after got a job at a gold mine. He worked there for two years and says that he learned to drive heavy machinery like diggers, dozers and trucks, and the experience gave him a good knowledge of machinery, which is needed for working in coal mining too.

Later he worked at two different opencast coal mines, but he still wanted to work underground. Finally he got his wish and started working at the junior most level and worked his way through the ranks. Now he has got his supervisor’s ticket and wants to get the manager’s ticket.

‘Working underground isn’t for everybody, but I love it. I enjoy getting dirty, having the machinery around, and working with explosives. It’s always a nice temperature underground, and you’re working as part of a team where you end up a close-knit group because you have to look out for each other,’ he holds.