Canada has more to offer the world than strong beer and gifted comedians. With an abundance of natural resources, from timber to fish to wheat, the bounty of the land contributes to a large portion of our economy, and there's a corresponding quantity of jobs. As a young engineer fresh out of school, there's a wide world of opportunity, but the mining sector could very well be the Ur-Industry from which all other opportunities spring.

There's a range of engineering disciplines under the umbrella of the mining industry, from mechanical and civil to electrical and, of course, mining engineering. I think the diversity in mining is second to none. It represents all the fields of engineering, says Arndt Brettschneider, a 15-year industry vet, currently the general manager of Mining and Geology Consulting in AMEC's Vancouver office. You could work in downtown Vancouver or in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and apply your trade equally.

There are a variety of ways to enter the industry. Fay Pittman worked for 10 years in the oil and railroad industries before joining the Iron Ore Company of Canada as chief engineer of energy and environmental projects two years ago. We have a development program where we hire engineers out of university and put them through a two year training program that gives them a perspective on what's available in the organization, says Pittman. I came through a similar program from the railroad industry, which helped my career advancement. It's not the type of engineering you do, it's the degree in general that allows you to move into an environment like this.

As an entry-level engineer, wages can vary, ranging from $55-65,000 a year, depending on a lot of factors. But this is just the beginning. Juma Omary is a senior design specialist with Suncor Energy Inc, with nine years in the field. Most companies will hire you as an Engineer-In-Training for about four years or so, but once you obtain the Professional Engineer designation, you'll move pretty fast from engineer to intermediate engineer, up to senior or even management positions. Pittman agrees that there's plenty of room to move, explaining, The demographic today means that are a lot of job openings, since a lot of people are retiring.

For a new grad, shift work is likely, though it doesn't have to be a negative. For engineers starting out, there would be opportunities for shift-work, which I recommend," says Pittman. It gives a broader feel for the organization and for day-to-day operations." As for the workload of an average week, that can also vary from position to position, she says. 40 hours per week would be minimum, though I work more in the 50-60 hour range at this point in my career. I might also add that I have a generous vacation package."

While there's hard physical labour in the industry to be sure, for an engineer, the strain is mostly mental. Time management, the ability to prioritize and dealing with people, says Pittman of the challenges of being an engineer. You get your technical education in university, and develop an ability to learn, but you need to tap into your people skills.

Mining is a global business, and even for an employee of a domestic company, there's a chance they could be zipping off to a remote locale. There aren't many mines in capital cities, says Brettschneider. I spent my first ten years in extremely remote locations, from the Australian outback to the mountains of Peru to West Africa and China. My diversity of experience is probably what is valued most in my job right now. If you're looking for maneuverability in your job, what could be better than a global industry? There are travel opportunities, agrees Omary. After the necessary skills and experiences are gathered, the doors are always open for experienced engineers all over the world.

It's inevitable that any discussion of mining includes talk of the environment. For better or worse, humans have altered the planet to our purposes. The industry is very focused on providing the best possible stewardship of the environment, but you have to face the fact that you're digging a big hole in the ground and extracting a resource," says Brettschneider. That extraction is driven by the consumption in our society."

For Pittman, who was hired to start her department to focus on sustainability in the company, moral choices are important. Every industry has an environmental impact, but you need to find an employer with a positive track-record and is also willing to support projects and initiatives to decrease that impact. That's one of the reasons that I took this job. jp

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