With close to 30,000 different career pathways available to students in Australia, our world-class mining industry needs to remain ahead of the game, when it comes to attracting new recruits and showcasing the gold mine of opportunity within our sector.

Whilst an attractive salary and benefits are at the top of the list for most job seekers, you’ll also find career progression is becoming one of the most valued priorities for those searching for a new role, and with the demand of minerals and metals continuing to grow, the need for highly skilled employees will naturally follow suit.

To support the longevity of the mining sector, Schlam is putting in the time and effort needed by providing Trade – Up programs, enhancing the skills of our team and ensuring they are the best in the business.

In the first half of 2022 alone, Schlam has brought on 2 apprenticeships and supported 7 trade Upgrades with a further 10 employees currently undertaking their Trade Upgrade program.

Our most recent Trade-Up success is Taj, who has transitioned from a Light Vehicle Mechanic to a Heavy Diesel Mechanic in recent months.

Taj has been in the mining industry for 2 years now and joined Schlam in December 2021, where he quickly jumped at the opportunity to further develop his skills for his passion for mechanics. Taj has shown an interest in mechanics from an early age, constantly trying to find anything with an engine to work on.

“I have always had a high interest in the mechanical trade, as it’s hand’s on and set’s challenges for me. At a young age I was playing around with small engines like whipper snippers and lawn mowers, before slowly progressing to mobile plant equipment. I completed a pre-apprenticeship in heavy mobile technology after high school and 2 years of work experience before taking on an apprenticeship” Taj explains.

Like many young workers, Taj had a number of priorities in mind when considering a new role.

“I was definitely seeking career progression and stability but I also wanted to join a loyal and helpful company, who show that you’re not just a number” he said.

Taj is always looking for ways to better himself, with his recent trade-up being the first of many goals he plans to achieve whilst at Schlam.

“My long-term goal is to progress at Schlam by hopefully becoming a supervisor (or similar) and to have the opportunity to help other mobile plant fitters reach their potential. I like to help people a lot and would love to see others succeed as much as myself.”

We hope that other young tradie’s, just like Taj, will see the endless opportunities available at Schlam (as well as the mining industry as a whole) and decide to do that extra little bit of work, take that chance and make a difference.

After all, it’s the people who make the mining industry what it is today so why not invest in them?

Congratulations Taj on this amazing achievement! We are looking forward to watching your career unfold and are proud to be a part of the journey.

If you want to learn more about our Trade Upgrade Program, speak to our recruitment team today RECRUITMENT@SCHLAM.COM