To quote Kanye West, “I ain’t saying she’s a gold digger.” But maybe she should explore the option (literally). Gold mining offers a selection of diverse career choices that are challenging, exciting, and lucrative. 

“There is a very strong Canadian expertise in gold mining,” says John Hadjigeorgiou, director of the Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program and the Lassonde Institute of Mining, both at the University of Toronto. “Five of the top ten largest (gold mining) companies are Canadian.”

A pot of opportunities

Chad McMillan, president, CEO and director of Canada Rare Earths, and vice president of Corporate Communications at Canada Gold, shared that there’s a need for workers in a variety of stages — from early exploration to mine production to marketing and investor relations. For example, business students might be interested in jobs as financial analysts. Geologists might be attracted to exploration work and research labs. 

One stand out example of a high demand field is mining engineers. There are 11 accredited university programs in Canada that offer degrees in mining engineering. An undergraduate degree is typically enough to start working in the field, although advanced degrees may help people jump to managerial levels quicker. But Ted Branscombe, program advisor for the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University, warns, “Students coming out now need to do internships, they need any exposure at all.”

This usually means getting a summer internship in the second or third year of a program. Good grades, good references, and good luck will land you one of these hard-to-get positions, but the real jackpot is landing a spot in an Engineer in Training Program (EIT). Branscombe explains, “Larger companies have EITs, where they train the rising stars and groom them for management. People who get in usually have summer experience, which is hard to get, but crucial. They’re looking for general skills like good teamwork, leadership, and experience in an industrial setting.” 

Act fast, because these EIT programs exist to fill a gap left by young engineers who ditched the mining sector during a downturn 15-20 years ago. The more experienced workers stuck around, but are now nearing retirement. This means that the engineers between 30 and 35 years old are going to rocket up in seniority, leaving a big hole for novice and intermediate engineers to fill. 

Meanwhile, more than a dozen colleges in Canada offer mining programs designed for people interested in jobs such as an underground miner, surface miner, or mining technician. While it’s possible to gain employment without a secondary school education, a diploma aids a career, especially when it comes to climbing the company ladder.

Why gold?

When people think of gold, they often think about jewelry, but the metal also plays a large role in manufacturing electronics. It’s also a popular investment, especially in times of economic frailty. “Gold is used as a reserve currency,” Hadjigeorgiou says. “There’s a strong demand for gold. In the current economic times, people see gold as natural investment.” McMillan agrees, “Generally speaking, the majority of people do have a bullish opinion of where gold will go next.” Strong demand for gold means a strong and growing gold industry you can plan a career behind.

All told, the perks of the sector are hard to ignore. While a plethora of gold mining opportunities exist in Canada, the field also offers jobs globally. The starting pay is incredible when compared to most other careers, and the demand for workers is high. The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) estimates that thousands of new workers will be needed each year until 2016.

Is this the career for you?

Don’t let stereotypes fool you. Gold mining just might be your calling. “The perception of most people about mining is that it’s dangerous and dark, and deep in the ground,” says Ferri Hassani, a professor at the Department of Mining and Materials Engineering at McGill University. “Ninety percent of the mines in the world are surface mines. You don’t even have to go underground.”

Safety protocols are heavily enforced, and the ideal worker is someone who can accurately follow procedures. A passion for math and science, an appreciation for new technology, and a love of the outdoors are assets. And if a rural setting is a deal breaker, there are always corporate jobs, many of which are based out of Toronto or Vancouver. In this field, the world truly is your gold-plated oyster.