Saskatchewan’s Northlands College reports great success at placing graduates of their Underground Mining Core Training program – at least partly because of an usual approach to screening applicants.

This program prepares students for entry-level employment in underground mining, teaching mine safety, ventilation, ground control, mining methods, rigging, stopper and jackleg drilling, explosive handling, radiation protection, and operation and maintenance of underground mobile equipment. Trainees will work a 14-day-in/14-day-out mine rotation.

Applicants to the Northlands program must complete a college application form, submit a resumé and high-school transcript, a handwritten letter explaining “why you want to take the program,” and must pass a mandatory drug test to be considered for an interview.

The interviews of applicants are conducted by a committee of representatives from Northlands College and the mining industry.  The employers can reportedly ascertain in a brief interview whether a student will ultimately stand a good chance of persisting in a challenging career.  By involving employers in the applicant screening process, not only are students more likely to complete the program, but also to attain employment upon graduation.