Human Resources
Anitra
Role: Human Resources Assistant
Company: Rio Tinto
What do you like about working in human resources for the minerals industry?
What excites me about my job at the moment is the fact that I get to meet so many people. Often people don't like sitting at a desk, having an office job where they're in front of a computer screen day in day out. However, being in the mining industry where your job requires you to travel to site occasionally and liaise with such a variety of people, makes work much more interesting, so it's a nice balance. By presenting the Perth inductions I get to meet all the new starters and talk to the many employees who come down from site. Argyle has a very friendly workforce, with an environment that is enjoyable to work in.
What has happened since you were in Year 10 to enable you to get to where you are today?
Initially I wanted to be a primary school teacher and so in my last years at school I studied the subjects I needed to enter that particular field. I then commenced tertiary studies in primary school teaching. Part way through, I found out that I didn't want to continue with that line of study, so I moved on to a Bachelor of Communications majoring in public relations and advertising. After one year of studying PR and advertising, I was encouraged by a close friend to apply for a part time position here in Human Resources, it was a great source of income during my studies. I managed to gain that position and worked here part time throughout my studies. I've only recently graduated and am now working fulltime in HR.
What do you see as the key skills & personal qualities that young people need to be successful in the Minerals Industry?
Anyone wanting to enter the minerals industry should be goal orientated, determined and show initiative. Being able to communicate and interact well with people is always important; in such a large organisation open communication will always lead to a job well done. Being a team player is also very important within any industry, not just the minerals industry.
Have you been able to see any of the mine sites or are you just in the office here in Perth?
I visited the Argyle Mine site for three days. It was a great insight into the operations of the mine. I went to a Muntha (Indigenous Smoking Ceremony), pit tours and visited one of the local indigenous communities. It was eye-opening to see exactly what a mining operation can offer to a small community. I've also been lucky enough to visit other Rio Tinto business units such as Hamersley Iron and Luzenac.
