What formal qualifications and/or previous work experience did you need to get your job?

A background in geology or mining engineering is critical. In my case, general geological work experience was valuable, but what really helped was an internship I did in a salt-related role at a different company. That gained me relevant industry knowledge, which is not something most graduate or early career geologists have when starting to work for this company.

Apart from formal qualifications, what other skills or characteristics do you need in your role?

Strong communication skills are really important, being able to explain the mining process in different ways depending on who you're talking to, whether it's less experienced teams, teams within the mining department, or external partners. Geology isn’t always the main or sole driver in decisions, so it is important to highlight its relevance and impact where needed.

What sort of organisation do you work for?

I work for Nobian Industrial Chemicals in The Netherlands, a mining operator that focuses on solution mining of salt. The company also has its own processing plant where the extracted brine is turned into base chemicals.

Where else could you work as a Mining Engineer?

As a mining engineer you can work at similar mining companies, storage operators, and in related industries like geothermal energy or oil and gas exploration.

If this wasn’t your first job after your studies, what did you do in-between?

Geothermal geological consultancy, determining geothermal potential for different layers in the subsurface for clients, as well as interpreting seismic data to locate these layers and understand more about their formation.

Do you travel, either within the UK or overseas, in your role?

Yes, about 5 times a year, to one of our cavern fields abroad. Here I try to learn more about the day to day operations of cavern fields and sometimes oversee tests being done on our caverns.

Do you work a regular length day/week, or are shifts involved?

I work a regular week with standard hours. However, when drilling operations are underway, sometimes the schedule shifts to support those activities.

What do you enjoy about your job?

Working as a geologist for a salt extraction operator lets you be involved in every stage of a salt cavern’s life; from exploration and drilling to production, storage, and eventually abandonment. This results in a broad perspective of the mining process and brings you in contact with many different disciplines.

What advice or extra information do you wish you’d had before starting this career?

I wish I had more insight into the different career paths available to geologists and earth scientists, both within The Netherlands and abroad. The specific industry I work in wasn’t covered much, or at all, during my studies, and that is something I have noticed is common among many of my colleagues as well. At the beginning of my role, my internship provided me with a deeper understanding of salt than most other new hires at Nobian.