When applying for any job vacancy, the main aim of your application is to get to the interview stage. This is generally a face-to-face interview, however, interstate job applications may go through a telephone interview initially. So why do so many heavy equipment job applications fail? In most cases, it’s because the applicant got the basics wrong. So how should you apply for a heavy equipment job vacancy?

It all starts with the employer’s job ad – read it thoroughly since most job ads tell you exactly what an employer is looking for. Pay particular attention to the following:

Method of application – employers are busy. They are managing a business, equipment and employees so they can only devote so much time to vetting potential recruits. An employer will list their preferred method of application because it suits their busy schedule. If the job ad requests written applications through snail mail, then use that method. If it’s an online application, or email application, then use that method. Don’t just rock up to a workplace because you know they have a vacancy, chances are you’ll be turned away.

Experience – if a job ad asks for five years experience and you are new to heavy equipment operations, your application won’t make it through the first read. Most job ads don’t ask for experience – target them first.

Equipment type – if an employer asks for a grader operator and you prefer bulldozers, if your experience is in bulldozers, you may find your application is rejected fairly quickly. Apply for job vacancies that suit your experience.

Your job application needs to prove to a potential employer that you are a good fit for the job. This will lead to an interview where that perception can be proven. Don’t lie on your application, don’t pretend to be what you’re not – the interview process will soon demonstrate that, and you’ll look the fool. If your application is impressive, and you interview well, you may not land that particular job, however, your name may well stick in their mind for the next vacancy.

If you really want a particular job, then read that job ad carefully, then submit an application that answers the employer’s requirements. Get that right and you’ll get the chance to prove yourself in an interview. Get those basics wrong and your application will end up in the waste bin and you’ll become more disheartened and frustrated. These tips hold true for any job vacancy including heavy equipment operations, truck driving, and crane operations.

Looking for work as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver or crane operator? Check our dedicated job site. Job vacancies are posted on a regular basis.

If you’re looking for work that delivers big on the pay front, then heavy equipment operations, truck driving and crane operations can certainly deliver. The downside – you have to accept working conditions that are not exactly normal. What sort of work and working conditions? Consider these career paths:

Oil rigs – oil rigs are generally located well offshore. Workers fly in and work for up to 20 days (sometimes more) straight before flying back to shore for a week. On the upside, workers are very well paid, and there’s little to spend your money on out on an oil rig. Oil rig workers include riggers, signal persons and crane operators.

Mining – there are many mines that are located close to main centers, however, there are just as many that are located in fairly remote areas. Like oil rigs, workers may fly in, work for three or four weeks straight before flying home for a week. Some mines work shifts where your only ‘home’ time is once every six months. The pay is very good, the conditions not as harsh and tough as they were fifty years ago (you almost live and work in luxury now). Mines employ riggers, signal persons, truck drivers, crane operators, and a range of heavy equipment operators.

Forestry – most forestry plantations are now located close to main centers. However, there are still areas where ‘old’ timber is harvested, and these areas tend to be a long way from major service centers. Like the mining industry, the forestry industry requires workers from all areas of heavy equipment, truck driving and crane operations.

Military – if you’re looking for a lifestyle as well as a career, then the military could be worth investigating. The military employs truck drivers and heavy equipment operators (particularly bulldozer operators). You will need to go through regular recruiting processing including basic training. However, you not only receive a good wage, you receive all the benefits that go with being in the military. You will most likely spend some time overseas, possibly in areas like Afghanistan, depending on the requirements of the military at any given time.

When considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver or crane operator, you don’t have to focus on the more traditional work places; there are other well paid options. No matter where you decide to work, you will still need to develop the basic skills that are required to gain entry level employment. That means accessing the right training for the area in which you wish to work.

Heavy equipment has long had a reputation for destroying much of the land that it travels over. It can be true as well. Heavy equipment is “heavy” and it can be cumbersome as it moves over the land. In the right hands, however, heavy equipment can be a great tool when it comes to reclaiming land and helping to rebuild nature.

A story out of the City of Charlottesville makes for interesting reading if you’re interested in the restoration of public lands. Many people read these articles and gloss over the work done by heavy equipment. It’s a role that’s important, especially in a situation like this, where time can be a real issue. When reclaiming this land, workers had to divert water from its normal course so that rocks, earth and fallen trees could be removed, and the environment rebuilt.

This can be challenging yet very rewarding work for those involved. There’s immense satisfaction in walking away from an area that has been over-run by weeds and debris having restored it to its native state. For heavy equipment operators, the key is to complete the tasks required whilst not causing any new damage. This means working to very precise instructions, often very closely with experts directing each movement.

To be successful in this type of work, heavy equipment operators need to be well trained, and to have a good feel for their machinery. Being able to follow directions is vital, as is the ability to respond very quickly when required. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools take a lot of pride in the quality of the training provided, and the level of skills that graduate operators take into the workplace. With experience in the workplace, graduate operators are frequently found working in situations such as that described in the City of Charlottesville.

If you have an interest in restoring areas to their natural environment, then it all starts with your heavy equipment training. Seek out the best and you’ll be headed in the right direction.

Choosing the best career option can be a difficult decision. When it comes to heavy equipment careers, there is a lot to consider. You’ll be working outside – although generally in a cab (often with climate controlled air conditioning). The work can be hot and dusty in summer, and you’ll also find there are frustrating periods where everything comes to a standstill because of bad weather – rain, ice and snow play havoc with construction schedules.

So who is best suited to a career as a heavy equipment operator? Obviously someone who enjoys working outside. It also helps if you have a mechanical aptitude since your work includes maintenance and safety inspections of your equipment. You’ll also need to be able to work both on your own and as part of team. Whilst not definitive, the following list is a good guide to those well suited to careers in heavy equipment.

• Enjoy working outdoors,
• Mechanical aptitude,
• Team worker,
• Reasonably fit,
• Good eyesight and a good awareness of depth
• Good eye, hand and foot co-ordination
• Fast reflexes

It also helps to have a reasonably good understanding of English (both written and verbal) and personal attributes such as honesty, integrity and reliability. However, there is one attribute that probably outshines all others, and that is desire. For many, if the desire is strong enough, they can soon develop any other deficiencies. There are heavy equipment operators who don’t have a great mechanical aptitude, however, they do have the ability to learn what is required to look after their equipment (and still remain useless under the hood of their own car).

Heavy equipment careers are lucrative and offer a lifetime of interesting and flexible work. If you’re interested in becoming a heavy equipment operator, you meet most of the attributes listed, and you have the desire to succeed, then contact us. A heavy equipment career could be waiting for you, and your first step is to complete a recognized heavy equipment training program.

There are two basic types of heavy equipment operator – those who specialize in one type of equipment and those who multi-skill and operate a range of equipment. There is still room in the industry for both, however, employers are showing a preference for multi-skilled operators. The rationale is simple; employers can place multi-skilled operators where the need is most. This is much more preferable to having an operator idle because there is no work for them at that time.

Fortunately, there is a lot of common ground when it comes to different heavy equipment. Dirt is dirt and it doesn’t matter what sort of equipment you are using, dirt will act the same. The same can be said for any other material being used. Students can concentrate on learning the actual mechanical actions required to operate a range of equipment, then practice, practice and practice for as many hours as possible.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools, we deliver training on a range of heavy equipment including:

• Bulldozers,
• Graders,
• Backhoes,
• Loaders, and
• Excavators.

Those are the most common machines in use and the skills learned can be transferred to other types of heavy equipment. Safety training is common to all machinery types as are skills such as site plan reading and learning about the different types of dirt.

If you can graduate from a heavy equipment training program with skills in a range of equipment, you will find you are more attractive to many employers than those that have only the one skill. Being a one trick pony is fine and you will get by, however, being multi-skilled opens more doors, and give you options on the direction you want to take in the future.

There are tons of jobs in heavy equipment available nationally and worldwide. Some are jobs as operators and others as general workers. Associated Training Services is a school specializing in the training of heavy equipment operators and more.
Here are some current jobs available in this field:

Job Title: Loader Operator
Location: Maple Valley, WA
Job Description: We have 2 positions available for loader operators.
Candidates must:
– Have at least 2 years of working experience as an operator or be certified from a recognized heavy equipment training program
– Have a valid, in-state driver’s license
– Be able to work with team members as well as alone
Job Overview: This operation position requires candidates to operate the machinery safely. Candidates must also be able to perform clean up and low maintenance on the equipment.

Job Title: Heavy Equipment Operator
Job Description: We are a train derailment company looking for qualified operators. Experience with backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, and other equipment is highly regarded. WE have open positions in IL, TX, IN, CA, and NE.
Candidates must have: A valid Class ACDL license, and a flexible schedule
This job includes: transporting, operating and maintenance of the heavy equipment machines that are used to clear railroads.
Payscale: Up to $50,000 with a chance to be promoted

Job Title: Heavy Equipment Operator at CHCS Construction
Job Location: Tyler, TX
Machines to work with include: graders, dozers, loaders, skid steers, backhoes, and more
Requirements: Minimum of 2 years of work experience or related schooling
Working with this construction team will require candidate to be a team player and to follow all safety precautions/ regulations.

Switching careers mid-life is not always an easy task. There are costs involved, and those costs can be daunting when you are stepping into the unknown. There are always a few self doubts as well – will you pass the training, will you find a job, and if so how long will it all take? ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools acknowledge the problems that people face when changing careers, so we try to make a heavy equipment career transitions as smooth as possible. The following is a good guide to follow for any career change.

Research your actual career choice. If heavy equipment operations is your choice, look for operators you can talk to. Whatever you do, don’t just talk to one – you are only getting a single view of your career choice. Talk to several, preferably from different companies.

Research your training school. Training is the most important component to a new career. There are several issues to look at when it comes to training schools, the most important being the school’s credibility amongst employers. Longevity is always a good sign of a successful heavy equipment training school. You can visit our training website to see reviews left by former students. After 50 years in training, we know what employers want and deliver.

Organize your finances. You will need to organize how you intend funding your training, your training time (you still have to eat and pay bills), and the period immediately after training. We offer several funding opportunities that cover your actual training costs. We are also approved to deliver training to those who are eligible for government-funded training programs (this includes current and former military).

Commence training. Once you have decided on a career, a training school, and organized your finances, it’s time to start training. One word of advice – take as much in as possible, and get in as much practice as the school allows. Training should also include safety, and ideally your training should include soft skills designed to help you look for and obtain employment. We have a dedicated career services department that works with students to find their first job. Work with our career services team and you’ll find that job fairly quickly.

Start work. This is where your hard work and frustrations bear fruit. That first day on the job will be a blur, however, it is for everyone. Use that job to build your experience, and to gain a good reputation.

They are easy steps to follow, and with our help, they can be followed quickly and easily. Are you interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator? If so, don’t wait around, check out your heavy equipment training options now.

Most people think of heavy equipment and the construction industry. Ironically, there are probably more heavy equipment operators working outside the construction industry than in. Heavy equipment can be found on the land working with farmers, to mines and on to the sea – in fact, some large ships have onboard cranes, fork lifts and even small loaders that used in the cargo holds.

One of the biggest users of heavy equipment is the mining industry. Mining has been one of the backbones of industry and as mining starts to boom again, so too will the economy. Mining has a reputation for using the biggest and best heavy equipment available. While it does use some very large equipment, it also uses a lot of your more traditional sized heavy equipment. The mining industry also requires truck drivers and crane operators, and because of the remoteness of some mines, they have a high turnover of operators.

The timber industry is another which has a steady demand for heavy equipment operators, crane operators and truck drivers. The heavy equipment used in the timber industry tends to be smaller than that used in mining, however, it is also more specialized and requires further on the job training.

Small contractors are a surprisingly large employer of heavy equipment operators, and can often be the best place for rookie operators to seek employment. Small contractors do generally work on the periphery of construction projects, however, operators and their heavy equipment are hired out to everyone. As an operator you may be working on a new construction site today, helping a farmer build a dam tomorrow and next week in a residential backyard digging a hole for a swimming pool. Small contractors certainly offer diversity and the chance to quickly learn a broad range of skills.

If you are interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator, you’re not restricted to the construction industry. You’ll find your skills are required in a wide range of industries, the only real limitation being your own restrictions on where you want to work.

It may surprise some potential heavy equipment operators to learn that up to half of their working life is spent driving their equipment. Now I know most would say, “of course they drive their equipment; how do they move around if they don’t drive?” However, the point I am making here is that driving skills and the awareness of driver is just as important as knowing how to operator your heavy equipment.

Heavy equipment, if not handled correctly, can roll fairly easily. You may feel that a bulldozer is big and heavy and that it wouldn’t be possible to roll – believe me, they can roll, and when they do it can be quite devastating. Excavators and front end loaders have a higher center of gravity and will roll quite easily given the right circumstances.

Operators also need to be aware when operating their heavy equipment in congested areas such as construction sites. Giving way to other equipment and trucks, being aware of pedestrian traffic, buildings, and overhead power lines are all part of a heavy equipment operator’s day. These are driving skills as much as operator skills, and generally run true for all heavy equipment.

Workplace safety is a big factor today. Operating equipment in a safe manner is the goal as businesses aim for zero down time because of accidents. Every time there is a serious accident, the workplace, the employer, and the employee come under close scrutiny from government agencies. If they feel there is a lack of safe work practices, they will come down hard with severe penalties. The best way to avoid an accident is by undertaking heavy equipment training through an accredited training organization. Once you have completed your training, remember that you are a driver.

There are thousands of heavy equipment operators who go to work each day, often on a construction site where the only people they need to relate to is fellow workers and managers. There is growing need in the community for heavy equipment operators who can also work a public relations role. These are the operators that work with other businesses or home owners. It goes under the guise of customer service, however, it does play a role that goes beyond just customer service.

Being able to work with clients is important in today’s workforce. Those clients are the very people who can make or a break a business, and with it, your career. If you can follow the instructions and complete the client’s requirements in a timely fashion, that client is more likely to recommend you to others. They are also more likely to call on you the next time they need your services.

Customer service includes communicating with a client, perhaps discussing how the job can best be completed, and often filling out billing information such as hours and equipment used. Some businesses require their operators to also collect a payment once the job has been completed. Tact, a pleasant demeanor and a professional approach are all vital traits that a heavy equipment operator requires to work in this environment.

We can provide the training to help you become a heavy equipment operator. Whether or not you have what it takes to take on a customer service role will depend very much on your past experiences, your personality, and your ability to get on with other people. If you have what it takes to add customer service skills to your heavy equipment operating skills, then you’ll find there are plenty of opportunities for you in the field of heavy equipment operations.