Nurturing the next generation of mining talent: A look into Metso's student collaborations

“Mining is an old industry, but it never gets old,” Xiaofeng Liang, the President of Greater China market area at Metso, describes the significance of our industry.

Mining has been crucial in providing raw materials to build our environment and enable modern life. With climate change pushing the global shift to green energy, the importance of sustainable access to metals and minerals has never been greater. While this is a significant challenge on its own, a bigger one co-exists: who will build the mining industry of the future?

In the U.S. alone, over 200,000 people are retiring from mining in the next few years. There is a shortage of talent, and at the same time, the required skills are changing.

“The mining industry has changed drastically over the last 25 years, but my biggest concern is the people. We have an aging workforce and there are not enough new people coming in. We need problem solvers, creative thinkers, engineers, and sustainability experts. We need everyone to make the transition possible,” explains Garland Davis, Senior Sales Manager of Western U.S. at Metso.

Having been in the industry for over 35 years, Garland knows the situation thoroughly. In Salt Lake City, where he currently lives with his family, mines are visible throughout the metropolitan area. Whereas in many other locations, raw materials are rarely seen.

“Just like some people who think that milk comes from the grocery store, many people don’t realize that their phones or electric vehicles trace back to mines. Everything requires natural resources. If people had a better understanding of the industry, we could help students make meaningful career choices,'' he says.

Many paths to the industry and Metso

Growing up close to an old mine in Virginia and with an early interest in natural sciences and geology, Garland found his calling in geology and minerals engineering. Similarly, on the other side of the world, Stuart Sneyd continued exploring his childhood interests in mining at university. This path ultimately led him to Metso, where he acts as the President of Asia Pacific Markets today.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was interested in metals and geology, and my father took me to work showing how things worked. With strong exposure to the field, I gravitated to this path early on. I studied chemical engineering and majored in metallurgy, which was natural since my father was also a chemical engineer,” Stuart tells.

For some, the path into the mining space and Metso has been by chance. Xiaofeng, for example, was chosen by his university to study minerals processing, a topic he later came to love.

“Back then in China, we applied to the university, but the school picked our majors. I got mineral processing. I knew nothing about it and even called the university to ask for more information. But I ended up finding it fascinating,” he describes his start in the industry he has called home for over 30 years.

To meet the talent needs of the future, the industry must do more to enhance its appeal and educate people on the world of possibilities a career in this field offers. An essential approach is university and student collaboration.

“We have identified the main talents we need to build Metso’s future, but they might require different approaches and messages. Some, like engineering students in Finland, are highly aware of what Metso does, whereas business students might not be. At the same time, the talent needs vary between our sites,” Evita Iiskola, Talent Acquisition Manager at Metso, explains.

Metso is dedicated to building relationships with universities and students worldwide with one goal: to help everyone see Metso and this industry as a place where they can grow professionally and personally.

From career fairs to work opportunities – the many forms of student collaboration

Metso works to increase awareness in various ways. In Finland, the teams collaborate with about 20 student organizations on company visits, career fairs, lectures, trainee and thesis work and summer job opportunities. This year alone, around 260 summer trainees will join Metso in Finland.

“We’ve been successful in welcoming trainees from diverse backgrounds and improved the gender balance, too. Many students stay with us after their summer traineeship ends, which nurtures continual growth of our future talent,” Evita says.

In China, Metso works with the top three mining universities to build awareness of the industry. The collaboration extends from seminars to on-campus recruitment. By showcasing the industry, customers and projects, Metso aims to make mining and mineral engineering attractive career paths.

“Many students are interested in their future development. ‘How would my career growth look like in five, ten years?’ is the main question we get from students. At Metso China, we’re growing at a fast pace and need new leaders and talents. This is a good signal for many seeking a steady career path,” Xiaofeng reveals.

Alongside systematic student collaboration, the focus can be on individual interactions with universities. Both Garland and Stuart are part of their schools’ advisory boards to bridge the industry and universities and maintain an active dialogue with the students.

“Metso supports us in our voluntary activities. I give back to my alma maters, James Madison and Virginia Tech, as an advisor of the industrial board and networking with students. It’s great to support students early on, to open their eyes to the possibilities, and see them become colleagues later on,” Garland states.

Where sustainability and growth opportunities meet

Besides career opportunities, sustainability is a big topic – even a demand – with younger generations. Many students look at companies' impact on society when evaluating where to work. Mining has long been a male-dominated industry with outdated practices that cause significant environmental impact. Through discussions, technological innovations and sustainable practices, Metso is leading the way and helping to change perceptions.

“The discussions with students often relate to how mining can be done sustainably and what we do to enable that. With sustainability being our strategic priority and one of our core values, I'm always genuinely proud to say that we walk the talk and are open and honest about it,” Evita shares passionately.

There are still a lot of challenges to solve in sustainable mining. But to drive future innovations, new, interdisciplinary skills are required as the industry faces more complex issues, such as extracting ores that are difficult to access. New people bring new ways of working.

“Typically, the mining industry has been risk averse. However, we will see a shift in this as climate change drives new practices. We need highly skilled people to develop our solutions, because by adding diversity of thought, we are positively changing the culture and fueling innovation,” Stuart says.

Metso provides an ideal home base for students aspiring to shape the future. With a front-row seat to the mining and aggregate industry, the company offers opportunities to pursue a career with almost any background in any part of the world. Whether you’re studying chemical or mechanical engineering, processes, automation, metallurgy, data or environmental issues – anything – Metso offers a space where talents can contribute to addressing humanity's most significant challenges and reach opportunities of a lifetime.

“Metso allows you to be your best self. No one is forcing you into a mold, but you can grow your skills on your own terms. I have always been flexible and open to possibilities, which has allowed me to travel and move to new places. Life at Metso is definitely far from boring,” Stuart expresses. Evita sums it up nicely, “as a big company, we offer so many opportunities. During your time at Metso, you can have multiple different careers. But we all start somewhere, so if you're a student or recent graduate, take the first step and just apply.”