How to Write a Drill and Blast Resume
Drill and blast is a specialised field — and your resume needs to reflect that specialisation clearly. Here's how to write a resume that gets you noticed in this competitive niche.
Why Drill and Blast Resumes Need to Be Specific
Drill and blast is one of the most technically demanding roles in mining. Employers aren't just looking for someone who can operate a drill rig — they want evidence of blast design knowledge, explosives handling competency, and an impeccable safety record. A generic mining resume won't cut it in this field.
Lead With Your Licences
In drill and blast, your licences are everything. Make sure these appear prominently near the top of your resume:
- Shotfirer's Licence: State-specific (e.g. WA, QLD, NSW). List the issuing authority and expiry date.
- Explosives Licence / Permit to Acquire: Required for handling and transporting explosives.
- Blasting Contractor Licence (if applicable)
- Any relevant RTO qualifications (e.g. Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations)
Specify Your Equipment and Operations Experience
Employers want to know exactly what you've operated and in what context. Be specific:
- Drill rig types (e.g. Sandvik DP1500, Atlas Copco FlexiROC, Epiroc D65)
- Surface vs underground operations
- Blast hole diameters and depths
- Pattern design and burden/spacing calculations
- Electronic detonator systems (e.g. Orica i-kon, Dyno Nobel DigiShot)
Quantify Your Safety Record
A clean safety record is your most powerful selling point in drill and blast. Include:
- Incident-free periods (e.g. "Zero LTIs across 4 years of shotfiring operations")
- Number of blasts executed without incident
- Any safety leadership roles or contributions (e.g. blast crew safety officer)
Highlight Blast Design Experience
If you have experience in blast design — not just execution — make sure this is clearly stated. Mention any software used (e.g. SHOTPlus, JKSimBlast), the scale of blasts designed, and any optimisation work you've contributed to.
Get Your Drill and Blast Resume Right
Michelle at Resume Righters understands the technical language of drill and blast. Call 0432 090 042, email resumerighters01@gmail.com, or visit our contact page to get your resume written by someone who knows the industry.
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Written by
Michelle — Resume Righters
Michelle is the founder and lead writer at Resume Righters, with over 14 years of experience crafting resumes for Australians across mining and resources, healthcare, trades, administration, education, and more. Resume Righters holds a proud 5-star Google rating — a reflection of the proven results and glowing testimonials from clients who've landed the roles they were after. Every resume is personally written — no templates, no outsourcing. Michelle takes the time to understand your background, your goals, and the role you're going for, so your resume genuinely reflects who you are and what you bring to the table.