Everyone is talking about Western Australia's mining boom and how previously low-paid jobs are fetching salaries in the hundreds of thousands.

But, are the stories of massive salaries and plenty of jobs for the taking actually true?

A young apprentice Michael Emanuel was one of 10,000 people at a jobs expo in Perth to see what might be available for someone with his skills.

"Quite a few of my ex-bosses and friends are going into the mines and they earn quite the big bucks going there," he said.

It's an attitude mining recruiters see every day.

"I think there can be no doubt that there's been a lot of hype about the salaries that are paid within the industry," said Minna Knight from the expo organiser Australian Mines and Metals Association, the AMMA.

Oz Minerals recruitment officer Donna Dittmar says people associate mining with money.

"I think people think it's the land of milk and honey and perhaps don't understand the realities of what positions are around and how much money is paid," she said.

The message from recruiter Tim Bayliss is clear - you can't just walk off the street and get a high-paying mining job, applicants must have suitable skills.

"There are a lot of tickets and qualifications you will need before you're let on site and most companies do prefer people with experience," he said.

"So, that myth of basically being able to come to Perth and have a job in a mine straight away getting paid $200,000 isn't really that realistic."

Is anything out there?

There are jobs around.

"By 2015, we're looking at creating another 83,000 roles and that will vary all the way through to operators, engineers, geologists, trade professionals and boiler makers," Ms Knight said.

"There certainly are entry level positions into the resource industry particularly with the more allied sectors, however, the truth is that you do need to have appropriate certificates and qualifications.

"A mining environment is not like a cafeteria or a petrol station where you may be able to train up over a couple of hours."

Andrew Collingwood has been trying to get a mining job on and off for three years.

He's 53 years old, fit and has a range of truck-driving, building and construction experience on his cv.

"It's harder than you can ever imagine," he said.

"You send in emails, you go for induction but I'm getting no feedback at all."

Mr Collingwood is so keen to get into the industry, he says he'd work the first two weeks for free.

Cheryl Grace was at the expo to look for a job in catering or as a kitchenhand.

She'd heard of other people earning a lot of money doing a job she would get average pay for in the city.

"I have found it really hard getting in, it's just a matter of who you know, really," she said.

Who you know is an emerging theme whenever mining job talk comes up.

Mr Collingwood says it's like trying to get work on the docks.

"If you do not have an uncle, a father, a relative, you're not going to get a job on the docks, and I think this is how this is going," he said.

Inside running

RecruiterTim Bayliss says knowing someone does help.

"It is handy to know people on the inside, there is plenty of work once you do get your foot in the door, then it really does flow on from there," he said.

Ms Dittmar, from Oz Minerals, says they do have an employee referral program but the applicant must still go through the same process as everyone else.

AMMA's Sarah Mitchell says the employers' emphasis is on skills.

"In the past, probably employee reference was the best way to get in, but now with the skills shortage and the big demand, we're getting a lot of employers looking at complementary industries, like manufacturing or small business owners; it's changing," she said.

"I think the job seeker feels that you have to know somebody to get in but, we talk to (the mining companies) and they say what they really want are the people with the right skills."

Ms Knight says potential employees should do their research.

"The resources industry isn't just your pick and shovel show any more," she said

"There are a whole range of careers that you can undertake, ranging from more corporate, human resources communications all the way through to your operational trades, professionals, and it's all about working out which part of the sector you want to go and work in."

Miner Rio Tinto's Sylvia Fynn-Marriner agrees.

"There are some people coming in with no experience so we're able to guide them as to what are some of the things they need to do to try and get into the industry," she said.

"There are mining jobs out there, we've got loads of jobs on the website."

Rio Tinto was quick, however, to dispel the idea that knowing an employee of theirs was a ticket in.

Ms Knight says even suitable experienced applicants need to tailor their cvs.

"It's not just good enough in many respects to simply send a very generic resume in and simply load it up onto a particular website in the hope that someone will follow through," she said.

"The reality is that you need to put some time and effort into it, research the particular role, tailor your resume to suit the role that's on offer and follow up, give the employer a call."

Personal brand

Something many mining hopefuls probably haven't thought about is the role their social media profile could play in them getting, or not getting, a job.

Sarah Mitchell says employers are looking to social media more to engage with job seekers.

She says research from the US shows a lot of people were using job sites such as Linkedin, but companies who post jobs on Twitter got almost ten times more contact.

But, the use of social media is a two-way street.

"I'm advising job seekers today that we're living in a very public world and what you do in your spare time and what you do in your personal life can now be viewed by the whole world," she said.

"We know for a fact that employers are going out when they get an applicant that they're interested in and they're looking at their Facebook page.

"We're in a really safety-conscious environment and if you've got cool pictures of you planking with your mates, then you're just not going to be considered.

"And, if they're seeing pictures of parties and drug use and bad language and racist jokes, then they're going to disregard that candidate no matter how well they're qualified."