How to Get Your First FIFO Job in 2026

Breaking into FIFO (Fly-In Fly-Out) mining can be confusing when job ads ask for site experience you do not yet have. Start with a role that matches your background, check the employer's requirements, and show the experience you can already bring.

Look for advertisements that explicitly welcome trainees or applicants without mining experience. A ticket or a rewritten resume does not guarantee a position; the employer still assesses your suitability.

Kathryn writes mining and FIFO resumes in Perth. This guide covers choosing a target role, checking tickets, explaining transferable experience and finding places to apply.

What is FIFO Work?

FIFO stands for "Fly-In Fly-Out" — a work arrangement where you travel to a mine site for a rostered period, then return home between swings. Check the offer for the roster, departure airport, accommodation, meals and travel arrangements.

Most Australian FIFO operations are based in:

• Western Australia's Pilbara — Iron ore (BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue)
• Queensland's Bowen Basin — Coal (BMA, Anglo American)
• Northern Territory — Gold and base metals
• South Australia — Copper and uranium (BHP Olympic Dam)

Check the advertised point of hire before applying. Employer-paid flights may start at a specified airport rather than your home city. For example, Fortescue lists its FIFO departure locations and says workers living elsewhere arrange travel to those locations at their own cost.

Why Consider a FIFO Career?

Let's be real about why people choose FIFO:

The Money

Compare the actual advertised package for each role. Check base pay, rostered hours, overtime, allowances, superannuation and whether travel days are paid. A salary figure without those details is not a reliable comparison between jobs.

The Lifestyle

Yes, you're away from home for weeks at a time. But when you're home, you're actually home. No commute, no answering emails at 9pm. Many FIFO workers find they spend more quality time with family than they did working 9-5 in the city.

Career Progression

Ask about training, apprenticeships and progression when assessing an employer. Moving into a trade, technical or supervisory role depends on the position, qualifications, performance and available opportunities.

Essential Tickets and Certifications

Requirements vary by role, site and state. Read several current advertisements for your target role before paying for training, and ask the employer or registered training provider if a requirement is unclear.

Role-Specific Tickets

Depending on your target role, you may need additional certifications:

• Haul Truck Operators: Check the licence, equipment experience and training requirements in the specific advertisement. Trainee and experienced-operator roles have different entry criteria.
• Drill & Blast: Check the particular job and jurisdiction. A drill offsider role and a licensed shotfirer role have different responsibilities and requirements.
• Electricians/Fitters: Check the trade qualification and any occupational licence required for the work.
• Process Plant Operators: Check whether the employer is recruiting trainees or requires previous processing experience.

Best Entry-Level FIFO Roles

These are role categories to investigate. Look for advertisements that accept your current experience or explicitly offer trainee positions:

1. Trade Assistant / TA

Support tradespeople with their work. Show relevant tools, workshop or construction experience, and check whether the position offers training.

2. Haul Truck Operator

Move material around a mine site. Search specifically for trainee or new-to-industry vacancies if you do not have haul-truck operating experience.

3. Process Plant Operator

Help operate and monitor processing equipment. Explain relevant manufacturing, maintenance or process experience and check the employer's training requirements.

4. Cleaner / Facilities

Maintain camp and site facilities. Match your cleaning, hospitality or customer-service experience to the duties and roster in the advertisement.

5. Service Crew / Offsider

Support site operations with practical work. Check the duties, physical requirements and roster, then explain your relevant labouring or trade-support experience.

Creating a Resume That Gets Past ATS

Applicant tracking systems help employers organise applications. Make your file easy to read and follow the employer's upload instructions so your experience is clear to both the system and the recruiter.

Use the job ad's terminology where it accurately describes your experience. No format, keyword list or scanner score guarantees an interview, and an ATS does not apply one universal pass mark.

The 5 ATS-Critical Elements

1. Relevant terminology — Use the job ad's language where it truthfully describes work you have done
2. Simple formatting — No tables, graphics, or fancy layouts that confuse ATS
3. Specific equipment names — List the makes and models you have actually operated, with verified hours if you have them
4. Evidence of your work — Include accurate duties, team sizes or results you can explain at interview
5. Clear section headings — Use labels such as "Work Experience", "Licences and Tickets" and, where relevant, "Equipment Operated"

Transferable Skills That Mining Companies Value

Coming from construction, transport, agriculture, or trades? Here's how to position your experience:

• Construction: Safety culture, working in teams, physical endurance, equipment operation
• Transport/Logistics: Vehicle operation, fatigue management, load handling, scheduling
• Agriculture: Operating heavy machinery, working autonomously, mechanical problem-solving
• Manufacturing: Process awareness, quality control, shift work, continuous improvement
• Military/Emergency Services: Safety protocols, working under pressure, teamwork, discipline

Where to Find FIFO Jobs

Combine current job advertisements with employer career portals and relevant recruitment agencies:

Direct Company Portals

Check the employer's own careers site for current vacancies and available job alerts:

• BHP Careers
• Rio Tinto Careers
• Fortescue Careers
• Mineral Resources Careers
• Roy Hill Careers

Mining-Specific Job Boards

• Mining People International
• DFP Recruitment
• Hays Mining
• Chandler Macleod Resources

Labour Hire Companies

Many FIFO positions are filled through labour hire. Register with:

• Programmed
• WorkPac
• NES Fircroft

The Hidden Job Market

Public job boards are one route. You can also explore:

• Internal referrals (knowing someone on site)
• Labour hire databases (being "on the books")
• LinkedIn direct approaches from recruiters
• Expressions of interest to site supervisors

Interview Tips and What to Expect

Mining interviews typically cover three areas:

1. Safety Focus

Mining companies are obsessed with safety — and for good reason. Expect questions like:

• "Tell me about a time you identified a safety hazard"
• "What would you do if you saw a colleague taking a shortcut?"
• "Describe your understanding of SLAM (Stop, Look, Assess, Manage)"

2. Behavioural Questions

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for questions about:

• Teamwork and communication
• Working under pressure
• Following procedures
• Problem-solving

3. Role-Specific Questions

Depending on the position:

• Equipment operation experience
• Physical fitness and health
• Roster flexibility
• Willingness to work in remote conditions

Preparing for Your First Swing

Congratulations — you've got the job! Here's how to set yourself up for success:

Before You Fly Out

• Complete all pre-employment requirements (medical, drug test, inductions)
• Pack appropriately — check the site packing list carefully
• Set up your finances (many sites have limited phone/internet)
• Prepare family for your absence

Your First Week on Site

• Listen more than you talk
• Ask questions — it shows you take safety seriously
• Learn names and introduce yourself
• Be early to everything
• Don't complain about the food, accommodation, or roster

Building Your Reputation

Your first few swings determine your reputation. Focus on:

• Reliability — Show up on time, every time
• Safety — Follow procedures without cutting corners
• Attitude — Be positive, helpful, and easy to work with
• Learning — Take every training opportunity offered

The workers who progress fastest aren't always the most skilled — they're the ones supervisors trust and want on their crew.

Next Steps

You now have the roadmap. Here's what to do today:

1. Audit your resume — Use our free tool to identify areas to review; it does not predict an employer's screening decision
2. Check your tickets — Confirm the target role's requirements before booking training, and distinguish held qualifications from planned courses
3. Register with labour hire — Get on the books with 2-3 major agencies
4. Set up job alerts — On direct company portals and mining job boards
5. Optimise your LinkedIn — Recruiters actively search for candidates there

Keep a record of the jobs you apply for, the requirements you meet and any feedback. Use that evidence to improve the next application.

Good luck out there.