Whatever industry you’re working in or trying to get into, career growth is probably something you’re thinking about. So if you’re ready to dig deeper into the career side of mining, you’re in the right place!
In this guide, we’ll be looking at FIFO entry level positions and how they can lead to exciting career opportunities.
Let’s kick things off with some quick facts about fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mining.
FIFO Mining: Quick Facts
- FIFO roles often have very high salaries
- Around 220,000 people work in mining in Australia
- FIFO mining is hard work, requiring long hours, usually done in remote locations
- Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium, a key ingredient used in battery technology
- FIFO work operates on a roster schedule (for example, 8 days on and 6 days off)
- Mining is a key part of the economy in Australia, accounting for around 13.6% of total GDP
- Australia has over 350 mining sites across the country, with most sites operating in Western Australia
Recommended: FIFO Mining Guide: How to Get Started
FIFO Entry-Level Mining Jobs
If you’re ready to start working in FIFO, but you don’t have a lot of experience in the field, you’re in luck. There are plenty of entry-level mining positions available.
Although, many of these jobs still require FIFO tickets and certifications.
But don’t worry, this type of training is pretty quick to get online and very affordable.
Let’s start with the most basic entry-level gigs (that may not require any tickets at all).
Recommended: 6 Types of FIFO Mining Jobs
Services and Utility Work
General services on mining sites is probably the most entry-level FIFO work you can find. But this also means that these types of jobs tend to be more competitive and difficult to get.
Here are some common utility roles you can find in FIFO mining:
- Cooking
- Security
- Cleaning
- Housekeeping
- Groundskeeping
- Administrative roles
Skills and Training Required for Utility Work
This type of work requires the least amount of training and experience. It’s probably the easiest path to starting a FIFO career, which also makes it more competitive.
Recommended: Landing FIFO Jobs With No Experience
Drilling & Exploration
Drilling and exploration jobs are exactly what they sound like. This type of work involves drilling into the earth to extract materials. It’s often some of the most grueling and difficult, resulting in a higher turnover.
But this high turnover can make it easier to land a job and get a foot in the door – drilling and exploration roles can be a great entry point into the FIFO industry.
Skills and Training Required for Drilling and Exploration Work
Drilling and exploration roles require you to know how to operate drilling rigs and other heavy machinery. For example, you could look into a heavy rig (HR) license to improve your qualifications.
Construction Work
Construction is another great way to enter the FIFO industry. This type of work involves building the mining sites and the infrastructure required for them to operate.
For example, building roads to remote locations and erecting on-site buildings are a couple examples of the type of work you may be doing.
Skills and Training Required for Construction Work
You’ll need at least a white card just to work on-site in Australia. But you may also consider boosting your certification stack with extra tickets, like working at heights and confined spaces.
Shutdown Work
Shutdown work is a special type of job that doesn’t operate on a fixed roster schedule. These jobs involve workers going into mining sites during a temporary shutdown to make fixes, do construction work or carry out other maintenance jobs.
These positions have fluctuating demand, but are often more flexible with a variety of roles available.
Skills and Training Required for Shutdown Work
Since a variety of work is done during a shutdown, the skills required depend on the type of work you’ll be doing. So getting certifications or experience (in any of the core FIFO jobs) is a smart move.
Advanced FIFO Mining Jobs
Entry-level FIFO jobs are fantastic ways to get experience and start your mining career. But eventually, you may be ready to take things up a notch.
So here are some more advanced FIFO jobs you can work towards in your career progression.
Recommended: How to Find FIFO Mining Jobs: Career Advice
Production & Machine Operators
With production work, you’ll be operating heavy earth-moving equipment (such as loaders and diggers) for the extraction and processing of earth materials. This type of work is more advanced and requires special certifications and experience with heavy machinery.
Breight Group offers some of these certifications on their site. But don’t get discouraged if you need to start with a more entry-level position first.
Maintenance & Operations
In order to maintain smooth FIFO mining operations, mining sites need to be able fix equipment and operational tools on-site. This is where maintenance and operations come in.
Maintenance and operations is a specialised type of FIFO role requiring you to be able identify issues and fix machinery on-the-fly. Given the technical requirements for this role, special training and experience are required, making these jobs more difficult to get.
FIFO Mining Career Tips: How to Move Up In the Industry
Show Your Commitment to Safety
FIFO mining is a dangerous job and mining companies take safety very seriously. So showing your commitment to safety is not just smart (for your own health), but a great way to show you’ve got what it takes to grow in the field.
Here are a few key tips to show you’re knowledgeable about and committed to on-site mining safety:
- Get extra safety training and certifications, such as first aid
- Ask questions about on-site safety protocols your company has in place
- Speak up when you see or experience any unsafe conditions or workers
Don’t Forget the Power of Networking
Like that old adage goes, “It’s not always what you know that matters, but who you know.”
Networking in the FIFO industry is a great way to make yourself stand out and discover new opportunities first.
When you authentically build relationships, you’re often one of the first people a hiring manager will think of when new positions open up.
Here are some key tips for networking in the FIFO industry:
- Build relationships on-site
- Attend industry events or expos
- Stay connected after finishing jobs
- Be intentional about developing your reputation
- Communicate and build relationships with company leadership and supervisors
Keep Investing In Your Skills
FIFO mining, like any industry, requires specific training and skill development. And with the future of mining potentially requiring even more advanced know-how, upskilling is a fantastic way to grow in your FIFO mining career.
Starting with the essentials (like a basic white card) is just a springboard. Investing in additional courses and tickets should be a priority if you’re serious about your FIFO journey.
Extra training helps you land better jobs and grow the fastest in whatever company you end up working with.
Here are some additional certifications worth looking into:
- Working at heights
- Gas testing
- Rigging and dogging
- Scaffolding’
- Forklist operations
- Heavy machinery operations
Recommended: The Best FIFO Tickets to Get
Don’t Forget About Your Soft Skills
Soft skills are personal core skills – behaviors and traits – that help you communicate and work with others more effectively. And when it comes to career growth and development, they’re incredibly important.
So don’t skimp on these in your pursuit of hard skills (through various FIFO certifications).
Here are some examples of soft skills to practice for mining work:
- Patience
- Listening
- Communication
- A strong work ethic
- An attention for detail
- Dependability and punctuality
- Creativity and problem-solving skills
Research Job Listings
If you’re not sure which tickets to get or where to start, look at what companies are asking for on sites like Indeed or Seek.
This is a great place to find clarity about what’s required for your ideal position and how to start crafting the perfect resume.
Never assume you know everything. Always cross reference with the most current job information and listings. It’s surprisingly simple, but often we end up skipping over this part, thinking it’s not that important – but trust me, it is!
Work With A Recruiter
Want to know one of the smartest ways to get ahead and advance your career in the FIFO mining industry? Work with a professional team who makes that their job.
A recruiter is someone who works on your behalf to find and negotiate the best mining jobs for you. They have industry connections and know exactly what to say, who to talk with and where to look.
This makes the whole process of finding work, getting started and growing in your FIFO career ten times easier.
My top recommendation for FIFO recruiting is W1N W1N. They’re professional, experienced and ready to help you get to where you want to go.
So with that, good luck and enjoy your FIFO journey!
