Entry level mining jobs in Australia with FIFO workers at mine site

How to Land an Entry-Level Mining Job Even If You Only Have a Driver’s Licence

February 06, 2026•3 min read

Breaking into the mining industry, even at an entry-level, isn’t as simple as just showing up with a licence. After 25 years working in mining, recruitment, and career consultation, I’ve seen many candidates underestimate the practical requirements and overestimate how easy it is to secure a role.

I’m Alana Mohi from W1N W1N, and every day I help candidates position themselves strategically to get hired in FIFO and mining jobs across Australia. A common question I get is: “Can I get a mining or FIFO job with just a driver’s licence?” The short answer is yes—but it comes with challenges.

Even entry-level positions, like kitchen hand or food production roles on site, may require a manual driver’s licence to travel safely between site and camp. In this blog, I’ll outline exactly how to maximise your chances of getting hired with minimal licences, the skills to highlight on your resume, and practical steps to make your application stand out.

Why Getting In With Just a Driver’s Licence Is Challenging

Even for entry-level roles, mining employers are highly selective. Some of the challenges include:

Requirement to have a manual driver’s licence for site travel
Safety-critical environment: candidates must demonstrate awareness of risks
Competition from other candidates with more qualifications or site experience

Understanding these hurdles upfront helps you approach your application strategically rather than blindly chasing roles.

Focus on the Right Roles

FIFO entry level mining role requiring manual driver’s licence on site

If you only have a driver’s licence, some roles are more accessible than others:

Kitchen Hand / Utility: You may need a manual licence to travel between camp and site.
Trades Assistant (TA): Strong safety knowledge and willingness to learn are essential.
Boilermaker/Trades Roles: Highlight practical skills and safety compliance on your resume.

Targeting these roles increases your chances of entry while you work on gaining additional licences.

Highlight Safety Knowledge on Your Resume

One of the most overlooked aspects for entry-level candidates is demonstrating a strong safety mindset. Employers want candidates who understand the importance of safety before they even step on site.

Include any previous experience related to safety compliance or procedures
Use clear, concise bullet points to highlight safety training or awareness
Tailor your resume for the specific role, especially for Boilermaker or TA positions

At W1N W1N, we teach candidates how to structure resumes so recruiters immediately see them as safe, reliable, and ready-to-learn employees.

Steps to Improve Your Chances Quickly

Even if you currently only have a car licence, there are practical ways to increase your employability:

Get a Manual Driver’s Licence ASAP – Essential for kitchen hand or utility roles on site.
Target Roles That Align With Your Skills – Focus on TAs, Boilermakers, or Utility if you have minimal licences.
Emphasise Safety on Your Resume – Demonstrates responsibility and awareness to recruiters.
Apply Strategically – Use platforms like Seek, LinkedIn, or company websites to target suitable entry-level positions.
Leverage Career Consultation – Professional guidance can help you understand exactly what employers want and position yourself to get hired faster.

Breaking into the mining or FIFO industry with just a driver’s licence is possible—but it requires strategy, safety focus, and targeting the right roles. By emphasising safety on your resume, obtaining the necessary licences like a manual driver’s licence, and applying strategically, you can secure your first entry-level position and start building a career in mining.

If you need help positioning yourself to get your first FIFO or mining job, book a 20-minute consultation with our team or email us at [email protected].

Don’t Take Our Word For It — HERE’S WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

$Alana is the owner of W1N W1N a recruitment and career consultation company. With a complete obsession for the mining industry and helping candidates to get into the industry using a framework that's as easy as following a recipe, Alana and her team have helped tens of thousands of candidates worldwide to achieve their dream goals by setting them up to be the candidates that know what the employer wants and does all the hard work. With a recruitment division a fraction of the cost of normal labour hire or permanent placement companies W1N W1N CAN save your company money and cn help candidates achieve their dream job at the same time.$

Alana Mohi

Alana is the owner of W1N W1N a recruitment and career consultation company. With a complete obsession for the mining industry and helping candidates to get into the industry using a framework that's as easy as following a recipe, Alana and her team have helped tens of thousands of candidates worldwide to achieve their dream goals by setting them up to be the candidates that know what the employer wants and does all the hard work. With a recruitment division a fraction of the cost of normal labour hire or permanent placement companies W1N W1N CAN save your company money and cn help candidates achieve their dream job at the same time.

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