Planning a FIFO or mining career in Australia based on experience and goals

How to Plan Your FIFO or Mining Career Based on Your Experience and Goals

February 11, 2026•3 min read

Many people assume that getting into FIFO or mining jobs is a one-size-fits-all process, but that’s far from the truth. After 24 years working in mining, recruitment, and career consultation, I’ve seen candidates make costly mistakes by chasing unnecessary licences, qualifications, or roles that don’t align with their goals.

I’m Alana Mohi from W1N W1N, and one of the first things we do when helping candidates is ask: “Where are you located, what experience do you have, and what are your goals?” These three factors alone determine which roles are realistic and how fast you can get hired. For example, someone based in Perth or Brisbane may have far easier access to FIFO jobs than someone in Canberra or Melbourne. Similarly, a candidate with 14 years running their own physically demanding roofing business may excel in off-sider or trades roles, while also having the potential to move into supervisory positions if they acquire the right qualifications.

In this blog, I’ll break down how to evaluate your location, experience, and career goals to choose the right path, save time and money, and land your first FIFO or mining role efficiently.

Step 1 – Evaluate Your Location

Location is one of the biggest factors in securing FIFO or mining jobs:

High-access regions: Perth and Brisbane are hubs for mining recruitment and FIFO operations. Candidates here generally have faster opportunities.
Lower-access regions: Cities like Canberra or Melbourne may reduce your immediate options, requiring relocation or additional planning.
Remote roles: Some positions may require moving closer to the site or accepting FIFO rotations.

Understanding your starting point ensures you focus on roles that are actually achievable.

Step 2 – Assess Your Experience and Skills

Mapping work experience to FIFO and entry level mining jobs in Australia

Your work experience plays a critical role in determining the types of roles you can apply for:

Physically demanding roles: If you have a history of physically intensive work, such as running your own roofing business, off-sider or trades assistant roles may suit you well.
Supervisory or management roles: These often require specific qualifications in addition to experience.
Career shifts: If you want to move into operational roles like machine operation, you may need additional licences or training.

At W1N W1N, we help candidates map experience to roles that match both capability and financial goals.

Step 3 – Define Your Career Goals and Salary Expectations

Before applying, consider what you truly want from your mining or FIFO career:

Financial goals: Are you seeking to maintain or exceed your current income?
Physical role vs supervisory: Do you want hands-on work or a more administrative, air-conditioned role?
Long-term career trajectory: Consider whether you want to specialise in a trade, operate machinery, or move into management.

Knowing your goals prevents wasted effort chasing roles that don’t align with your ambitions.

Step 4 – Only Get the Licences and Qualifications You Actually Need

Many candidates waste time and money on unnecessary licences:

W1N W1N consultations ensure you know exactly which qualifications you need.
Focused learning reduces costs and speeds up time to employment.
We provide links, guidance, and support to get you ready for the role you actually want.

The key is precision: get the minimum requirements for your target role, then move directly into applications.

Step 5 – Book a Consultation for a Personalised Plan

Every candidate’s situation is unique:

Our consultations evaluate location, experience, career goals, and financial expectations.
We provide a step-by-step roadmap, including which licences and qualifications are actually necessary.
Candidates leave consultations ready to apply efficiently, without wasting money or time.

This personalised approach dramatically increases the likelihood of landing your first FIFO or mining role.

Getting into FIFO or mining roles is 100% achievable—but it requires a personalised approach. By evaluating your location, experience, and career goals, and only obtaining necessary licences and qualifications, you can position yourself for success without wasting time or money.

If you want personalised help creating a roadmap to your ideal 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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