The Truth About Pre-Employment Medicals for Mining and FIFO Jobs

When applying for mining or FIFO jobs, many candidates make the mistake of paying for pre-employment medicals before even getting an interview. After 24 years working in mining, recruitment, and career consultation, I’ve seen this happen far too often.

I’m Alana Mohi from W1N W1N, and every day I help candidates position themselves strategically to get hired faster without wasting money on unnecessary steps. One of the biggest misconceptions in mining recruitment is that you must complete a pre-employment medical before applying. The truth? In almost all cases, employers will organise and pay for the medical after they deem you suitable for the role.

In this blog, I’ll explain how pre-employment medicals actually work, why you don’t need to pay for them yourself, and what to expect at the interview stage. By understanding the process, you can save time, money, and stress while positioning yourself as the ideal candidate.

What Employers Look for in Pre-Employment Medicals

Pre-employment medicals vary depending on the role and site requirements:

• Basic medicals: Some only require urine or DNA testing.

• Comprehensive medicals: More stringent roles may require physical assessments, drug and alcohol screening, or health questionnaires.

• Role-specific requirements: Certain FIFO positions, heavy machinery operators, or safety-critical roles may have additional tests.

Employers tailor medicals to the role to ensure candidates meet site and safety standards. Completing the wrong medical independently won’t necessarily help your application.

How to Navigate the Pre-Employment Process

To position yourself effectively:

1. Focus on getting to the interview stage first – Employers only arrange medicals once they deem you suitable.

2. Don’t pay for a medical yourself – It’s usually unnecessary and may not meet employer-specific requirements.

3. Prepare for the interview – Highlight relevant skills, safety knowledge, and reliability to get shortlisted.

4. Follow employer instructions – Once you’re offered the role, they will guide you through the required medical process.

By focusing on what actually matters—skills, experience, and interview performance—you improve your chances of being hired faster.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Some candidates waste weeks and money completing medicals early:

• Scheduling your own medical before an interview

• Completing medicals that aren’t role-specific

• Failing to check employer requirements

At W1N W1N, we coach candidates on exactly how to navigate this process so they can save time, avoid unnecessary costs, and focus on the steps that actually get them hired.

Pre-employment medicals in mining and FIFO roles are designed to protect both the employer and the candidate. Most of the time, you don’t need to pay for one yourself—focus on preparing for the interview and let the employer handle the medical.

If you want personalised guidance on navigating mining and FIFO applications, including interviews and pre-employment requirements, book a 20-minute consultation with our team or email us at [email protected].

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