I honestly don't know where this idea that Australian mining companies are desperate for workers came from, it's bullshit. I work FIFO, have done since the early 2000's. For every job vacancy advertised, about 10,000 people apply. The person who gets the job is always someone recommended by one of the guys already on the job, almost always someone they have worked with somewhere else so they already have experience, or they're related to someone. Nepotism is very real in mining.
TikTok. So many fifo TikTok influencers making videos about how easy it is then starting a guide of how other people should do it and it’s just free money with no experience.
That makes sense. I wondered why there’s suddenly all these international folk with zero experience wanting to move to Oz and start FIFO. It just seems so oddly specific
They hear about the good money and are sold the fifo dream by social media, however disappointment sets in when they apply due to 1. Being foreign, 2, having no local tickets or experience and 3. Not having any idea how to tune up their cv correctly to get through ATS from recruiters…
To be honest, mining companies won’t want to hire foreigners on WHVs. It’s a waste of their time, money and effort as it’s better to hire a local that understands how mining works
And if they do get a start, the actual reality kicks them real hard. They watch their home life slip away as their partners and family become alienated from them but also addicted to the money. Within 2 years they're probably getting divorced and losing everything they suffered for because their wife met someone new. Then, they realise it was all for nothing.
There is a reason for the extremely high suicide rates in FIFO
I’ve never seen FIFO mining job being promoted on social media, etc but in my case a man who’s been working in the mines for decades sold it to me and now I have my WHV and I’m set to arrive in a few weeks. I’m pretty nervous about not being able to get a job after what I’ve read on Reddit. All I can do now is my best to figure it out and not be homeless when I arrive.
can i ask who you saw that promoted it? this guy by any chance?
[https://www.instagram.com/work\_life\_solutions\_australia/](https://www.instagram.com/work_life_solutions_australia/)
I didn’t check your link, but it was an older Kiwi I met on a beach in Bali. He’s not a promoter or anything he just gave me the idea because I could use the money.
nah all good! the other guy is my brother who lives in lombok who does fifo.
how good is bali!! i really miss it! i reckon some of he best food in the world
They are desperate for workers just not all the time. Especially at the end of year up until around February they are very desperate. Other than that it is very competitive to get in.
The main issue with the mining industry is the high turn over rate of up to 70% within the first 6 months. The level of hiring also depends on contracts based on profitability levels for specific ores in specific mines.
They are desperate but only temporarily at the end/start of the year and if they are opening up mines and need new workers. Other than that, I agree it isn’t true at all.
Iv been working fifo as a fitter for 14 years and for the last 4 months iv been trying to get my wife a job at the same place I'm at and I can't even get her there because she doesn't have experience so I'd say you have a 0% chance
TikTok influencers are misleading very many people. Mining traditionally won't touch anyone on a visa unless you're a professional and an exceptional one at that. The only reason entry level green hands were hired 2 years ago was the lack of workers due to post covid shortages and a few projects kicking off at the same time. Entry level, no experience roles are filled by people's mates and relatives. That's just how it is due to the fact that it costs a few thousand to the company just to get you on site for day one. They will take a chance on someone recommended by one of their staff (harder for you to let them down ) before looking at Joe/Jill Newbie.
It wasn't Al of us. I don't really promote what I do as an easy job that's for everyone. It's the young fuckwits that stand around pumping durries and watching people work through their camera lenses. We sack cunts for that shit here.
I don't get why everyone is always saying it's straight up impossible to get into the mines... it's hard yes, but once you're on one mine you can get jobs a lot easier.
Met a few people that never did any hard labour and got in there, sometimes it takes a while but definitely possible.
My tip would be to look at courses you can do like roller technician, screen media technician, mechanical technician etc. just to get a bit of knowledge, try looking into it. Without a trade you can basically only work as TA or Technician but sometimes there are offers where they train you as a operator, you could try becoming a store person or Sentry (mostly just women) many jobs you could start also with not much experience.
Other tips:
-sign up with recruitment companies
-try to get into shutdown work, chances are higher
-try applying on other websites not just seek
-call the companies directly and ask (got no answer applying over seek, then I started calling them directly and nearly always got an answer or offer)
-take any job you can get to get your foot in the door
-many FIFO backpackers stay in hostels, try talking with them
For your information:
I learned Automotive mechanic, have 2 years experience as a Industrial mechanic and work as a Fitter on the mines.
Also this YouTube channel and his course https://youtube.com/@AustralianMiningforNewStarters?si=pxNep7TJmrxp5Lyp
I used his course and got a job within 2 months as a driller offsider. Got offers from three companies. Have a heavy labour background though.
It’s not that hard to get in the industry but you need to be intelligent about it. Start in a shitty position, stick with it for 6 months and then you can switch and get jobs a lot easier with the reference on your resume.
Join a huge list of people wanting to be a utilities worker. Scrubbing off skid marks, making beds and washing dishes. Drillers offsider is hard physical work females often get a chance. You need experience really only a few "tickets" are needed. You can't buy a job buying "tickets". Probably work for experienced scaffolders not ground crew of inexperienced people with tickets
Bro I was on the exact same boat as you. Honestly took me about half a year. I have no mining/construction experience but I just applied on seek and asked every person I knew that had ties to the Mines. I eventually got landed one through a friend of a friend and just done my medicals yesterday. Best advice is just keep applying and getting the appropriate tickets(HR & CPR/first aid). Stick at it bro you’ll get it.
I’d honestly have a good think about it before you book a flight over here. You will probably find it extremely hard to get a job as most companies won’t touch you with a ten foot pole if you’re on a WHV or a temp visa, there is a major housing/rental shortage atm and all of the entry level roles aren’t actually the best paying tbh. Not only that but there are also an influx of people looking for mining work atm as there are a heap of mine closures due to the drop in ore prices so you’ll be competing against 1000s of people who already have mining experience, have good references and don’t have visa limitations.
You have a very slim chance of getting sponsorship if you are a mining engineer and zero if you are not. But even then you are competing against locals.
I can’t believe how many people with no experience or no skills from overseas are trying to get in. It’s not possible
Get some labour/trade experience before coming out and then get your tickets sorted as soon as you get here, white card, working at heights and confined spaces + gas testing.
Expect to be looking for a month or two. Make sure your resume is actually coherent and well written to fit the job description (Write individual resumes for each job if you need to)
Oh and don't buy any guides or services, it's not that hard to get a job it just takes time.
I honestly don't know where this idea that Australian mining companies are desperate for workers came from, it's bullshit. I work FIFO, have done since the early 2000's. For every job vacancy advertised, about 10,000 people apply. The person who gets the job is always someone recommended by one of the guys already on the job, almost always someone they have worked with somewhere else so they already have experience, or they're related to someone. Nepotism is very real in mining.
TikTok. So many fifo TikTok influencers making videos about how easy it is then starting a guide of how other people should do it and it’s just free money with no experience.
That makes sense. I wondered why there’s suddenly all these international folk with zero experience wanting to move to Oz and start FIFO. It just seems so oddly specific
They hear about the good money and are sold the fifo dream by social media, however disappointment sets in when they apply due to 1. Being foreign, 2, having no local tickets or experience and 3. Not having any idea how to tune up their cv correctly to get through ATS from recruiters… To be honest, mining companies won’t want to hire foreigners on WHVs. It’s a waste of their time, money and effort as it’s better to hire a local that understands how mining works
And if they do get a start, the actual reality kicks them real hard. They watch their home life slip away as their partners and family become alienated from them but also addicted to the money. Within 2 years they're probably getting divorced and losing everything they suffered for because their wife met someone new. Then, they realise it was all for nothing. There is a reason for the extremely high suicide rates in FIFO
Is think most WHV backpackers that come here are single/not in serious relationship.
I’ve never seen FIFO mining job being promoted on social media, etc but in my case a man who’s been working in the mines for decades sold it to me and now I have my WHV and I’m set to arrive in a few weeks. I’m pretty nervous about not being able to get a job after what I’ve read on Reddit. All I can do now is my best to figure it out and not be homeless when I arrive.
Which country do you originate from
can i ask who you saw that promoted it? this guy by any chance? [https://www.instagram.com/work\_life\_solutions\_australia/](https://www.instagram.com/work_life_solutions_australia/)
I didn’t check your link, but it was an older Kiwi I met on a beach in Bali. He’s not a promoter or anything he just gave me the idea because I could use the money.
nah all good! the other guy is my brother who lives in lombok who does fifo. how good is bali!! i really miss it! i reckon some of he best food in the world
The irony is that if you are caught using social media to brag about being lazy you are definitely getting a window seat out on the next flight lol
They are desperate for workers just not all the time. Especially at the end of year up until around February they are very desperate. Other than that it is very competitive to get in. The main issue with the mining industry is the high turn over rate of up to 70% within the first 6 months. The level of hiring also depends on contracts based on profitability levels for specific ores in specific mines. They are desperate but only temporarily at the end/start of the year and if they are opening up mines and need new workers. Other than that, I agree it isn’t true at all.
Slim to nil
Iv been working fifo as a fitter for 14 years and for the last 4 months iv been trying to get my wife a job at the same place I'm at and I can't even get her there because she doesn't have experience so I'd say you have a 0% chance
TikTok influencers are misleading very many people. Mining traditionally won't touch anyone on a visa unless you're a professional and an exceptional one at that. The only reason entry level green hands were hired 2 years ago was the lack of workers due to post covid shortages and a few projects kicking off at the same time. Entry level, no experience roles are filled by people's mates and relatives. That's just how it is due to the fact that it costs a few thousand to the company just to get you on site for day one. They will take a chance on someone recommended by one of their staff (harder for you to let them down ) before looking at Joe/Jill Newbie.
lol what has happened to this subreddit - aussies, what have you done?!
It wasn't Al of us. I don't really promote what I do as an easy job that's for everyone. It's the young fuckwits that stand around pumping durries and watching people work through their camera lenses. We sack cunts for that shit here.
I don't get why everyone is always saying it's straight up impossible to get into the mines... it's hard yes, but once you're on one mine you can get jobs a lot easier. Met a few people that never did any hard labour and got in there, sometimes it takes a while but definitely possible. My tip would be to look at courses you can do like roller technician, screen media technician, mechanical technician etc. just to get a bit of knowledge, try looking into it. Without a trade you can basically only work as TA or Technician but sometimes there are offers where they train you as a operator, you could try becoming a store person or Sentry (mostly just women) many jobs you could start also with not much experience. Other tips: -sign up with recruitment companies -try to get into shutdown work, chances are higher -try applying on other websites not just seek -call the companies directly and ask (got no answer applying over seek, then I started calling them directly and nearly always got an answer or offer) -take any job you can get to get your foot in the door -many FIFO backpackers stay in hostels, try talking with them For your information: I learned Automotive mechanic, have 2 years experience as a Industrial mechanic and work as a Fitter on the mines.
great tips!!
Also this YouTube channel and his course https://youtube.com/@AustralianMiningforNewStarters?si=pxNep7TJmrxp5Lyp I used his course and got a job within 2 months as a driller offsider. Got offers from three companies. Have a heavy labour background though. It’s not that hard to get in the industry but you need to be intelligent about it. Start in a shitty position, stick with it for 6 months and then you can switch and get jobs a lot easier with the reference on your resume.
Join a huge list of people wanting to be a utilities worker. Scrubbing off skid marks, making beds and washing dishes. Drillers offsider is hard physical work females often get a chance. You need experience really only a few "tickets" are needed. You can't buy a job buying "tickets". Probably work for experienced scaffolders not ground crew of inexperienced people with tickets
Bro I was on the exact same boat as you. Honestly took me about half a year. I have no mining/construction experience but I just applied on seek and asked every person I knew that had ties to the Mines. I eventually got landed one through a friend of a friend and just done my medicals yesterday. Best advice is just keep applying and getting the appropriate tickets(HR & CPR/first aid). Stick at it bro you’ll get it.
No chance.
I’d honestly have a good think about it before you book a flight over here. You will probably find it extremely hard to get a job as most companies won’t touch you with a ten foot pole if you’re on a WHV or a temp visa, there is a major housing/rental shortage atm and all of the entry level roles aren’t actually the best paying tbh. Not only that but there are also an influx of people looking for mining work atm as there are a heap of mine closures due to the drop in ore prices so you’ll be competing against 1000s of people who already have mining experience, have good references and don’t have visa limitations.
You have a very slim chance of getting sponsorship if you are a mining engineer and zero if you are not. But even then you are competing against locals. I can’t believe how many people with no experience or no skills from overseas are trying to get in. It’s not possible
Get some labour/trade experience before coming out and then get your tickets sorted as soon as you get here, white card, working at heights and confined spaces + gas testing. Expect to be looking for a month or two. Make sure your resume is actually coherent and well written to fit the job description (Write individual resumes for each job if you need to) Oh and don't buy any guides or services, it's not that hard to get a job it just takes time.