A FIFO resume is not the same as a normal resume. What works for an office job in the city will get you auto-rejected from a mining role before a human ever reads it. The big mining companies — BHP, Rio Tinto, FMG, Woodside — all run your resume through ATS software that scans for specific keywords, formats, and sections. If yours doesn't match, it goes straight in the bin.
This guide covers exactly what mining recruiters want to see, the sections your resume needs, common mistakes that kill applications, and real example bullet points for popular FIFO roles.
What Makes a FIFO Resume Different
Standard resume advice tells you to keep it to one page, use a creative design, and lead with your education. In mining, that's all wrong.
A FIFO resume needs to:
- Be 2-3 pages — Mining recruiters expect detail. One page looks like you're hiding something.
- Use plain formatting — No tables, columns, headers/footers, or graphics. ATS software can't read them.
- Lead with tickets and licences — Your certifications matter more than your university degree.
- Include a safety record — Companies want to know your LTI (Lost Time Injury) record.
- Use mining-specific language — "Conducted pre-start inspections" beats "checked equipment."
Key Sections Every FIFO Resume Needs
1. Professional Summary (3-4 lines)
This is your pitch. Tell them who you are, what you do, and why you're worth interviewing. Keep it specific to the role you're applying for.
Good example (HD Mechanic):
Results-driven Heavy Duty Mechanic with 8+ years' experience maintaining CAT, Komatsu, and Liebherr heavy mobile equipment across Pilbara iron ore operations. Zero LTI record across 4,000+ hours. Experienced with 2/1 and 8/6 FIFO rosters. Committed to safety-first maintenance practices and maximising equipment availability.
Bad example:
Experienced mechanic looking for work. I am hardworking and reliable with good attention to detail. Available immediately.
See the difference? The first one has keywords (CAT, Komatsu, Liebherr, LTI, Pilbara, FIFO), quantified experience, and industry-specific language. The second could be anyone applying for anything.
2. Tickets and Licences
Put this right after your summary. List every current certification with the issuing body and expiry date. Mining recruiters look here first.
Format:
- HR Licence (MRWA) — Exp. 03/2029
- Working at Heights (RIIWHS204E) — Exp. 11/2027
- Confined Space (RIIWHS202E) — Exp. 11/2027
- First Aid / CPR (HLTAID011) — Exp. 06/2028
- White Card (CPCCWHS1001) — No expiry
- Gas Test Atmospheres — Exp. 02/2028
- Dangerous Goods Awareness — Exp. 08/2027
3. Safety Record
This section is unique to mining and resources. Include:
- Total years in mining/resources
- LTI record (ideally "Zero LTIs across X years/hours")
- Any safety awards or recognition
- Safety training beyond basic requirements
4. Work Experience
This is where most people go wrong. Your experience section needs to:
- List the site name, company, and location — "BHP Newman Hub, Programmed, WA" not just "Mining company"
- Include the roster — "2/1 FIFO roster, 12-hour day/night shifts"
- Use bullet points with action verbs — Start each point with what you did, not what your job description said
- Quantify everything — Hours, numbers of equipment, team size, turnaround times
5. Key Skills / Core Competencies
A short list of 8-12 relevant skills. This is where you can naturally include ATS keywords:
- Preventative and breakdown maintenance
- Heavy mobile equipment (CAT, Komatsu, Hitachi)
- Pre-start and safety inspections
- Isolation and LOTO procedures
- JHA/SWMS compliance
- Workshop and field maintenance
- Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Fault diagnosis and troubleshooting
Common Mistakes That Kill FIFO Applications
1. Using Tables and Columns
This is the number one resume killer in mining. ATS software reads left to right, top to bottom. If you use a two-column layout, the system reads across both columns as a single line, turning your resume into gibberish. Use a single-column layout. Always.
2. Missing Certifications
If the job ad lists "Working at Heights" as essential and you don't have it on your resume, the ATS will score you down — even if you actually have the ticket. Don't make recruiters guess. List everything.
3. Generic Bullet Points
"Responsible for maintenance of equipment" tells a recruiter nothing. Instead:
- "Performed scheduled and breakdown maintenance on a fleet of 12 CAT 789D haul trucks, maintaining 92% equipment availability"
That tells them what equipment, how many, and what result you achieved.
4. Wrong File Format
Submit as a .docx unless the ad specifically says PDF. Most ATS systems parse .docx files better. If they want PDF, make sure it's a text-based PDF (not a scanned image).
5. No Keywords From the Job Ad
Every job ad contains the keywords the ATS is looking for. If the ad says "preventative maintenance on heavy mobile equipment," your resume needs those exact words — not "fixed big trucks."
ATS Keywords That Matter for Mining Roles
Here are keywords that appear in most mining job ads, grouped by category. Include the ones relevant to your role:
Safety: LTI, safety compliance, JHA, SWMS, toolbox talks, Take 5, pre-start inspections, hazard identification, incident reporting, isolation procedures, LOTO, risk assessment
Equipment (use specific models): CAT 793/789/777, Komatsu PC series, Liebherr T264, Hitachi EX series, Sandvik, Epiroc, Atlas Copco
Maintenance: Preventative maintenance, breakdown maintenance, scheduled servicing, fault diagnosis, hydraulic systems, component changeout, condition monitoring
Operations: Production targets, shift handover, equipment operation, GPS machine guidance, loading and hauling, drill and blast
General: FIFO, roster (specify type), mine site, Pilbara, Goldfields, iron ore, gold, lithium, nickel, coal
Example Bullet Points by Role
Boilermaker
- Fabricated and repaired structural steel components on crusher and conveyor systems at Rio Tinto's Brockman 4 mine
- Performed FCAW and MMAW welding on heavy mobile equipment including CAT 793F dump bodies and Komatsu PC4000 buckets
- Completed all work in accordance with AS/NZS welding standards and site SWMS
Electrician
- Installed and maintained HV and LV electrical systems across fixed plant and mobile equipment at FMG's Christmas Creek operation
- Diagnosed and rectified faults on PLC-controlled conveyor and crushing circuits, reducing unplanned downtime by 15%
- Performed isolation and testing procedures in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 and site electrical safety standards
Operator (Haul Truck)
- Operated CAT 793F and Komatsu 930E haul trucks across day and night shifts on a 2/1 FIFO roster
- Consistently met or exceeded production targets of 180+ loads per shift with zero safety incidents
- Conducted thorough pre-start inspections and reported defects via site maintenance management system
Fitter
- Performed preventative and breakdown maintenance on a fleet of heavy mobile equipment including CAT 789D, Komatsu PC5500, and Liebherr T284
- Completed component changeouts (engines, transmissions, final drives) within planned shutdown timeframes
- Maintained detailed maintenance records in SAP and participated in daily toolbox talks and JHA reviews
Process Technician
- Monitored and operated crushing, screening, and beneficiation circuits at BHP's Jimblebar processing plant
- Adjusted plant parameters to maintain throughput targets of 2,400 tph while optimising product quality
- Responded to process alarms, conducted plant inspections, and performed basic mechanical adjustments
How to Structure Your Resume for Maximum Impact
Here's the order that works best for FIFO roles:
- Contact Details — Name, phone, email, location (suburb and state is enough)
- Professional Summary — 3-4 lines, role-specific
- Tickets and Licences — Every current certification
- Safety Record — LTI history and safety training
- Key Skills — 8-12 bullet points
- Work Experience — Most recent first, with site names and rosters
- Education and Training — Trade qualification, apprenticeship details
- References — "Available on request" is fine
The Importance of Quantifying Achievements
Recruiters skim. They don't read every word — they scan for numbers, equipment types, and results. Make their job easy.
Instead of: "Maintained equipment to a high standard" Write: "Maintained a fleet of 8 Komatsu PC4000 excavators with 94% availability rate across FY25"
Instead of: "Helped reduce downtime" Write: "Reduced unplanned downtime by 22% through implementation of predictive maintenance scheduling on CAT 793F haul truck fleet"
Numbers and specifics make you real. Generic statements make you forgettable.
Don't Let ATS Be the Reason You Miss Out
You could be the best mechanic, operator, or boilermaker on site — but if your resume doesn't get past the ATS, none of that matters. Mining companies receive hundreds of applications per role. The ATS filters out 75% before a human even looks.
The difference between getting an interview and getting auto-rejected often comes down to formatting and keywords. Not skills. Not experience. Just whether your resume speaks the same language as the software.
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