Field guide
Resumes for FIFO and roster work in Australia
Roster work applications are screened hard and fast on a short list of facts. Make those facts impossible to miss, and never overstate them — sites verify tickets.
What this work looks like
Most entry points are through contractors rather than the operator whose name is on the gate.
Support roles — cleaning, catering, stores, administration — are genuine ways into site work and are often less contested than operational roles.
Rosters vary widely. Employers want to know which ones you can actually commit to.
Time away from home is the most common reason people leave. Any evidence you have handled it before helps.
Roles people commonly apply for
- Trades assistants and operators
- Mechanical and electrical trades
- Cleaning, catering and camp services
- Stores, logistics and warehousing
- Site administration and coordination
- Shutdown and maintenance crews
What to put in your resume
- Open with a block listing tickets, licences, medicals and inductions, with dates.
- State the rosters you will work: 2/1, 8/6, even time, night shift.
- Name each site and contractor you have worked with. Site names are recognised and carry weight.
- If you have never worked a roster, say what makes you suited to it using real examples, such as long shifts or working away previously.
Confirm these for yourself
We never add a ticket, clearance or qualification to your resume unless you have entered it yourself. These are the ones worth checking before you apply.
- Whether you can pass a pre-employment medical and screening
- Whether your Standard 11 or equivalent induction is current
- Which high-risk work licences you hold and when they expire
- Whether your first aid and CPR are within date
Skills that carry across
- Long shifts and consecutive days
- Living in shared accommodation
- Strict procedure and safety compliance
- Working with rotating crews
- Being away from family