How to Apply to First Quantum Minerals

9 min read Last updated April 20, 2026 2 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • First Quantum is a Canadian copper-led major with ~22,000 employees and operations in Zambia, Panama, Spain, Türkiye, and Australia.
  • The Cobre Panama suspension since November 2023 is the dominant strategic and financial issue and shapes every hiring decision.
  • CEO Tristan Pascall (since April 2023) leads a generational transition from founder Phil Pascall, who remained Chairman through 2023.
  • The company raised over $3 billion in 2024 through equity, streaming, strategic equity, and debt to stabilize the balance sheet.
  • ATS is Workday at first-quantum.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com; one profile, tailored applications, exact-keyword resumes win.
  • Site-based roles are FIFO and emerging-market heavy; cultural fit and rotation tolerance are real screens.
  • Copper bull thesis (electrification, EVs, AI data centers) supports the long-term hiring story; nickel and Ravensthorpe are weak.
  • Be candid about Cobre Panama in interviews — recruiters expect informed, honest, ESG-aware candidates.

About First Quantum Minerals

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TSX: FM) is a Canadian copper, nickel, and gold producer headquartered between Toronto and Vancouver, with a globally distributed workforce of roughly 22,000 employees across mine sites in Zambia, Panama, Spain, Türkiye, and Australia. Founded in 1996 by Phil Pascall, First Quantum grew from a single small African operation into one of the world's larger pure-play copper companies, anchored by the Kansanshi and Sentinel mines in Zambia and the world-class Cobre Panama open-pit mine, which at peak produced roughly 1.5% of global copper supply. The company is in the middle of a generational transition. Tristan Pascall — Phil Pascall's son and the former Chief Operating Officer — became Chief Executive Officer in April 2023, with Phil stepping back from day-to-day leadership while remaining a long-influential figure and significant shareholder. The Pascall family and senior management together still hold a meaningful equity stake, which gives First Quantum a more founder-led culture than peers like Freeport-McMoRan, BHP, or Rio Tinto. The defining context for any candidate in 2026 is the Cobre Panama crisis. In November 2023, Panama's Supreme Court ruled the 2023 concession contract unconstitutional, and the government formally ordered the mine closed amid nationwide protests. Cobre Panama was approximately half of First Quantum's revenue and EBITDA, and the share price fell more than 70% from its 2023 highs. The mine has been on care and maintenance since, costing roughly $15 million per month, with a large concentrate inventory still stranded on site. Negotiations with President Jose Raul Mulino's government, which took office in July 2024, have been ongoing into 2025 and 2026, but the timing and shape of any restart remain uncertain. In response, First Quantum executed an aggressive 2024 financing program: a $1 billion equity raise, a $1.6 billion copper streaming deal with Franco-Nevada, roughly $700 million from Jiangxi Copper for a ~13% strategic stake, $500 million in convertible notes, and broader debt refinancing. Capex on growth projects, including the Trident expansion in Zambia, was slowed, and Ravensthorpe in Western Australia was placed on care and maintenance in 2024 as nickel prices collapsed under Indonesian oversupply. The result is a company with strong remaining copper assets, a stretched balance sheet, and a turnaround thesis built around copper's structural demand from electrification, EVs, and AI data centers — alongside the unresolved Panama overhang.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Search openings on careers

    Search openings on careers.first-quantum.com, which routes through First Quantum's Workday tenant (first-quantum.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com).

  2. 2
    Filter by country and operation: Zambia (Kansanshi, Sentinel, Trident), Panama (

    Filter by country and operation: Zambia (Kansanshi, Sentinel, Trident), Panama (Cobre Panama — currently care and maintenance), Spain (Cobre Las Cruces), Türkiye (Çayeli), Australia (Ravensthorpe — suspended), and corporate offices in Toronto, Vancouver, London, and Perth.

  3. 3
    Create a Workday candidate account; reuse the same login across all First Quantu

    Create a Workday candidate account; reuse the same login across all First Quantum requisitions to keep your application history in one place.

  4. 4
    Tailor each application to a single requisition rather than mass-applying; minin

    Tailor each application to a single requisition rather than mass-applying; mining recruiters at FQM scrutinize site fit, FIFO tolerance, and jurisdiction experience.

  5. 5
    For site-based roles, be explicit about your willingness and prior experience wi

    For site-based roles, be explicit about your willingness and prior experience with FIFO rotations from Lima, Lusaka, Panama City, or Perth, and any restrictions (visa, family, medical).

  6. 6
    Expect a recruiter screen within 1-3 weeks for active roles, then technical inte

    Expect a recruiter screen within 1-3 weeks for active roles, then technical interviews with the discipline lead (mining, processing, geology, maintenance, finance).

  7. 7
    Site-based offers typically require pre-employment medicals, drug and alcohol te

    Site-based offers typically require pre-employment medicals, drug and alcohol testing, and country-specific visa or work permit processing that can add 4-12 weeks.

  8. 8
    For Zambian and Panamanian operations, local-hire pathways are preferred where p

    For Zambian and Panamanian operations, local-hire pathways are preferred where possible; expat technical roles require demonstrated specialist skills.

  9. 9
    Corporate roles in Toronto, Vancouver, London, or Perth follow a more convention

    Corporate roles in Toronto, Vancouver, London, or Perth follow a more conventional 3-4 round interview loop with finance, IR, treasury, ESG, or technical services teams.

  10. 10
    Be prepared to discuss the Cobre Panama situation candidly

    Be prepared to discuss the Cobre Panama situation candidly — recruiters expect candidates to have read the company's recent disclosures and quarterly updates.

Resume Tips for First Quantum Minerals

recommended

Lead with copper, nickel, or gold experience; pure base-metals operators are mor

Lead with copper, nickel, or gold experience; pure base-metals operators are more credible to FQM than coal, iron ore, or oil and gas backgrounds.

recommended

Quantify mine output, throughput, recovery, strip ratio, and unit cost (C1, AISC

Quantify mine output, throughput, recovery, strip ratio, and unit cost (C1, AISC) figures — FQM is a cost-disciplined operator and reads these numbers carefully.

recommended

Name specific operations you have worked on (open pit, SAG/ball mill, flotation,

Name specific operations you have worked on (open pit, SAG/ball mill, flotation, hydromet, smelter, refinery) rather than generic 'mining experience'.

recommended

Highlight FIFO, DIDO, or expat rotation experience; specify the rotation pattern

Highlight FIFO, DIDO, or expat rotation experience; specify the rotation pattern (e.g., 8/6, 4/2, 6/2) and the jurisdiction.

recommended

Call out experience in emerging-market jurisdictions — Zambia, Panama, DRC, Peru

Call out experience in emerging-market jurisdictions — Zambia, Panama, DRC, Peru, Chile, Turkey — and any local language ability (Spanish, Bemba, Tonga, Turkish).

recommended

For technical services and engineering roles, list software (Deswik, MineSight,

For technical services and engineering roles, list software (Deswik, MineSight, Vulcan, Surpac, MicroMine, JKSimMet, Limn, Pi, Maximo, SAP) explicitly.

recommended

For corporate finance, treasury, or IR roles, demonstrate familiarity with minin

For corporate finance, treasury, or IR roles, demonstrate familiarity with mining-specific metrics (NAV, P/NAV, EV/EBITDA, reserves and resources, JORC/NI 43-101).

recommended

Include any ESG, tailings, water management, indigenous and community relations,

Include any ESG, tailings, water management, indigenous and community relations, or social license experience — Cobre Panama has made this a top board-level priority.

recommended

Use a clean, single-column, ATS-friendly format that Workday's parser handles cl

Use a clean, single-column, ATS-friendly format that Workday's parser handles cleanly; avoid tables, headers, footers, and graphics.

recommended

Submit as a Word

Submit as a Word .docx or PDF generated from text (not scanned); keep file size under 5 MB.

ATS System: Workday

First Quantum Minerals uses Workday Recruiting (first-quantum.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com) as its applicant tracking system, with the public careers page at careers.first-quantum.com routing into the Workday tenant. Workday is the dominant ATS for global mining majors and parses standard, single-column resumes reliably.

  • Create a single Workday candidate profile and reuse it across all FQM requisitions; a fragmented application history hurts your review.
  • Use exact keywords from the job description in your work history (e.g., 'flotation circuit', 'SAG mill', 'tailings storage facility', 'C1 cash cost').
  • Workday's resume parser maps best to standard section headers: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
  • Avoid tables, multi-column layouts, text boxes, and graphics — Workday strips formatting and may garble the parsed fields.
  • Complete every Workday application section manually after upload; do not rely solely on parser-populated fields.
  • Save your resume as 'FirstName_LastName_Role.pdf' so recruiters can find it easily in the Workday review queue.
  • Set realistic salary expectations in local currency for the operating jurisdiction (USD for Panama and Zambia, AUD for Ravensthorpe, EUR for Spain).
  • Configure Workday job alerts by discipline and country to catch new postings during the post-Panama hiring rebuild.

Interview Culture

First Quantum interviews are direct, technical, and operationally grounded.

The company prides itself on a lean, decisive culture that historically built mines faster and cheaper than the majors, and interviewers tend to mirror that style — less corporate polish, more 'show me what you have actually done on a real site'. Expect early rounds with a recruiter or HR business partner, then a discipline interview with the relevant superintendent, manager, or general manager, and for senior roles a panel that may include a vice president or executive committee member. Site-based candidates are often asked detailed questions about specific equipment (Cat 793 trucks, P&H shovels, ABB GMD mills, Outotec or Metso flotation cells), specific reagents, and specific operational problems — vague answers do not survive. For corporate roles, expect questions about FQM's balance sheet, the Cobre Panama timeline, the 2024 Franco-Nevada streaming deal, and the Jiangxi Copper relationship; candidates who have not read the most recent quarterly results or AGM disclosures stand out poorly. Cultural fit at First Quantum leans practical and results-oriented; the company is less consensus-driven than BHP or Rio Tinto and more comfortable with debate and bluntness. Be prepared to discuss the Panama crisis honestly — recruiters do not expect candidates to whitewash it, and those who can speak credibly about ESG, social license, and government relations score well. Final-stage offers for site-based roles depend on medical clearance, visa or work permit processing, and reference checks that often go to former mine managers in your network.

What First Quantum Minerals Looks For

  • Hands-on operational experience at producing mines, ideally copper or nickel, with quantified results.
  • Comfort with FIFO, DIDO, or expat rotations and emerging-market operating environments.
  • Cost discipline and a track record of meeting or beating budget on production, capex, or unit cost.
  • Technical depth in your discipline — mining engineering, metallurgy, geology, maintenance, or processing.
  • ESG, tailings, water, and community relations literacy, especially after the Cobre Panama experience.
  • Multi-jurisdictional experience and cultural adaptability across Zambia, Panama, Spain, Türkiye, and Australia.
  • Language skills beyond English — Spanish, Bemba, Tonga, Turkish, or Finnish are real assets.
  • For corporate roles, mining-sector financial fluency: NAV, reserves and resources, streaming and royalty structures, project finance.
  • Resilience and pragmatism — the company is in turnaround mode and needs people comfortable with uncertainty.
  • Long-term commitment; FQM invests heavily in training and prefers candidates who plan to build a career at site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is First Quantum still hiring after the Cobre Panama suspension?
Yes, but selectively. Cobre Panama itself is on care and maintenance with a much smaller workforce, and thousands of local Panamanian roles were cut in 2024. Hiring at Kansanshi, Sentinel, and Trident in Zambia continues, as do corporate roles in Toronto, Vancouver, London, and Perth. Expect tighter approval cycles and a stronger preference for clearly value-additive hires while the Panama restart remains unresolved.
What ATS does First Quantum use and how do I apply?
First Quantum uses Workday Recruiting at first-quantum.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com, with the public careers site at careers.first-quantum.com. Create one Workday candidate account, complete your full profile, and apply directly to specific requisitions rather than a generic expression of interest.
Will Cobre Panama restart?
It is genuinely uncertain. Negotiations between First Quantum and the Mulino government have continued into 2025 and 2026, and the company has signaled willingness to restructure the deal, address environmental issues, and increase Panama's share of economic benefits. The mine remains on care and maintenance with a stranded concentrate inventory. Candidates should treat any restart timeline as an open question rather than a planning assumption.
What does FIFO look like at First Quantum?
Rotations vary by site and role. Zambian operations are largely residential or local-hire; expat technical staff typically rotate from Lusaka or international hubs. Panama hires were largely local; expat technical and management staff rotated from Panama City. Ravensthorpe in Western Australia historically operated FIFO from Perth. Discuss the specific rotation with your recruiter early — it is one of the most common reasons offers fall through.
How does First Quantum compare to BHP, Rio Tinto, or Freeport-McMoRan as an employer?
FQM is leaner, more entrepreneurial, and more founder-led. Decisions move faster and there is less corporate process. The trade-off is more concentration risk (one mine, Cobre Panama, was half the business), more emerging-market exposure, and a more austere site experience. Compensation is competitive for technical mining roles but the long-term equity story has been more volatile than the diversified majors.
Is the Pascall family still involved?
Yes. Phil Pascall founded the company in 1996 and was CEO and Chairman for decades; he transitioned the CEO role to his son Tristan Pascall in April 2023 and stepped back from the board. The Pascall family and senior management remain meaningful shareholders, which gives FQM more of a long-term, owner-operator culture than peer companies with diffuse institutional ownership.
What languages do I need?
English is the corporate language. Spanish is highly valuable for Panama and Cobre Las Cruces in Spain. Bemba and Tonga are useful for community-facing roles in Zambia. Turkish helps at Çayeli. Finnish is largely legacy now that Pyhäsalmi is closed. Multilingual candidates with credible mining experience have a clear edge.
What is the work culture like at the mines?
Direct, practical, and operations-first. Site managers expect ownership, decisiveness, and willingness to be on the pit, in the mill, or in the maintenance shop rather than behind a screen. Hours are long during commissioning, ramp-up, or shutdown windows. Camp accommodation varies by site but is generally functional rather than luxurious. People who like neat office environments and short hours typically do not stay.
How are Zambian operations performing?
Kansanshi (copper-gold) and Sentinel (copper) are the production backbone of First Quantum after Cobre Panama. The Trident expansion at Sentinel is being progressed, though some growth capex was deferred during the 2024 financing reset. Zambia under President Hakainde Hichilema has been more constructive on mining investment than the prior administration, which is a tailwind. Operating cost inflation, power supply, and currency volatility remain real risks.
Why was Ravensthorpe placed on care and maintenance?
Nickel prices collapsed in 2023-2024 due to a surge in Indonesian supply, much of it from Tsingshan-related projects. Ravensthorpe, a high-cost laterite operation in Western Australia, became uneconomic and First Quantum suspended operations to preserve cash. Reactivation depends on a sustained nickel price recovery and class 1 nickel demand from EV battery cathodes.
What ESG scrutiny does First Quantum face?
Significant. The Cobre Panama protests and Supreme Court ruling were partly driven by environmental and social opposition, and the broader industry is under increasing pressure on tailings, water, biodiversity, and community consent. First Quantum has committed to GHG reduction targets and improved disclosure, but candidates should expect ESG questions in interviews and should not understate the seriousness of the social license challenge.
What should I read before interviewing?
First Quantum's most recent quarterly results, the latest annual information form, the 2024 financing announcements (Franco-Nevada streaming, Jiangxi Copper equity stake, equity raise), and recent news on Panama negotiations. For technical roles, also review the operations summary for the specific site you are interviewing for, including reserves and resources, throughput, recovery, and unit cost figures.

Open Positions

First Quantum Minerals currently has 2 open positions.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 2 open positions at First Quantum Minerals

Related Resources

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Sources

  1. First Quantum Minerals - Corporate Website —
  2. First Quantum Minerals Careers (Workday) —
  3. First Quantum Minerals - TSX Profile (FM) —
  4. First Quantum Announces Leadership Transition - Tristan Pascall CEO —
  5. Panama Supreme Court Rules Cobre Panama Concession Unconstitutional —
  6. First Quantum Cobre Panama Care and Maintenance Update —
  7. First Quantum Announces $1 Billion Equity Offering (April 2024) —
  8. Franco-Nevada Announces $1.6 Billion Copper Stream with First Quantum —
  9. Jiangxi Copper Strategic Investment in First Quantum —
  10. First Quantum Suspends Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations —
  11. Panama President Mulino on Cobre Panama Negotiations —
  12. Kansanshi and Sentinel Operations Overview - Zambia —
  13. First Quantum Minerals Annual Information Form 2024 —
  14. Copper Demand Outlook - International Energy Agency —
  15. Indonesian Nickel Supply Glut Pressures Global Producers —