Graduate Programs and Graduate Opportunities

Each year, high profile employers start their recruitment drive for graduate program jobs in January/February/March for the following year (so, if you apply for a job in February/March 2019, you won't start working before January 2020). Make sure to get your application in early and don't miss out on closing dates!

What are graduate opportunities/jobs? Employers target students with high GPAs, well-rounded personalities/profiles and entrepreneurial spirit/leadership skills. The graduate programs develop and support successful applicatiants by mentoring, coaching, leadership development, training and work rotations throughout the organization. It usually takes 12-24 months to complete such a graduate program and you will be paid a graduate salary. It is the aim of the company to "breed" their own talent and offer a full time position after successful completion of the program.

When do I apply? The graduate recruitment drive commences in February each year for jobs starting the following year, so don’t miss out.

Where do I find them?

  • CareerHub
  • Employer Homepages
  • GradAustralia
  • www.unigrad.com.au
  • http://www.graduateopportunities.com/
  • www.getthatgradjob.com.au
  • http://www.graduatejobs.com.au/
  • Our Career Services Facebook page (like it and you will always receive the latest updates on events, jobs and news)
  • Attend employer presentations: Check our events, attend the monthly employer presentations where they discuss graduate jobs and internships, walk up to the presenter at the end of the presentation and say a big thank you. Then ask for their business card and refer to them in your cover letter.

Examples of companies offering graduate programs in 2019/2020:

  • ALDI
  • L.E.K Consulting
  • Thomsons Lawyers
  • Integrated Research
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Origin Energy
  • JDS Australia
  • Jangho Curtain Wall Australia
  • Bloomberg
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Port Jackson Partners
  • Pulse Recruitment
  • Action Coach
  • Partners in Performance
  • IBM
  • All banks: ANZ, Combank, Westpac, Deutsche Bank, Macquarie Group
  • Optiver
  • Meltwater Group
  • Allianz
  • JP Morgan
  • GE
  • NAB
  • Mint Payments
  • NSW Government
  • Australian State and Federal Government (ASIS, APRA, Local Governments, Australian Bureau of Statistics, AusAid, Defence Force, Department of Health and Ageing, NSW Treasury, Roads and Maritime Services, DSEWPaC ...)
  • Cisco
  • Mars Australia
  • Fordham
  • RSM
  • Ericsson
  • SThree PLC
  • Leighton Contractors
  • Xstrata
  • Unilever
  • RAVC
  • KPMG
  • Rio Tinto
  • Virtu Financial
  • ANZ
  • ASIC
  • Woodside
  • Qantas
  • nbn
  • Westpac Group
  • Palantir Technologies
  • Shell and BP
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Mainfreight
  • Stockland
  • Reckitt Benckiser Australia
  • Protiviti
  • Snowy Hydro
  • Teach for Australia
  • Thiess
  • Venture Consulting
  • Lion
  • Big 4: Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, Ernst&Young
  • Australia Post
  • Deloitte
  • ComBank
  • Allianz
  • Capgemini
  • EY
  • Smart Talent Group
  • ...

If you miss out on a graduate program don't worry. Plan B is to focus your attention on winning a regular full time role in your chosen field - the salary might even be slightly higher, yet you won't get a full training/are not bred into a management position straight away. Have a look on our Career Services homepages to find an extensive list of job boards and jobsites:

http://students.mq.edu.au/support/careers_and_empl...

How to prepare for graduate program applications:

Importantly,

- gain industry experience by either working in a casual job or complete a couple of professional internships in your field

- gain overseas experience by going on exchange or working overseas for a short while

- be involved in extracurricular activities (join student societies and groups, coach a team, become a mentor, take up a leadership position in a student or community group, join GLP or 180 degree consulting)

- show your keen interest for your chosen field: write a blog, create your own homepage, create a start-up company, take part in competitions (for example in Univative, which is happening on campus each ear around April)

- prepare a good resume and cover letter (and get it proof-read by us in the Career Centre, C10A (next to STA travel and the accomodation office)

The following forums provide useful insights and handy application tips for Graduate Employment Programs:

  • Topics:
  • Graduate/ Full Time (incl Postgraduates)
  • Job Applications
  • Graduate Programs