Top 5 best graduate employers in Australia (and why)
Where do graduates in Australia want to work right now? And what makes these companies so attractive to students and entry level candidates? By analysing data from the GradConnection website, we’ve identified where the strongest job opportunities are, which industries are most popular with young employees and students, and which companies they are most interested in working with once graduated.
The Top 100 Graduate Employers 2019 guide is a joint production of GradConnection and The Australian Financial Review that delves into these questions, and provides Australian graduates with an insight into what working at these top companies might be like, from graduate programs to workplace culture and values. Based on these findings, here are the top 5 best places for graduates to work in Australia right now:
5. KPMG
Industry: Management consulting
KPMG is a highly trusted and respected global professional services firm with over 162,000 people over more than 155 countries. As a leading provider of advisory, audit and tax services, KPMG helps organisations build, protect and realise their business goals.
With more than 30 practice areas and thousands of clients, KPMG offers an endless range of career options for its employees. Whether you’re working in Advisory, Audit & Assurance, Tax or Enterprise, you'll be mixing with some of the brightest minds in the industry, while working on major commercial projects with some of the nation's top companies.
The KPMG graduate program provides ongoing training, structured development programs and a dedicated mentor. KPMG doesn’t believe in putting parameters on qualifications or degree disciplines, recognising that future leaders can come from anywhere. You’ll be given the chance to discover which area of practice within KPMG you’re most passionate about, helping you shape the career pathway you want. Want to give back to your community? Corporate Citizenship programs give you the opportunity to use your skills for the benefit of others.
With such a wide variety of interesting clients and unique business problems, no day at KPMG is likely to be the same. The company encourages a collaborative culture with a focus on the wellbeing of employees, providing agile work environments and flexible working options.
Australian offices: Adelaide, Brisbane, Bundall, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Karratha, Launceston, Melbourne, Parramtta, Pentrith, Perth, Sydney and Wollongong.
4. NSW Government
Industry: State government services
Working at Australia's largest employer, the NSW Government, you’ll have the chance to help transform the future of NSW.
With three six-month rotations across government agencies, the NSW Government graduate programs offer diverse, in-depth experiences that allow you to build your skills and shape your own career, regardless of what degree you studied.
You can expect to be exposed to a range of different functional areas of interest within different government agencies. You will have a personal mentor and executive sponsor, and will be given a range of opportunities to develop your professional network. Graduates who successfully complete the program will be offered a permanent position with the NSW Government. For the 2020 program, graduates can apply for two streams: The Primary Stream and a new Legal Stream. The NSW Public Sector is dedicated to building a culturally diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace, and people from Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, and underrepresented groups such as people with a disability, are encouraged to apply.
Australian offices: Throughout New South Wales.
3. IBM
Industry: Information Technology
IBM is an information technology company with over 380,000 employees in 175 countries, and a long history of innovation. In today’s era of digitally driven business, IBM is helping to transform industries through their expertise in Cloud, Analytics, Security, Mobile, and the Internet of Things.
Whether it’s helping doctors diagnose disease, using AI to predict the latest fashion trends, or creating better government services for citizens, working at IBM will put you at the forefront of innovation, technology and human centric design thinking.
IBM Australia was awarded most popular ‘Large’ Technology Employer Award by Gradconnection for 2017, and continues to provide an excellent range of learning opportunities, inclusion and diversity practices, and ongoing mentoring for its employees, all in a flexible work environment.
Startwise is IBM’s official 1 year graduate program, tailored to provide support in all aspects of your professional and personal development. The program includes monthly connect sessions to develop your soft skills, a mentor program to help connect you with leaders around the business, and a ‘Communicating with Impact’ training course to sharpen those vital verbal skills.
Australian offices: Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Bathurst, Adelaide, Perth, Ballarat and Brisbane.
2. PWC
Industry: Management consulting
With a global network across 158 countries, PwC is one of Australia’s leading professional services firms, helping Australian businesses, not-for-profit and government organisations assess their performance and improve the way they work. As an employee of PWC, you’ll join a collaborative and innovative community working in Assurance, Consulting Deals, Infrastructure & Urban Renewal, Private Clients, Tax, Technology, and Legal.
From creating smarter cities to digitising healthcare systems, working at PWC gives you the chance to make a difference. PwC is known for offering flexible working and generous benefits to its more than 8,000 national employees, and for putting a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion in its business practices.
PWC provides a structured graduate program where you’ll receive technical and professional training and development to fast track your future progression within the firm. You can also apply for the PWC vacation program, a 3-8 week program for students in their penultimate year (2nd last year), where you will work as an intern on client engagements, attend networking events and contribute to a community service project.
In addition, PWC offers a unique 3 year trainee program that will give you real paid work experience whilst completing your degree. Starting in either your second year of a single degree or your third year of a double degree, you’ll work full time and study part time for two years. Even better, many trainees are offered full time graduate positions to return to once completing their degrees.
Australian offices: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney.
1. Deloitte
Industry: Management consulting
From cyber security and tech innovation through to accounting and advisory, Deloitte Australia is focused on building industries of the future - and making an impact. As GradConnection’s #1 Graduate Employer, the company offers world-class summer vacation and graduate programs that provide an excellent balance of challenging work, variety, responsibility and training.
Deloitte Australia is part of the global management consultancy firm Deloitte and one of the world’s Big Four accountancy firms, along with PWC, KPMG, and Ernst & Young. With approximately 6,000 staff across Australia, the company’s vision is to be “the most inspiring firm to work with - for its people, its clients and its communities. ”The company has a strong focus on innovative human resources programs, and was named 6th Most Innovative Company in Australia last year by the Australian Financial Review.
From working with clients such as Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and not-for-profits to participating in hackathons, you’ll be learning valuable skills from day one - plus have the opportunity to travel interstate for work.
Deloitte's graduate program, D.Academy, is one of the most awarded and highly-regarded graduate programs in the country. As a part of this program, you’ll receive ongoing support to develop your career through mentorships, pursue further study, and get your career off to a great start. You’ll also be a part of one of the largest cohorts of graduates in Australia - so you’ll meet lots of other students while you’re at it!
Deloitte’s Summer Vacation program is a 3-8 weeks paid internship, where you can expect to work on real client projects and build up your skill-set for a killer resume at the end.
Australian offices: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Fullarton, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Opportunities at every turn
To find the best jobs and roles for recent graduates, it’s important to do your research, think about your career goals, and decide what kind of culture and opportunities you’re looking for before you apply for a graduate program or entry level job.
To stay up to date with graduate programs, internships and job, register for your free account on GradConnection today, and check out our Top 100 Graduate Employers list for more insights.