Spencer Ogden Graduate Programs

Spencer Ogden is an award-winning recruiter in the energy and infrastructure market. As global recruitment experts in energy and infrastructure we are continuously working to create careers to power a sustainable future for our clients and candidates.

We deliver within renewable energy, oil and gas, power and utilities and built environment, operating at every stage of the project life cycle. It’s our mission to create a dynamic and sustainable legacy in the ever-changing landscapes we cover.

With offices globally across APAC, Americas and EMEA, we’re at the heart of industry growth, keeping pace with changing technologies and building strong, long-lasting relationships along the way.

Why Work for Us?

Spencer Ogden have been setting the PACE since 2010, with our core values (People, Accountability, Collaboration and Excellence) guiding us to become the high performing business we are today. The rapid growth we have seen is a result of us being a people-orientated business. We have created an environment where the development and wellbeing of our people is at the forefront of our goals. 

For graduates who are interested in joining Spencer Ogden, you can feel confident that our dynamic and award-winning training programmes will help you grow and achieve success at each step of your career. From entry level through to directorship, every employee at Spencer Ogden is given the support and freedom to thrive.

Why Spencer Ogden?

As global recruitment experts in energy and infrastructure we are continuously working to create careers to power a sustainable future for our clients and candidates. It’s our mission to create a dynamic and sustainable legacy in the ever-changing landscapes we cover. With technology at the heart of the process, from financing to operational execution, we break new ground at every stage of the project life cycle.

Our consultants are experts across oil and gas, power and utilities, built environment and renewable energy, leading the market when it comes to placing talent where it’s needed. With 13 offices globally across EMEA, Americas and APAC, we’re at the heart of industry growth, keeping pace with changing technologies and building strong, long-lasting relationships along the way.

Your Career with Us

Spencer Ogden offers unparalleled progression opportunities. Here at Spencer Ogden, our senior management actively encourage talented staff to seek out promotion. From the beginning, you will understand how you can progress within our business and all of our available opportunities. Everyone is provided with a transparent career framework and associated development plan that clearly outlines what you need to do in order to achieve your next promotion and pay rise and where you can increase your responsibilities. Spencer Ogden offers a world-class learning and development program that supports the advancement and growth of employees by aligning our training programs at each level of employment. The visible framework has allowed staff at all levels to eventually lead their own departments, teams, and functions in many of our offices worldwide.

Your Learning and Development with Us

Learning and development is at the heart of everything that we do at Spencer Ogden. To help your potential, we have a team of experienced in-house trainers to support your journey and growth with us. This team has a combination of 50 years’ industry experience and are regionally based to provide the local support you need. Our world-class training programs consist of a blend of development initiatives, including our global e-learning platform, the Pod, modulated classroom training, mentor support, skills assessments and dedicated coaching from the L&D team.

Life at SO is more than recruitment

Our vibrant culture is a crucial aspect to our success and while we do work hard, we also know how to have fun along the way. Our ability to be truly international by offering our clients and candidates a global service is crucial to our business. We believe that providing our staff with an inspiring and invigorating environment supports the work they provide.

It is this innovative culture and way of thinking that has got this company where it is today. To find out what it’s like to work at Spencer Ogden, search the #LifeatSO and check us out on social media.

Going beyond your technical skills and what is on your cv/resume, we want to help you to better understand your soft skills and identify what makes you unique, which will in turn help you in your career evolution and mobility.

To do this we use the AssessFirst assessment tool, where we'll ask you to complete the 'Shape' and 'Drive' tests as part of your application. We ask that you take the time to complete this within 24 hours of your application. Following competition you will receive a full report on your results. 

Will Crean, Recruitment Consultant in Melbourne

• Awards: Consultant of the Month May 2021, PACE Champion 2021
• Placed his first candidate within 24 days of starting at SO

“I was fortunate enough to be involved in one of the first virtual SO Academies and utilised the training and support to up-skill quickly. The culture at Spencer Ogden is very engaging I love the sense of achievement I get every time I help a client or candidate. My work is especially rewarding given the impact my sector in Environment and Infrastructure has on the world.”

Elena Cardaci, Recruitment Consultant in Perth 

• Joined Spencer Ogden in April 2021
• Won Rookie of the Year Award 2021

"Throughout your journey at SO you are provided with ongoing training to assist in your development, both as a recruiter and as a person. In my first 3 months, I was in a two-week Academy Training Program to advance my skills and build my confidence. Since then, with the support of my team and Country Director, we have established a clear development plan where measurable goals are set. I am challenged every day and use this as an opportunity to continue improving my knowledge and skills."

Jade Tomlinson, Manager in Perth 

• Promoted to Manager in December 2021 
• Awarded APAC Rising Star 2018 and Australian Leader of the Year 2021 

"In my position, I'm responsible for managing and contributing to the sales budget, onboarding graduate consultants, and developing new business in our key sectors - it's extremely rewarding to see the team kicking goals month in month out! The support I’ve had from my managers, as well as the award-wining training I’ve received, has given me the knowledge and skills I needed to push my career forward. "

Tom Reid, APAC Regional Director and Board Director

• Progressed from London graduate to APAC Director within seven years
• Highest billing year as a consultant £1.25million

“I joined SO because I wanted the chance of building a career. So far I’m progressing as I hoped, having already achieved two promotions to date. As a Manager at SO, I am required to lead by example, manage budgets, actively assist in the achievement of team targets, whilst identifying opportunities that can further develop our junior members of staff. It’s also a fulfilling experience when I can help bring on new business for my team and SO."

Meet Lillie Wright

Meet Lillie Wright, Senior Recruitment Consultant from our Perth office. Lillie started working at SO in September 2020, so has just celebrated her 1-year anniversary with us! Keep reading to learn about her SO journey and to find out what her top tips for someone considering a career in recruitment would be.

What initially attracted you to recruitment and why did you choose to work at SO?

It seemed like a fun and fast paced environment, with lots of incentives and goals to work towards. There was also a clear path for progression laid out to you which I liked. I had worked in recruitment previously but the main reason I decided to join SO, aside from the culture, was that I had the opportunity to progress quickly.

How did you achieve the recent promotion to Senior Consultant? Is there any advice you can offer to consultants looking to take the next step in their career?

I achieved my recent promotion by creating strong relationships with clients and candidates, using any information I was given to become an expert in my market. I kept myself motivated by focusing on weekly and monthly targets to hold myself accountable and set short- and long-term goals with my manager.

How has your manager helped you achieve this promotion?

As mentioned, Jade has supported me throughout my career by helping me address any weaknesses so that I could refine my processes and become better at recruiting! We work together to set weekly goals, as well as personal development goals which can be more long term. Jade is also a great role model and inspires the team to do their best.

What training has SO offered you to support your personal growth to date?

When I joined SO I went through the graduate academy to learn about best practices. Every agency is different, so it was important to refine the techniques I had picked up in my first role. Following that I have worked closely with Jade to build my skills and take part in monthly office wide training sessions.

Recruitment has its challenges - how do you stay motivated?

Having clear goals is the biggest thing that motivates me. If these are measurable you can break them down into small tasks, which helps a lot. Another great thing about recruitment is that you are rewarded for the work you put in.

What are your top 3 tips for a graduate considering a career in recruitment?

My tips for anyone joining would be:

1. Trust the process! Remember why you chose to do recruitment and don’t give up as soon as things get hard, it will pay off after 6-12 months
2. Find your niche. The more specialised you are, the smarter you can work which helps you to become a real specialist in your market
3. Have fun and enjoy all the benefits that recruitment has to offer e.g., lunch club, incentives, flexible work 

Meet Jade Tomlinson

Meet Team Leader, Jade Tomlinson from our Perth office. Jade started working at SO in July 2017 and has become a mentor to her team, making herself available to support and advise them when they need it most. Keeping reading to learn about her SO journey and to find out what her top tips for someone considering a career in recruitment would be.

What initially attracted you to recruitment and why did you choose to work at SO?

I was initially attracted to recruitment due after studying Human Resources at University. When I met the team at SO I was excited by the culture, career development and earning potential that was on offer!

How did you achieve the recent promotion to Team Leader? Is there any advice you can offer to consultants looking to take the next step in their career?

I was promoted to Team Leader in June 2020. In my position, I'm responsible for managing and contributing to a sales budget, onboarding graduate consultants, and developing new business in our key sectors - it's extremely rewarding to see the team kicking goals month in month out! My advice to consultants looking to take their next step is to continue pushing themselves out of their comfort zone at every opportunity!

How has your manager helped you achieve this promotion?

I've had support from a few different managers during my time at SO. Each one of them has provided something different, giving me the knowledge I needed to push my career forward and the opportunity to develop my own leadership style.

What training has SO offered you to support your personal growth to date?

I think I've almost conquered them all! As a Trainee I went through the Graduate Academy, as a Senior Consultant I received Maximising Mentorship and Emerging Leaders and more recently as a Team Leader I received the High Performing Leaders training.

Recruitment has its challenges - how do you stay motivated?

Recruitment has its ups and downs. I don't get caught up on the small details and try to keep my mind on the bigger picture, whether it be looking at my performance for that specific month, quarter, or year!

What are your top 3 tips for a graduate considering a career in recruitment?

1. Stay resilient - the first 6-12 months are the hardest so stick it out!
2. Be curious - information is the key to success in recruitment, learn as much as you can from everyone around you!
3. Have fun along the way!

Over the past 11 years, Spencer Ogden has had a positive mark on many people's lives, providing energy to people all around the world. Our corporate purpose is “Creating Careers to Power a Sustainable Future”. As part of our commitment to “Power a Sustainable Future” we have launched ongoing partnerships with Seven Clean Seas and Cool Earth. 

Spencer Ogden CEO, Bradley Lewington

“As part of our commitment to creating careers to power a sustainable future, we have rolled out a number of global and local initiatives which focus on protecting and restoring our natural environment. Seven Clean Seas is a fantastic charity we have worked with before on their beach cleans from our Singapore office. 

So, together with continuing the local volunteering programmes and fundraising initiatives, I’m pleased to announce an ongoing partnership that ties each placement we make as a business to the fight against the problem of plastic in our Oceans.”

Spencer Ogden x Cool Earth 

Last year we decided to partner with Cool Earth, a charity that works alongside rainforest communities to stop deforestation and its impact on climate change. Cool Earth investigates the most effective conservation methods from around the world and invests in those with the potential for best outcomes. With 'People' being the first of our core values, we have pledged that for every PACE recognition someone gives to a fellow employee, we will donate £3 to Cool Earth.  

Spencer Ogden x Seven Clean Seas 

Seven Clean Seas is a charity which we have close ties to via our Singapore office and their past volunteering initiatives. In 2018 Seven Clean Seas started as a beach clean-up community based in Singapore. They now organise regular international beach clean ups, hold talks to help fellow ocean lovers all over the world and are currently piloting pioneering ocean and river cleaning technologies via innovative floatation crafts. 

At Spencer Ogden we recognise that it is up to each one of us to restore our earth, not just because we care but because it’s the environment in which we all live and have a responsibility for. We’ve made a commitment to help fight the ocean plastic pollution crisis through plastic offsetting. For every successful candidate placed into a job, Seven Clean Seas will remove 1kg of plastic from the ocean. 

Making a positive impact. 

The energy landscape is changing and it's important for us as a business to have a positive impact on the environment in which we work. At Spencer Ogden, you’re given a real chance to make a positive impact on people’s lives through charity work. Our company holds a number of key events where everyone is given the opportunity to get involved, included fun runs, bake sales, and dress up days.  

Spencer Ogden also offers “Volunteer Days”, where you are entitled to take four paid volunteering with a charity of your choice. This is in addition to your contract holiday allowance. 

At Spencer Ogden, we recognise that people are at the heart of what we do and are key to our success. Our benefits are designed to help our employees learn, work and live well. Here are some of the fantastic benefits we have to offer. 

Agile working 

Whether you're an early bird or prefer to start work that little bit later, we give you the freedom to decide. 

Dress for your day 

At SO we have a ‘dress for your day’ policy, which lets you choose what you wear to work each day based on your own schedule. 

Holiday allowance 

Taking time off work is important. Receive an additional days holiday for every year of service up to 5 years. 

Learning and development 

We want SO to be a place where our employees are given the chance to develop. As well as our award-winning training programme, you’ll have access to our learning community, the POD, which offers talks, workshops and online learning so you can thrive in your chosen role. 

Fridays 

Fridays at SO are our favourite day of the week. This is when we like to reward our employees for their hard work by finishing at 3pm. This gives you a few extra hours on your weekend to enjoy yourselves. 

Birthdays off 

We believe everyone should be able to spend their special day however they like. Enjoy an extra day off on top of your holiday allowance. 

Fresh fruit 

Help yourself to a ready supply of fresh fruit, plus an array of teas and coffee throughout the day! 

Volunteer days 

Receive 4 paid volunteering days a year, which you can use to support a charity of your choice. 

Incentives and socials 

We offer a wide variety of social events, from our annual summer parties and getaways to regular socials and adventurous activities.  

Plus, plenty more benefits depending on which office you're based in.