Career-building companies: The best graduate programs to launch your career

I’m a big fan of graduate programs.

I genuinely think they’re one of the best ways to start your career in Australia, especially if you’re early in your career with less than a couple of years of work experience.

Even within My First Australian Offer, helping people get into strong grad programs is one of our biggest focus areas. Last year, we had a dozen students land grad roles with DHL Supply Chain, Deloitte, Incitec, Velrada, Xero, and across ACT, SA, and QLD Government.

The reason I rate grad programs so highly is simple.

First, based on what I hear from our community, people who land grad programs usually have a more diverse and richer first job experience than their peers. A big part of that is cohort. You start with other grads on the same day, you learn together, and you don’t feel like you’re doing it alone.

The second reason is structure.

Most grad programs run for 1-3 years and are designed as fast-tracked career pathways into that company.

You get training, clear development plans, and exposure to different teams, while turning what you learned at Uni into real work.

Many companies also have different rotations where you get to work in different divisions.

Before I share the list, two things to know:

1. This is not a ranking.

2. It’s not exhaustive.

It’s just the list of companies with great grad programs that I know about.

If you find a grad program, you’re eligible for, apply, even if it’s not on this list.

1. CAPGEMINI AUSTRALIA

Capgemini is a global consulting, technology and digital transformation company. They work with governments and businesses on IT systems, cloud, data, cybersecurity, and business transformation.

Their grad program is built for people from a wide range of degrees. Business, IT, engineering, science, arts, commerce, maths. There isn’t one “perfect” background. If your degree connects to problem-solving, technology, or business, you’re in scope.

The program itself is structured, and what I like about it is that it’s designed for beginners. You get formal training, clear development plans, and real project work across areas like consulting, software, data, business analysis and transformation.

Some grads rotate, others stay in a stream, but everyone works on real client or internal projects.

Capgemini is open to international students with work rights, which already makes them more accessible than a lot of big programs.

It’s also consistently rated highly by students and grads, which usually says more about the learning and support than just the logo.

2. SUNCORP

Suncorp runs a two-year graduate program built around rotations.

You move across different teams and functions, including banking, insurance, risk, data, tech, customer, and strategy, so you actually get to see how a big organisation works from the inside.

The idea is that by the end of two years, you’re not guessing. You know what you like and what you’re good at.

People often praise Suncorp’s culture, especially the flexible work, focus on wellbeing, and a grad cohort that feels more like a team than a competition.

They recruit grads across multiple states, including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, across a wide range of disciplines, and are open to international students with work rights.

3. AECOM

This is for graduates who’re into engineering, environment, and infrastructure. AECOM works on some of the biggest projects in Australia. Transport, roads, rail, airports, water, buildings, cities, sustainability.

The program is structured, and practical. You’re paired with experienced engineers and specialists, you get mentoring, technical training, and support, but you’re also expected to learn by doing.

They hire across a wide range of disciplines including civil, mechanical, electrical, environmental engineering, planning, digital engineering, landscape architecture, project management, sustainability, and more. If your degree is tied to how cities, infrastructure, or the environment works, there’s probably a pathway for you here.

Graduates often talk about the learning curve being steep, but in a good way. You’re surrounded by people who are really good at what they do, and you get to learn directly from them.

AECOM also hires across multiple states and cities and is open to international students with work rights.

4. AURECON

Similar to AECOM, the Aurecon graduate program is also for graduates who’re from engineering, design, infrastructure, and environment-focused backgrounds.

Aurecon works across transport, buildings, water, energy, sustainability, and digital solutions. They hire across a wide range of disciplines including civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, environmental, digital, advisory, sustainability and more.

It’s a good fit if you know you want to be in this space, but you’re still figuring out exactly where you belong.

Graduates often talk about the culture being supportive but challenging. You’re backed, but you’re also pushed to grow. You’re encouraged to ask questions, but also to step up when it matters.

If you want your first job to be technical, meaningful, and connected to real-world impact, Aurecon can be the kind of place that shapes you how to think about your career from day one.

5. REA GROUP

The REA Group Grad Program is named in the Top Small Graduate Program Employers list, which means their intake is usually under 20, but their intake is small by design.

They run three focused programs:

• Software and Engineering, for grads from computer science, IT, engineering, data and tech backgrounds.

• Marketing, for people from marketing, media, comms, business or creative degrees.

• Finance, for accounting, finance, commerce and economics grads.

Because the program is small, you get exposure to senior people much earlier than in most grad programs. You see how decisions are made, how products are built, and how teams actually work.

If you’re into tech, product, marketing or finance and don’t want to disappear in a huge grad intake, REA Group is one of the best programs to aim for.

6. XERO

Xero builds accounting and business software for small businesses. As someone who uses their accounting product to manage invoices, payroll, expenses, and day-to-day money stuff, I have to say I’m a little biased towards them.

Naturally, their grad program is very tech and product led.

It’s mainly for people in software engineering, data, product, design, and analytical degrees. If you like building things, improving systems, or working on digital products, this is the space Xero plays in.

Their program is one year long, and you come in as a full-time employee. What I like about Xero is that you’re doing the work from day 1.

People who’ve been through it often say it’s a place where you’re allowed to be new, ask questions, and grow without feeling stupid for not knowing everything.

If you’re into tech, product, data or design and you want your first job to feel cool, practical, and built around learning, Xero could be that company.

7. ALLENS

Allens was named Australian Law Firm of the Year in 2023, which already tells you a lot about the kind of place it is to start your career.

This one is for graduates who’re in law and want to start in commercial legal practice.

Allens works on major deals, big disputes, and complex commercial matters. As a grad, you’re not doing practice cases. You’re working on real matters with real clients, alongside senior lawyers who expect you to learn fast.

Their graduate program usually runs for two years. You rotate across different practice areas so you can figure out what kind of law you actually enjoy before you specialise.

People who go through Allens often talk about the quality of work they get early and how steep the learning curve is. It’s demanding, but it builds very strong foundations.

They hire across major cities and are open to graduates with work rights, including international students who are eligible to work in Australia.

If rankings matter to you, Allens was ranked #1 for intern programs in law, and #6 overall in 2023 by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers (AAGE)

8. BDO AUSTRALIA

This one is for graduates who’re into accounting, audit, tax, advisory, or business services.

BDO is a large mid-tier firm, which usually means you get real responsibility earlier than in the biggest firms. You’re not just watching seniors work. You’re helping on real client jobs, learning how businesses actually run, and slowly taking on more complex work.

Their grad program puts you straight into teams.

What people often say about BDO is that it feels more personal. Teams are smaller, partners are more accessible, and you don’t feel as invisible as you might in a huge firm.

They hire across different cities, across business and commerce-type degrees, and are open to graduates with work rights, including international students.

9. DHL SUPPLY CHAIN

DHL is one of the biggest logistics and supply chain companies in the world.

The program usually runs for about 2 years and is built around rotations. You move across different parts of the business, like operations, planning, process improvement and customer teams, so you understand how the whole supply chain fits together.

They hire from a wide range of degrees, especially business, logistics, engineering, commerce and data, and are open to grads with work rights, including international students.

What I hear most from students who are currently a part of this grad program is that it makes work feel real very quickly. You see how products move, how delays happen, how costs are managed, and how small improvements can make a big difference.

Even though the reviews online are mostly mixed, I have heard good things about them which is why you find this name here on my list.

10. KPMG AUSTRALIA

Applications for KPMG’s Graduate Program will open 16 February.

This one is for graduates who’re into consulting, business, finance, risk, tax, and tech, and want a structured path into professional services.

You already know this, but KPMG is one of the Big Four firms, working across audit, tax, advisory, deals, risk, and technology. As a grad, you’re working on real client engagements and learning how businesses actually make decisions.

Their grad program runs for around two years and is split into streams like Audit, Tax, Advisory, Deal Advisory, and Technology & Transformation. You choose a stream based on what you’re interested in, and then build depth in that area while still getting exposure to different clients and projects.

KPMG grad program does accept international students, so yes, you should definitely apply for this one.