GHD ranks among the top graduate employers, providing increased opportunities during COVID-19

During a time of uncertainty for graduates entering the workforce, GHD has welcomed more than 170 graduates across Australia, and been acknowledged as one of the country’s most sought after graduate employers in two national rankings for 2021.

In GradAustralia’s Top 100 (published in the The Australian newspaper) GHD ranked #2 in engineering consulting and #24 overall, up from #41 last year. In GradConnection’s Top 100 (published in the The Australian Financial Review) GHD ranked #5 in the engineering and resources category and #39 overall.

The GradAustralia ranking is based on a survey of university students who nominated the organisation that has the most appeal to them as a graduate employer. Similarly, the GradConnection list is based on the engagement time of 70,385 unique users of its website – who are mostly students finishing university degrees.

Victoria graduate cohort

Graduates during a virtual kick-off session

“We have long been committed to empowering, growing and retaining the future talent of our industry – and this hasn’t changed despite the challenges we have faced during 2020. And while some industries have forecasted a fall in graduate recruitment, we are proud that we have welcomed the same number of graduates in line with previous years. Excitingly this includes an increase in the number of Digital and Advisory graduates as these businesses continue to grow, and some of our smaller offices such as those in Tasmania have taken on their biggest intake to date,” says Lisa Edwards, Talent Acquisition Leader Australia & APAC.

“Young people have not been through anything like this before, and we’ve had to manage the entire recruitment and onboarding process through digital communication formats, and reconsider how to support graduates remotely,” says Lisa.  

GHD has demonstrated an ability to deal with the unprecedented changes COVID-19 has brought about and put people first after it successfully moved 10,000 of its employees onto Microsoft Teams in under a week.

“The opportunities and future work stability we have demonstrated, not only through winning projects, but remote support has no doubt been part of the attraction graduates have had to GHD,” adds Lisa.

Kelly Pfeffer, Global People Project Officer says: “As we slowly transition back into offices around Australia in line with varying government restrictions, we are excited to bring as many of our graduates as possible into offices for some face-to-face experiences. And for many this will mean meeting their teams for the first time in person.

“We have been inspired at how versatile and adaptable our graduates have been and are excited for what the two years ahead as graduates will bring,” adds Kelly.

GHD’s global Graduate Development Program is a two-year structured program that develops future leaders, innovators and technical specialists. The program provides graduates with coaching, mentorship, team rotation opportunities, workshops, and involvement with young professional networks.

Lisa Edwards
Talent Acquisition Leader Australia & APAC
+61 3 86878910
Lisa.m.edwards@ghd.com

Kelly Pfeffer
People Project Officer, Global Talent Acquisition
+61 7 3316 3520
kelly.pfeffer@ghd.com