Suncorp Group recognised as one of Australia's leading graduate employers

Each year, the Australian Financial Review uses a range of data points to analyse trends throughout the recruitment year to identify the top 100 Australian employers of choice for university finishers.

This year, Suncorp Group ranked number 25 on the list overall, and was recognised as a finalist in the Most Popular Banking, Finance and Insurance Employer Award. The Group ranked 31 in 2023, and 10 in 2022.

With technology a big focus across the everchanging insurance industry, Group Executive People, Culture and Advocacy Fiona Thompson said while about half of this year’s graduates were expected to take on technical roles, the Group had eyes on skill sets beyond.  

“We have those coming with IT degrees and going into specialist roles like software development or software engineering, but we’ve also been really deliberate in making sure we’re attracting a wider cohort of applicants,” Mrs Thompson said.

“We also want to attract people from commerce or business backgrounds, who have a skill set that is directed towards project management or business analysis. Having non-tech people in the technical world as a conduit bringing those two sides of our business together.

“Expanding the capabilities that we have been looking for in graduates who can go into the technology space has, I think, been one of the key factors in driving a greater number of applicants and much greater diversity in the applicants as well.”

Hannah Gilgen was one of those applicants, starting as a Suncorp graduate before becoming a ‘scrum master’ where she now works with a team of software developers, business analysts and software testers on projects.

Support, flexibility and growth opportunities were top of the list for Hannah when deciding on her next step after university – all of which she found at Suncorp.

“In my final year, I knew I wanted to work in a project-based role within technology, but I was a bit lost on what that pathway would be. I had a friend who said Suncorp had a very good culture, so I applied,” she said.

Hannah’s advice to future graduates was to be forthright about their goals and be prepared to explore.

“This is the time for you to find out what you’re passionate about, while you’re in a space where it’s safe to learn. When else in your career will you have the opportunity to change without big expectations on you to hit the ground running and perform?”

Expressions of interest are now open for Suncorp Group internship positions starting November 2024, and graduate roles starting in January 2025. Applications will open August 2024.