Engineers Australia understands the importance of building a resilient workforce
Engineering HR managers are the glue that holds a firm together. You’re keeping your team strong and resilient - but you’re always working under pressure and being pulled in several directions.
That’s especially true when you’re developing a graduate program. You’re being pulled by your manager’s demands for competent graduate engineers who can hit the ground running. You’re drawing from a limited pool of graduates, but you’re still expected to create the next generation of leaders. And you’re being pulled by the expectation to sustain a company culture that finds and retains the best talent.
Graduates are only one of many stakeholders demanding your attention. Dedicating time to managing your entire graduate program in-house can be exhausting.
That’s where finding a good graduate development partner can make all the difference. Here are three suggestions from our experience at Engineers Australia.
- Find industry partners to succeed
Partnering with industry experts is the first part of your answer – think of them as the activation agent to your glue. With over 100,000 members, Engineers Australia (or EA) is solely focused on growing, training and advocating for the engineering profession. This makes them the perfect industry partner, with a specific graduate offering.
Samantha Zdjelar, national manager membership growth for Engineers Australia, describes how the organisation adds value to employer partners’ retention and reward strategies.
She says: “We meet the needs of young graduates and the needs of their employers. We help to identify gaps, and then suggest ways to bridge the skills gaps that graduates need to succeed.”
- Offer a clear way forward for graduates
Today’s graduates actively seek out employers with a visible program of graduate development.
Samantha works alongside EA’s employer partners, from small firms to multinationals. She’s seen a holistic approach bring real graduate development results.
“Graduates feel valued, rather than thrown in the deep end,” SHE SAYS.
“The employer benefits too, by developing well-rounded, mature employees who understand where they fit, what they can achieve, and how to contribute the best of their expertise and enthusiasm.”
A clear pathway to graduate development for engineers must include opportunities to become Chartered. As the organisation behind the internationally recognised Chartered credential, EA’s graduate development pathways naturally align.
- Look beyond the training course
Graduate development is more than just courses and training. A varied approach should also include:
- Mentoring: active mentoring with carefully matched participants is one of the most sought-after activities for graduates
- Flexible learning opportunities: today’s graduates want interactive training to learn anywhere, anytime
- Networking: whether online or offline, building the right network is valuable
Well-executed graduate development builds long-term capacity and resilience into your organisation. Your graduates will become leaders, and you’ll see a return on your investment.
So, what’s the secret to building the perfect engineering graduate development program? Using the expertise of Engineers Australia. By partnering with EA, you can be confident that you’re using your time and resources wisely to develop your graduates and your business for success.
To find out more about becoming an EA employer partner and how we help you find, develop and keep the best engineering graduates, register for our webinar on Thursday 26 November.
