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John Holland

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4.3
  • #1 in Construction & property services
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

John Holland Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Construction & Property Services

What it does: Infrastructure and property
Staff stats: Around 6000
The good bits: Working with clever, passionate and fun colleagues
The not so good bits: Long hours, weekend work
Hiring grads with degrees in: Engineering & Maths; IT & Computer Sciences; Business & Management; Property & Built Environment.

John Holland was a Victorian civil engineer whose early career was interrupted by WWII. A few years after being demobbed from the army, he started an eponymous business. It began modestly, with a contract to build a shed on a farm owned by (future PM) Malcolm Fraser. It didn’t take long for the business to scale up into a major construction, tunnelling, rail, building and services provider.

John Holland played a pivotal role in projects such as the Snowy Mountains Scheme, the rebuilding of Darwin following Cyclone Tracy, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Canberra’s new Parliament House and Melbourne’s $2.5 billion EastLink freeway. The company also went global, working on projects in New Zealand and, eventually, throughout Asia and the Middle East.

Over the last three decades, the company has changed hands several times. It is also the founding member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School. It was first purchased by Janet Holmes à Court in 1991. It then ended up in the hands of Leighton Holdings in 2000. Most recently, it was purchased by China Communications Construction Company (the world’s fourth-largest building company) in 2015 for $1.15 billion.

At any given time, the company typically has 100 projects, worth around $5.5 billion, on the go.  

The culture

Our purpose is that we are up for the challenge of improving lives.

We think deeply about what we do and how it affects lives, we gain trust through action, we push the boundaries. And we’re in it for the long haul.

Starting your career at John Holland gives you a chance to make our cities and communities better – every day.

We are an employer of choice and we’re committed to diversity. Working with us means you will be part of transformational projects, and your career will be supported through a caring and empowering culture.

Social contribution

John Holland is particularly concerned with sustainability. Staff are required to keep 10 ‘project sustainability elements’ in front of mind. The company is also an active member of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), Australian Constructors Association’s Sustainability Working Party and the Australian Supply Chain Sustainability School (ASCSS).

Plus, the company strives to “engage with communities to achieve best practice environmental and social outcomes”.

The vibe of the place

John Holland prides itself on its high-performance culture and its values of “integrity, innovation, collaboration, accountability and care”. If you’re looking for a well-paid, intellectually challenging career with a dynamic, forward-thinking company that puts an enormous amount of effort into maintaining its ‘employer of choice’ status, you should find John Holland to your liking.  

From the Employer:

"Our industry is an exciting one, and John Holland has a rich history of delivering landmark projects and industry-leading innovation. Operating across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, we have been transforming city skylines, connecting regional centres and providing vital infrastructure for more than six decades. The infrastructure we build and the contracting, engineering and services solutions we provide leave a legacy that has helped shape the nation.

We understand that choosing where to start your career is a big decision, that’s why we have designed a graduate program that will provide a structured learning experience through rotations, training and development opportunities and support.

The structured two-year program provides graduates with soft skills development, on-the-job experience and opportunities to network with senior leaders representing John Holland’s broad operations. The skills and knowledge that you will develop will give you a professional advantage in the increasingly competitive workforce, wherever your career may take you.

The recruitment process is based on more than just your academic results, we look for a diverse range of candidates who are driven and have a genuine interest and passion for the construction industry, eager to learn, and have an ability to build relationships."

Recruitment Process

While applicants’ academic results are taken into consideration, the company is focused on hiring for attitude. That is, finding grads “who are driven… have a genuine interest and passion for the construction industry… [are] eager to learn and have the ability to build relationships”.

John Holland offers a two-year ‘Global Graduate Program’ with multiple streams. While it’s not specified, it appears the company is open to applications from those with degrees relevant to the following business areas:

  • Building
  • Commercial
  • Construction Project Management
  • Engineering – Civil
  • Engineering – Other
  • HR
  • Planning
  • Rail
  • HSEQ

The recruitment process involves grads visiting the company website’s career page and searching for a suitable role. If judged to meet the necessary criteria after making an online application, applicants are then asked to complete online assessments. If that goes well, they are invited in for a face-to-face interview. The final stage of the process involves doing applicants doing a medical, providing proof of their right to work in Australia and having their references checked.

Those offered a grad role “get the opportunity to gain experience both in technical and soft skills, whilst working for one of Australia’s leading and most diverse infrastructure and property companies”. They are provided with:

  • Work rotations designed to increase their understanding of the overall industry
  • On-the-job and structured training designed to help them establish and build a fulfilling career
  • Networking opportunities with former graduates, employees and senior leaders to build personal and professional networks

Remuneration & Career Growth

Among other areas (see below), the company prides itself on being an industry leader when it comes to remuneration. As well as above-average salaries, John Holland staff have access to paid parental/carers leave and the ability to salary sacrifice eight weeks additional leave a year. They receive discounted gym memberships, free flu vaccinations and access to a range of wellness and lifestyle perks. These include a ‘Better Sleep’ program and ‘Flex Your Work’ program that offers flexible working arrangements to make it easier to balance personal and professional responsibilities.

Company employees also get discounts on products and services provided by Apple, Audi, BMW, Bunnings, BUPA, Lexus, Qantas Club, RT Health, Toyota and Volkswagen.       

Even after 60 years, John Holland continues to grow. It is currently an exciting time for the company. It has billions of work to deliver and needs “the right people with the right attitude” to help deliver it.

Backing up its oft-stated belief “our greatest resource is our people”, the company prides itself “on being a market leader in targeting training, career development and remuneration”. It offers “long-term career options within an equal opportunity workplace”.

If you’re the ambitious type, John Holland will furnish you with all the mentoring and training you require to take advantage of the many career development opportunities that will come your way.

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.3
Overall score based on 14 reviews
They Score Best in…
9.1
Diversity
8.4
Management
9.0
Office Work Environment
8.9
Recruitment
9.1
Diversity
8.4
Management
9.0
Office Work Environment
8.9
Recruitment
What Graduates Say About Them
  • The graduate program is well-organised with a variety of rotations to find what you want to pursue in your career
  • First-hand, on-site experience. working with high-level professionals in my field. very interesting and exciting projects
  • The scale and variety of projects are super exciting. I've also been blown away by the Company Culture.
  • Empowerment of autonomy and responsibility from early stages of employment.
  • The people, very welcoming and inclusive
  • Long hours with up to 10 hours unpaid overtime a week expected in some roles
  • Expected contact hours are very long which makes it hard to have a life outside the job.
  • Long hours and weekend work
  • No work-life balance, especially if you're working in delivery.
  • Dealing with client

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • VIC, NSW, QLD, WA, ADE
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
C
Creative Arts
E
Engineering & Mathematics
H
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
I
IT & Computer Science
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
M
Medical & Health Sciences
P
Property & Built Environment
S
Sciences
T
Trades & Services
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Graduate Job

Sydney, Brisbane
Have a direct impact in your community by being involved in City shaping projects!
Applications Close
5 Apr 2024
Start Date
7 Feb 2025
Salary
AUD 92,000 / Year

Graduate Job

Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane
Have a direct impact in your community by being involved in City shaping projects!
Applications Close
5 Apr 2024
Start Date
7 Feb 2025
Salary
AUD 92,000 / Year


Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories
Any candidate with a proactive attitude willing to get the best out of others will go a long way to achieving success in my role.

Ali Bulbul

  • Graduate stories
Any candidate with a proactive attitude willing to get the best out of others will go a long way to achieving success in my role.

Ali Bulbul

  • Graduate stories
As someone whose greatly passionate about protecting our environment, it’s rewarding to see how heavily sustainability is integrated within all dimensions of the Level Crossing Removals Project, from design to construction.

Jasmin Raron

  • Graduate stories
As someone whose greatly passionate about protecting our environment, it’s rewarding to see how heavily sustainability is integrated within all dimensions of the Level Crossing Removals Project, from design to construction.

Jasmin Raron

  • Graduate stories
Any candidate with a proactive attitude willing to get the best out of others will go a long way to achieving success in my role.

Ali Bulbul

  • Graduate stories
Any candidate with a proactive attitude willing to get the best out of others will go a long way to achieving success in my role.

Ali Bulbul

  • Graduate stories
As someone whose greatly passionate about protecting our environment, it’s rewarding to see how heavily sustainability is integrated within all dimensions of the Level Crossing Removals Project, from design to construction.

Jasmin Raron

  • Graduate stories
As someone whose greatly passionate about protecting our environment, it’s rewarding to see how heavily sustainability is integrated within all dimensions of the Level Crossing Removals Project, from design to construction.

Jasmin Raron


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Bella Mazraany

My role is to clearly define any design clarifications to the crew as well as ensure that the correct steel sections with the correct lengths/dimensions are installed at the appropriate locations.
  • Day in the life

Bella Mazraany

My role is to clearly define any design clarifications to the crew as well as ensure that the correct steel sections with the correct lengths/dimensions are installed at the appropriate locations.
  • Day in the life

Lubana Syed

Lubana Syed studied a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at La Trobe University in December 2018 and is now a Graduate Engineer at John Holland.
  • Day in the life

Lubana Syed

Lubana Syed studied a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at La Trobe University in December 2018 and is now a Graduate Engineer at John Holland.
  • Day in the life

Bella Mazraany

My role is to clearly define any design clarifications to the crew as well as ensure that the correct steel sections with the correct lengths/dimensions are installed at the appropriate locations.
  • Day in the life

Bella Mazraany

My role is to clearly define any design clarifications to the crew as well as ensure that the correct steel sections with the correct lengths/dimensions are installed at the appropriate locations.
  • Day in the life

Lubana Syed

Lubana Syed studied a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at La Trobe University in December 2018 and is now a Graduate Engineer at John Holland.
  • Day in the life

Lubana Syed

Lubana Syed studied a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at La Trobe University in December 2018 and is now a Graduate Engineer at John Holland.

Videos


John Holland Rail

Take a journey with our Rail team as they share what it means to be Australia's leading end-to-end rail transport provider.

The John Holland story – Celebrating 70 years

To mark our 70th birthday, we’ve made a documentary film about our history. The video showcases some of our key projects, the challenges we’ve faced and overcome, and highlights the amazing people who have always been at the heart of everything we do.

John Holland Rail

Take a journey with our Rail team as they share what it means to be Australia's leading end-to-end rail transport provider.

The John Holland story – Celebrating 70 years

To mark our 70th birthday, we’ve made a documentary film about our history. The video showcases some of our key projects, the challenges we’ve faced and overcome, and highlights the amazing people who have always been at the heart of everything we do.

Upcoming Events


  • Mar
  • 20
University of Newcastle

2024 Science, Technology and Maths Expo

Wed 20 Mar 2024, 9:00am - 12:00pm

Looking for a job or placement opportunity? The Science, Technology and Maths Expo is the perfect opportunity to connect with employers and learn more about your future industry and career options.

  • Mar
  • 20
University of Newcastle

2024 Engineering and Built Environment Expo

Wed 20 Mar 2024, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Looking for a job or placement opportunity? The Engineering and Built Environment Expo is the perfect opportunity to connect with employers and learn more about your future industry and career options.