Suncorp Group has secured a spot among Australian Financial Review's (AFR) elite graduate employers.
The list, which aims to spotlight the top 100 Australian companies for new university graduates, featured Suncorp at the 25th position this year. The company also emerged as a finalist in the competition for the title of Most Popular Employer in the Banking, Finance, and Insurance sector. This recognition follows its previous standings of 31st in 2023 and 10th in 2022.
Commenting on the recognition, Suncorp group executive people, culture, and advocacy Fiona Thompson shared insights on the company's recruitment strategy.
“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,” she said.
While technical roles continue to be a significant draw, Thompson underscored the company's efforts to appeal to graduates from various disciplines, including those with backgrounds in commerce or business who are geared towards project management or business analysis.
This approach to broadening the criteria for graduate applicants aims to foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce, which has reportedly enhanced the quality and variety of the candidate pool.
Hannah Gilgen, a graduate who has risen to the position of “scrum master” within the company, reflected on her journey 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.
Suncorp, which noted improved earnings in its latest financial report, is currently welcoming applications for its internship program starting in November 2024, with the application window for graduate positions commencing in January 2025, scheduled to open in August 2024.
