What it does: Project, engineering and technical services
Staff stats: 55,000 globally
The good bits: Challenging work, friendly colleagues
The not so good bits: Technical training could be improved
Hiring grads with degrees in: Engineering, Maths, IT & Computer Sciences
The Wood story
Wood traces its history back to 1848. That’s when one of its predecessor businesses – a London-based enterprise specialising in plumbing and sanitation – was launched. Long story short, a significant number of construction or mining industry-related businesses opened in the UK and US over the next century and a half. These businesses periodically merged with or acquired each other.
By 2015, two globe-spanning behemoths – Wood Group and Amec Foster Wheeler – had emerged. In early 2017, the former bought the latter for £2.2 billion (A$4 billion). This created “a new global leader in engineering and technical services to energy and industrial markets”.
This supersized multinational, known simply as Wood (or ‘wood.’ to be precise), has operations in more than 60 countries and annual revenue in excess of US$11 billion (A$14 billion). It aspires to be the best technical services company in the world to “work with, work for and invest in”.
Wood provides “performance-driven solutions throughout the asset lifecycle, from concept to decommissioning across a broad range of industrial markets”. These markets include “upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas, chemicals, environment and infrastructure, power and process, clean energy, mining, nuclear and general industrial sectors”.
The culture
Wood prides itself on having an inclusive work environment. It is an equal opportunity employer. One that “truly believe[s] that diversity within our workplace promotes an incredible diversity of ideas”. The workforce skews heavily male, which is not unexpected given the industries Wood services. But, like its predecessor companies, Wood is committed to recruiting and promoting more women. The company helps fund programs that encourage female students to pursue STEM careers. It also provides female staff with access to flexible working arrangements, as well as lots of support when they return to work after having children. Wood has revamped its recruitment process to ensure “selection is gender neutral and free from unconscious bias”.
Social contribution
While Wood hasn’t been around long enough to have any CSR runs on the board, both Wood Group and Amec Foster Wheeler were committed to being good corporate citizens.
Historically, Wood Group has sought to hire local people and work with local supply chains. It has also sought to minimise the environmental impact of its operations. It did this “by conserving resources, reducing waste and emissions, and preventing environmental pollution”.
Likewise, Amec Foster Wheeler has sought to operate sustainably. It defined sustainability as “integrating social, environmental and economic conditions into our values and operations in a transparent and accountable manner”.
Staff report that Wood has a Reconciliation Action Plan, encourages morning tea fundraisers and has facilitated staff in grad roles participating in Micro-Tyco, a charity entrepreneurship program.
The recruitment process
As long as they have maintained a distinction or better GPA, Wood is opening to hiring grads from “all kinds of technical and non-technical degree disciplines”. That noted, Wood’s local arm is only currently in the market for those with qualifications relevant to the following areas:
Wood is equally concerned with “who you are and how you think” as “what you’ve studied so far”.
The company prefers to hire well-rounded grads. That is, grads who have work experience, have travelled and have been involved in extra-curricular activities. You should have “a strong sense of commitment and a desire to learn and work in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment”. You’ll also need to be willing to be based in Brisbane, Melbourne or Perth.
The recruitment process begins by searching for an appropriate grad position and making an online application. (This will involve uploading your academic transcript, CV and a cover letter.) If you make the shortlist, the next stages of the recruitment process could include “one or more of the following: a face to face interview, assessment centre or video interview”.
Wood’s two-year grad program starts with a three-month orientation. Following that, grads undertake technical training, as well as doing several short courses covering areas such as Interpersonal Effectiveness, Writing Winning Documents and Presentation Skills. (Successful completion of a sufficient number of these courses leads to a Certificate 4 in Project Management.)
Grads also undertake relevant professional development programs. For example, engineering grads do the Engineers Australia professional development program. Grads are matched with a mentor. They are also paired with a buddy, who is usually in the second year of the grad program.
Remuneration
Wood prides itself on its “ability to offer competitive compensation and benefits”. While the company doesn’t provide any further information, those in grad roles report being paid at or above the industry average. There is usually also extra compensation offered for working at remote locations. But don’t expect to be paid overtime or receive bonuses.
Benefits appear to include subsidised health and income-protection insurance and the occasional, well-catered staff party.
Career prospects
Wood promises staff they will be “given the opportunity to build a rewarding career” at a company that is “shaping the future of the world’s oil and gas, chemicals, environment and infrastructure, power and process, nuclear and mining markets”.
As a Wood employee, you’ll be able to work in the world’s most “challenging and exciting locations” and play a part in delivering some of “the most advanced and complicated projects ever conceived”.
The size of the company and the scope of its commercial activities means you’ll get “opportunities to develop your own career and work on a varied portfolio of projects”.
The vibe of the place
Wood aims to foster a safe, supportive and fair work environment. One where “people look out for each other, are respected and are recognised… [and] work ethically and safely”.
As a grad, you’ll have the opportunity to socialise with fellow grads on your lunchbreak and at Friday night drinks. Most staff also attend an end-of-quarter celebration. While there is a clear hierarchy, managers are accessible and encouraging. Flexible work arrangements mean staff have some autonomy when it comes to their starting and finishing times. Many employees take an early mark on Friday afternoons.
"Wood is a global leader in the delivery of project, engineering and technical services to energy and industrial markets. We operate in more than 60 countries, employing around 55,000 people, with revenues of over $11 billion. We provide performance-driven solutions throughout the asset life-cycle, from concept to decommissioning across a broad range of industrial markets including the upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas, chemicals, environment and infrastructure, power & process, clean energy, mining and general industrial sectors. We strive to be the best technical services company to work with, work for and invest in.
The Group designs, modifies, constructs and operates industrial facilities mainly for the oil & gas sector, right across the asset life cycle. We enhance this with a wide range of specialist technical solutions including our world leading subsea, automation and integrity solutions.
Our real differentiators are our range of services, the quality of our delivery, the passion of our people, our culture and values. We are extending the scale and scope of our core services into adjacent industries.
Graduate Program
Our Graduate Development Program is designed to open up a world of possibilities for you. You’ll get to work on ground-breaking projects, enjoy quality mentoring from top professionals, and be exposed to all sorts of challenges with individually-tailored support to ensure you succeed.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Rotate through variety of projects to help develop both technical and behavioural skills. The program is competency based and therefore the time it takes to complete it will depend on skills and effort put in and the way they learn.
Our two-year program will consist of six components:
1. Orientation program
The Wood journey begins with a three-month orientation program, which includes:
2. Graduate short-course program
Our Graduate Development Programme includes a number of compulsory training modules delivered as workshops. Modules on offer include Interpersonal Effectiveness, Writing Winning Documents and Presentation Skills. Successful completion of these modules will lead to a Certificate 4 in Project Management.
3. Technical training
In addition to the short-course program, professional development will be supplemented by specialist technical training in areas determined by the project and/or discipline.
4. Professional development programs
Engineering graduates will have the opportunity to become a member of the Engineers Australia professional development program (PDP).
Designed to assist you become chartered, the program will provide you with support and guidance from Wood and Engineers Australia, including workshops, online support and learning materials. Engineers Australia Workshops will be held and will include information and writing sessions.
For non-engineers, we’ll provide the opportunity to achieve a relevant professional qualification.
5. Mentoring Buddies
Graduates will be matched to an experienced Wood employee who will provide advice and guidance on how to reach their full potential. Buddies will also be assigned to new graduates. Buddies usually come from our 2nd year graduates.
6. Engineer Your Future (EYF)
EYF is the name given to our graduate community. The EYF is administered by a panel consisting of management representatives and representatives from the various graduate year groups. The aim of the EYF is to assist Wood in improving the graduate program, to seek out opportunities for graduates and to promote social events,
What we look for
Although much of our work is quite specialist, we hire graduates from all kinds of technical and non-technical degree disciplines. Who you are and how you think is every bit as important to us as what you’ve studied so far.
We look for graduates who are "well rounded". what we mean by that is graduates who have:
Academic background
Looking for a minimum grade point average of 70% (Distinction) or higher"
Engineer Graduate at Wood at Wood
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) at RMIT University