Career Prospects at South32

I believe this depends upon the department and site you are in.

I have expressed interest in learnings that I believe will provide promotional opportunities and have been encouraged to follow those interests

There are many departments within GEMCO that an engineer can go to and progress up in. Different departments include engineering, maintenance, capital projects, operations, mobile workshop. What it takes to move up the ranks means showing your work ethic, having a go at problems being handed to you, putting yourself out there, being professional and showing up on time to work.

I have already received two promotions in the 3 years I've been here. So I am very satisfied with the progression. I'm sure now I'm at the normal level position, the opportunities will become far less frequent.

Following the grad program I am hoping to sit my deputies exam there are also possibilities for me to take management roles on site

Be willing to learn, good at your job, network and make it know about what you want.

Good initiative and hard work seems to allow people to move up the ranks

Graduate Engineer to Engineer

There is definitely room to move up through the ranks and my superintendent is excellent at going over career options. If you're willing to work hard in the first couple of years and establish a good reputation, opportunities do start showing up fairly quickly.

It will be 3 months for me to be with South32 on the 13/05/2023. It's too early to comment on it hence giving 5 at this stage. My apologies. All I can say is that I hope for the best while I will try to give more than my best in my graduate program to have the career progression for which I have solely joined South 32.

I only started 3 months ago so not very aware of anything like this yet.

Generous pay jump from first-year grad to second year grad.

They ensure you have the opportunity to explore different sites/teams depending on your own career aspirations.

Promotion is not available within the current structure of my particular working group. However, it seems that moving across roles is often considered.

Promotion opportunities could go either way - moving into a permanent role following the graduate program is likely, although movement beyond this is hard to foresee

A big downside is that the promotion possibilities are not well communicated and there is no clear path communicated.