Santos recognises the strategic value in recruiting new talent at student and graduate level and investing in our best and brightest new resources – the future of our workforce and future leaders within our business.
Santos provides excellent opportunities for growth and development through our early career pathway programs including the Summer Vacation Program, Graduate Program, Indigenous Undergraduate Cadetship Program and trade-based apprenticeships.
Graduate Program
Are you looking for a graduate program that provides accelerated career development incorporating on-the-job technical training and specialist development activities?
We empower and challenge our graduates as they learn and grow at a publicly traded company. The Santos Graduate Program provides a strong technical foundation while offering exposure to innovative projects like solar energy conversion, advanced analytics and drone mapping. Our graduates rotate through various teams gaining office and field experience, with opportunities available across the country from our modern capital city offices to the central Australian outback to rigs offshore Western Australia. Santos graduates are permanent employees and are our future leaders.
For accelerated career development, our Graduate Program includes:
The Graduate Induction Program helps first year graduates quickly find their feet at Santos as they build networks with their colleagues throughout the company.
Performance goals are set for each rotation, meaning graduates are clear about their performance outcomes and what they need to focus on. The goals are supported by ongoing feedback conversations with their leader.
Job rotations that give graduates exposure to various teams, projects and locations – some roles even offer offshore rotations – and providing a strong technical foundation and breadth of industry-related business knowledge.
Mentorship and support is offered for first year graduates, providing an assigned buddy and technical mentor to help with work, career guidance and settling in.
Graduate ambassadors organise social functions, assist with networking and graduate recruitment, and as graduate volunteers, provide ongoing contributions to improve the Graduate Program.
Competitive remuneration and benefits packages provide employees with the value and choice across superannuation, access to share plans, the salary sacrifice scheme, bonuses, study assistance, education programs, employee assistance program, health and fitness memberships, professional memberships and relocation assistance, where applicable. Find out more here.
Santos offers graduates flexibility in a nurturing and supportive environment. We understand the increasing importance of maintaining a diverse, adaptable and high performing workforce with a balanced lifestyle. We encourage involvement in the Santos social club and the many community and volunteering events supported by Santos such as the Santos Tour Down Under.
Skills and attributes
We are keen to hear from applicants who are willing to strive for high quality results working in a dynamic and challenging environment and be flexible in their work location. We target graduates who demonstrate our company values, resonate with our purpose and strive for our vision.
Applicants will need to demonstrate effective communication skills and strong problem solving, analytical, time management and organisational abilities.
Expressions of interest
Our Vacation Program is the main pathway to the Santos Graduate Program, however students can submit an expression of interest for additional positions that may arise via this link which is open outside of formal recruitment dates.
Engineering and geoscience students must be in the final year of their honours degree in one of the following disciplines:
- Geoscience (geology, geophysics or petrophysics)
- Engineering (petroleum, chemical, mechanical, mechatronic, electrical, civil or environmental)
Finance students must be in the final year of their degree in one of the following disciplines:
- Finance
- Commerce
- Accounting
Location
Our graduates are generally placed into our Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth offices and have the opportunity to travel and work on our site locations throughout Australia. Spanning modern metro capital cities, outback posts in central Australia, to offshore rigs in Western Australia, our Graduates will gain office and field experiences.
For more details on our Graduate Program, please view the Santos Career Pathways Brochure at the bottom of this page or visit our Graduate Program page within the careers portal or contact us.
Program benefits
Offered November through February each year, the program provides students with hands on experience, defined and challenging project work, structured performance feedback, and the delivery of a presentation on their project. Working side-by-side with Santos employees, it gives students the chance to determine their interest in the industry, and Santos an opportunity to assess student potential for the following year’s graduate positions.
How to apply
Applications for the Vacation Program will open in April and must be registered online here.
Each intake will vary depending on business requirements at the time.
This opportunity is available to students who are currently in their penultimate year of undergraduate study in the following disciplines:
- Geoscience (geology, geophysics or petrophysics)
- Engineering (petroleum, chemical, mechanical, mechatronic, electrical, civil or environmental)
- Finance, accounting or commerce
Applications and selection
We require all applications to be registered online. Registrations will be received when applications open each year in April. Applications are then reviewed and shortlisted with our structured selection process. We use consistent candidate evaluation to provide all candidates with the same opportunity to demonstrate our required attributes.
Location
Project work will generally be based in our Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth offices. Some projects will require students to travel to our site locations in South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia during the vacation placement.
For more details on our Vacation Program, please view the Santos Career Pathways Brochure at the bottom of this page or visit our Vacation Program page in the careers portal or contact us.
Apprentice Program
The Santos Apprentice Program aims to deliver work ready entry level trades people for our maintenance and production facilities.
Santos is continuing to work with Programmed Training Services to attract and build a skilled, diverse and capable local workforce for the future of the oil and gas industry. Our collaborative apprenticeship and trainee programs have been running for several years now and have produced a talent pipeline for Santos operations of skilled trades people.
Santos is committed to investing in the development of local talent, translating into long-term, meaningful careers in the industry. We are committed to providing employment and skilling opportunities sourced from local communities as a priority.
Types of apprenticeships are:
- Apprentice electrician and instrumentation
- Apprentice mechanical fitter
- Apprentice production operator
Apprentice Program duration is four years which includes off-the-job studies at trade college and on-the-job experience at various facilities. Apprentice Program opportunities will be advertised by our partner, Programmed Training Services, on their website here.
Indigenous Undergraduate Cadetship Program
Santos offers 12-week placements to Indigenous students who are currently in any year of their first undergraduate degree. These placements provide the opportunity to be part of a dynamic and innovative team, working on practical projects to enhance their personal and professional development.
We offer undergraduate cadetships across a broad range of disciplines including:
- Engineering
- Geology/geoscience
- Finance
- Law
- Human resources
- Health, safety and environment
- Information systems
Program benefits
Our Cadetship Program is flexible with tailored placement options to ensure every student achieves the optimal work, life and study balance. The program provides students with personalised, hands-on experience through challenging project work, as well as access to the support of technical and professional mentors. Students also have the opportunity to access personal and professional development training programs.
Applications and selection
An extensive evaluation process ensures placements best meet the professional development interests of the student, including department rotations and experience working in office and field locations.
Register your interest via email.
