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Welcome to CIBSE — Your Career Starts Here
Thanks for signing up for CIBSE Student membership at the career fair! Here's your guide to landing an internship or graduate role in building services engineering.
Internships vs Graduate Roles: What's the Difference?
Internships are typically 3-month programmes over the summer break between semesters. Application windows usually open around July, though some companies open later. They're a great low-risk way to trial an area of the industry and see if it's the right fit for you.
Graduate roles are full-time positions you start after completing your studies. Applications typically open around March (this can vary), so aim to apply at the start of your final year.
Tip: Regularly check company and job listing websites so you don't miss application windows.
Big Company or Small? Keep an Open Mind
Bigger companies often have bigger, more attractive projects — but that also means things move slower. Smaller companies tend to run smaller, faster-moving projects where you'll often take on more responsibility early. That can mean faster learning, which is especially valuable for an internship.
Show You Belong in the Industry
Stay up to date with industry news, current projects, and any accolades your target companies have received. Walking into an interview already across their work shows you're genuinely engaged — and that you already belong.
Think Ahead to Graduate Roles
Many companies love hiring their interns back as graduates. If there's a company (or sector) you'd love to work in long-term, an internship there is a smart way in.
Interviews Go Both Ways
An interview isn't just the company assessing you — it's your chance to assess them too. Come prepared with your own questions.
Nail Your Answers
Clear communication is one of the most valued skills in building services engineering. Practise structuring your responses using a framework like S.T.A.R. (Situation, Task, Action, Result) — and if you're recounting a group project, focus on your contribution, not just the team's.
Graduate Programs: Where to Apply
Understanding career pathways and job opportunities is a natural next step for engineering students in their final years of study.
The list below is not exhaustive but includes many of the Building Services Consultancies in Australia that will recruit students and graduates to their 2027 Graduate, Undergraduate and Intern programs. The links will take you to more information on their programs and job opportunities:
- ACOR — https://www.acor.com.au/graduate-program/
- AECOM — https://aecom.com/australia-new-zealand-graduate-careers/
- A.G. Coombs — https://www.agcoombs.com.au/people-careers/learning-development/
- ARUP — https://www.arup.com/careers/early-careers/graduates/australasia-graduate-programme
- Aurecon — https://www.aurecongroup.com/careers/graduates-interns/graduate-development
- Beca —
Internship: https://www.beca.com/join-our-team/internships - Cundall — https://www.cundall.com/careers/early-careers
- Intrax — https://www.intrax.com.au/careers/
- Jacobs — https://gradaustralia.com.au/graduate-employers/jacobs-australia
https://nz.prosple.com/graduate-employers/jacobs-new-zealand - JHA — https://jhaengineers.com/content/join-us
- Lucid Consulting Australia — https://lucidconsulting.com.au/graduate-program-application/
- Mott MacDonald — https://www.mottmac.com/en-au/careers/early-careers/asia-pacific-australia-new-zealand/
- Norman Disney and Young — https://ndy.com/graduates-students
- Northrop Consulting Engineers — https://northrop.com.au/careers#graduate
- WSce — https://www.wsce.com.au/careers/
- WSP — https://gradaustralia.com.au/graduate-employers/wsp-australia
Internship: https://www.wsp.com/en-nz/careers/summer-interns
Ready to take the next step? Explore CIBSE ANZ events, training, and opportunities to connect with the industry.