Careers
Meet our graduates
Holcim has a long history of recruiting and developing graduates, and many graduates stay with and grow through the business for many years. Meet some of our more experienced graduates:
| Chris Hamilton Operational Improvement Manager, Chatswood, NSW |
| I joined Holcim Australia under the Rinker Graduate Program in July 2006 after completing an engineering degree and was based at Wodonga (NE Victoria). I was supported from day one and had three key mentors guiding my business exposure and developing my skills in aggregates operations, ready-mixed concrete and laboratory work. With the culture of the business and their willingness and energy to work together, it was such a positive environment to start a career. After completing the graduate development program I was promoted to the role of Process Improvement Engineer for SA/NE Vic Aggregates business area and a year later my responsibilities expanded to include being the Environmental Co-ordinator. I quickly found that even across borders, every site seemed to have a common positive attitude, a support network and a willingness to succeed. In July 2010 an opportunity was available for me to become a Quarry Manager in South Australia, and Holcim fully supported my career move. Two years later, I now have the opportunity to move to Sydney and will soon commence a new role as the Operations Improvement Manager (Mobile Plant) with our National Operations team and having responsibilities across the whole of Eastern Australia. I am looking forward to the challenges and further business exposure this role will bring. |
| Cassie Andrews Contracts Administrator, Bentley, WA |
| I started working with Holcim in 2007 as a Customer Service Officer and in 2008 I was fortunate enough to be promoted to the position of Credit Officer. I have always been interested in accounting so to further my career I completed a Certificate III and Certificate IV in Accounting. My managers were very supportive of my career goals and Holcim assisted me with course fees and books, and also allowed me to leave work early to attend lectures. I was encouraged to continue my study further so I enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce. Holcim again assisted me with my study and in 2012 I had the opportunity to move to the position of Contracts Administrator with the Western Australia Finance Team. This position is of great relevance to what I am studying, so I can apply my study to my work. My work also often compliments and gives perspective to what I am learning. I have always found Holcim to be extremely supportive and it is this support that has encouraged me to continue my studies and push myself to continue furthering my career. Without Holcim’s support and encouragement of my development I would definitely not be where I am today. |
| Daniel Hodge Marketing Support Officer, Norwest NSW |
| I joined Holcim as a Sales and Marketing Analyst through the graduate pathway in January 2012 and my role is always evolving. I have developed insight into the concrete business through my work tracking sales performance against benchmarks and performing a market segment analysis. I am currently working on a customer relationship initiative, which is a Holcim first. This is being implemented worldwide and I am helping to contribute to the success of the project in the very first launch phase in Australia. While Holcim is a large multinational organisation, the work environment and culture feels inclusive and friendly. When I ask for help, a support network has always been readily available and everyone has been happy to lend their time. During my employment here I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to senior levels of management as well as our front line staff which has allowed me to gain different perspectives. My knowledge of the business is continuously developing and now find myself looking at figures and questioning the reason behind results, rather than just seeing numbers. I’m very pleased with my decision to join Holcim as I have constantly felt like I am learning, undertaking roles that do contribute to my development, as well as strongly benefiting the organisation and putting my university knowledge to use. Holcim does not just present a graduate pathway; it presents the opportunity to forge a successful career. |
| Jenna Kljaic Planning and Approvals Coordinator, Bentley, WA |
| After completing a degree in Urban and Regional Planning in Queensland, I gained employment in Western Australia with Holcim as the Planning & Approvals Coordinator for the Aggregates, Planning & Development team. In this role I am involved with the development, amendment, submission, and granting of permits, licences, documents and approvals for quarries in Western Australia and Northern Territory. This role has provided me with many opportunities to be involved with a number of areas that influence the approval process, such as environment, community, and heritage. I have been exposed to these areas as well as undertaking Project Management training, Cultural Awareness, MapInfo training; and Environmental Auditing training. Experiences which have been invaluable in my time with Holcim include being a part of the Heritage Relocation Program at Nickol Bay Quarry as well as being a part of the Bunbury Quarry Open Day. I have particularly enjoyed these experiences as I have been able to develop myself professionally and personally by taking a holistic approach to my work and interests. Being introduced to Holcim as a graduate has been one of the best outcomes for my first step into being a professional. Aside from a wide range of exposure and experience, the transition into fulltime work has been made extremely easy with the support from my team as well as the business as a whole. For all final year students – you never know which direction your degree could take you, so applying for work that may be “unusual” or “out of your comfort zone” could be the best decision to make. I definitely recommend it. |
| Daniel Wong Operations Officer, Port Melbourne, VIC |
| I have been with Holcim since the start of 2012 and I am a Quarry Operations graduate within the Victorian Aggregates business unit. I underwent my tertiary studies in Brisbane and decided to pursue a career in Melbourne as I wanted to experience living in a new city. The fact that Holcim offered me this opportunity, and assisted in my relocation to Melbourne, gave me a sense that they really take the desires of their employees into consideration as a company. Prior to starting with Holcim I had essentially no experience with the quarrying industry, but I have found myself settling in to my position quite seamlessly in the short time that I have been here. This would have to be due to the support, guidance and encouragement from everyone who I have had the opportunity to work with so far, as well as the manner in which I have been given various learning opportunities whenever there has been a chance. These have included operation of plant equipment to the coordination of a drilling project. The culture and attitude during my time with Holcim has been very supportive in the sense that I’ve been given real responsibilities throughout the tasks I’ve done though I’ve never felt afraid to ask for guidance if I feel I require it. I know that my time with Holcim so far has benefitted my personal and professional development immensely and I look forward to the future developmental and career opportunities. |
| Tam Tran Production Manager, Bayswater, VIC |
| As far as graduate programs go for newly ‘green’ graduates, Holcim has been nothing short of a great career choice for me. From day one, I was taken under the wings of a senior manager and taken through a detailed and comprehensive training program that exposed me to the different aspects and teams of Holcim. From this I learnt the structure and the fundamentals of a world leading organisation from the ground up, giving me an insight and knowledge of a company that prides itself on its people and its quality. For me, the greatest opportunity was being able to learn “on the job”. Nothing prepares you for that first position of responsibility and, when I was first introduced to major capital projects and then had the role of project manager, I had a very steep learning curve. I’ve found that my career at Holcim is as varied and as unique as I want it to be. I have had many opportunities to expand and develop in areas that have caught my interest, and there has never been a shortage of support and encouragement from peers and managers. The potential is there to experience different environments, meet new people and overcome different challenges. It may seem daunting to be a young leader in a huge organisation, and it won’t be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. |
