What to expect

The 24-month graduate program focuses on developing, engaging, managing change and achieving Results. It’s a balanced approach to technical and professional development to ensure you have well-rounded capabilities, and will be the cornerstone of your BHP Career.

Graduates will rotate into different teams 2-4 times, to help build technical capabilities, working relationships with new people and leadership skills. You’ll be guided by our leaders as you work on real projects, offering accelerated learning and career path opportunities.

Coursework is delivered in a combination of methods which include virtual workshops (with senior leader and graduate alumni participation), graduate workbook and a technical logbook. Plus, to continually build capabilities and professional development, you’ll have “action learning periods” where you’re given tasks to complete during your day-to-day work. This gives you the opportunity to share what you’ve learned within your designated group in discussions led by past Graduates.

Near the end of the program, you’ll be provided the choice to stay in the same commodity or seek opportunities elsewhere in BHP to demonstrate all that you have learnt.

Year 1 program

Your professional development will build your foundational leadership capabilities in a series of workshops that cover a range of topics / capabilities. 

You will develop:

• Influencing others - how to communicate with others and to adapt your communication style to achieve outcomes.
• Giving and receiving feedback.
• Learning to effectively prioritise and balance your work life. 
• Learning to cultivate curiosity and your growth mindset.
• Problem Solving: Critical and design thinking by learning various methodologies in problem solving. With emphasis on understanding the voice of customer, root cause analysis and solution ideation.
• Managing and dealing with change.
• Powerful presentations (including virtual).

Year 2 program

Building on your first-year skills, we know that you are ready for more. The second year focuses on culminating all of your learnings and experience into solving a real-life business problem, the “Think Big Business Case Challenge”. 
 
The “Think Big Business Case Challenge” is designed to set you up for success, with timelines, templates and deliverables are provided at the official launch. You and your team will work together over 5 months to work on your business case which will be presented to a panel at the Graduate Conference. You will have the opportunity to work with Senior Leaders and Subject Matter Experts to provide coaching and guidance throughout the Business Case.
 
The Graduate Conference focuses on career planning and finding your next role after the program. At the conference, senior leaders talk about (1) how you can take charge of your future by sharing their career experiences so you can learn from them, and (2) their perspective on BHP’s future and the competencies required to attain it and adapt to that future.

Additional benefits

• When you start, you’ll be given a buddy who will show you the ropes, be a friendly face, provide guidance and help make introductions to feel connected. 
• You’ll gain access to our mentor program in your first year, where graduates can establish a relationship with a leader in the business to help shape your career. 
• Through the local graduate committees (run by current graduates), there are a number of networking opportunities with a range of social events to get involved with. Graduates also network in professional development workshops and learning hubs. 
• We have an ongoing commitment to our graduate’ well-being with many resources and much support available for help. 
• The Technical Forums bring our graduates together to provide networking opportunities, hear inspiring presentations and participate in activities focused on expanding the graduate’s knowledge within their technical discipline.

What we are looking for

• Graduates with the talent and skill to drive innovation and deliver outcomes.
• Students studying a relevant degree and interested in progressing with a career in the Resources sector.
• A willingness to undertake a Fly-in-Fly-Out (FIFO) roster or relocate to live residentially in the towns (if required for the role).

Relevant degree and specialisation areas

• Engineering
• Science
• Technology
• Health Science
• Business

Application recommendations

The BHP Graduate application process will consist of the following steps (should applicants be successful to reach each stage):

Stage 1: Application

Resume – Ask someone to read through your resume to look for any typos before submitting.

Application – Make sure you take the time to read through what is being asked from you and double check your responses (including contact information). Make sure to also answer all questions when completing your candidate profile and the application form.  

Please note: A cover letter and your academic transcript is not required at this stage. If you do wish to supply a cover letter, please include in the one file with your resume.

Stage 2: Online assessment  

• Carefully read the email invitation to understand exactly what is required.
• Find a quiet spot with as few distractions and noise as possible.
• Make sure your phone/tablet/laptop/headphones are fully charged and you have a strong internet signal.
• If you require any modifications to the testing process due to your personal situation, please submit a query via bhp.com/contact

Online cognitive testing

• Always do the practice tests. Take your time and don’t rush through the questions.

Online video Interview

• Think of the video part of the assessment as a conversation. We’ll ask questions about your experience and background - just answer as though we were standing right in front of you.
• Wear something that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable – a polo shirt or t-shirt is fine. If you don’t normally wear formal clothes for work, there is no need to wear them for us.

Stage 3: 1-on-1 Conversation with a Line Leader

• If you’re attending via phone or video, find a quiet spot with as few distractions as possible and make sure your phone/tablet/laptop/headphones are fully charged and you have a strong internet signal.
• If anything changes on the day or, if for any reason, you can’t make your scheduled time, please let us know - we can reschedule.
• Look over your resume and think about how your experience can add to the role and what motivated you to apply for that role.
• Familiarise yourself with BHP’s values and purpose and how they align with your experience, background, and work ethic.

Top tips from our graduates

We asked our BHP graduates to share their top tips for the application process:

• Talk to BHP employees at a graduate or any level in the organisation to find out about the company.
• Understand the BHP Values and what they mean for you.
• BHP values cultural fit - so it's important that you understand exactly what it does, and how you see yourself shaping the BHP vision.
• Prior work experiences, of any form, would be good to have under your belt as it will provide some good examples for your 1-on-1.
• Have a safety-focused mindset.
• Be yourself.
• Have scenarios which you can use to answer different questions. Do not repeat scenarios to answer multiple questions.

What to expect

• You’ll receive 10-12 weeks of hands-on-experience within your chosen area of study.

• You’ll be able to apply all you’ve learnt in real world situations and use your initiative to seek out projects to showcase your capability.

•You’ll work in diverse teams who will support, encourage, and help you build your technical skills.

•You’ll gain exposure to the resources sector at an early stage of your career.

•You’ll build your own professional network with a range of technical experts and graduates.

•You’ll attend networking events with other interns and graduates.

Additional benefits

• As a successful Intern, you’ll get first access to our Australian Graduate Program opportunities.

• Build your technical skills through on-the-job learning.

• Develop your professional network by working with a range of people.

• Experience life on a mine site.

What we are looking for

To join us as a BHP Intern, we will be considering students from 2nd year through to penultimate year and you will need to attend the program with us for 10-12 weeks over the Summer break in Australia (WA, SA or QLD).

Application recommendations

The BHP Intern application process can consist of the following steps (should applicants be successful to reach each stage):

Stage 1: Application

Resume – Ask someone to read through your resume to look for any typos before submitting.

Application – Make sure you take the time to read through what is being asked from you and double check your responses (including contact information). Make sure to also answer all questions when completing your candidate profile and the application form.  

Please note: A cover letter and your academic transcript is not required at this stage. If you do wish to supply a cover letter, please include in the one file with your resume.

Stage 2: Online assessment  

• Carefully read the email invitation to understand exactly what is required.
• Find a quiet spot with as few distractions and noise as possible.
• Make sure your phone/tablet/laptop/headphones are fully charged and you have a strong internet signal.
• If you require any modifications to the testing process due to your personal situation, please submit a query via bhp.com/contact

Online cognitive testing

• Always do the practice tests. Take your time and don’t rush through the questions.

Online video Interview

• Think of the video part of the assessment as a conversation. We’ll ask questions about your experience and background - just answer as though we were standing right in front of you.
• Wear something that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable – a polo shirt or t-shirt is fine. If you don’t normally wear formal clothes for work, there is no need to wear them for us.

Stage 3: 1-on-1 Conversation with a Line Leader

• If you’re attending via phone or video, find a quiet spot with as few distractions as possible and make sure your phone/tablet/laptop/headphones are fully charged and you have a strong internet signal.
• If anything changes on the day or, if for any reason, you can’t make your scheduled time, please let us know - we can reschedule.
• Look over your resume and think about how your experience can add to the role and what motivated you to apply for that role.
• Familiarise yourself with BHP’s values and purpose and how they align with your experience, background, and work ethic.