Updating Results

Alcoa Australia

4.0
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Alcoa Australia Reviews

Based on 13 surveyed graduates working at Alcoa Australia. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
4.0
Based on 13 reviews

Pros & Cons

  • The graduate programme is very supportive, with regular development days and social events. There's a strong focus on training and mentorship for early-career graduates. The opportunity to rotate through a number of different environments, from the corporate office working on approvals and strategy to refinery and mining, all while being home with the family every night, Also, flexible working arrangements (subject to position requirements) are well supported.
  • Alcoa is very inclusive and accepting, and as well as this, it provides great benefits to employees.
  • Lots of support from my direct supervisor and fellow employees. The process is also very dynamic and there is always something exciting and new to work on each day
  • The people: I work with a great bunch of people, some with many decades of experience. There's a lot of people who started out their careers at Alcoa and who know the company and process really well, providing a good base of people to learn from and be mentored by.
  • Technical hands-on experience that you will get, even as an entry-level graduate, as well as responsibility and the opportunity to add real value to the business that is very tangible.
  • Currently a lack of electrical engineers, which forces me to tackle problems I don't have much experience with, which is partly a good thing.
  • The company has a lot of people who have been here for many years, and although this is a good thing as people want to continue working here, it means there are a lot of roles where one person is responsible, which doesn't make handing over jobs easy and there is less room for changes and improvements.
  • I live north of Perth, so it's a bit of a drive to get to work, so I'd say the amount of travel to and from work is probably the worst thing (but that's because I choose to live at home while being a graduate).
  • Weekend checks.
  • Travel time.

What Insiders Say

8.8
Career Prospects
8.8
Career Prospects
I am very satisfied with the career progression opportunities here. I feel like a valued individual within the company with plenty of future options. Opportunities come up often for people to try new roles and develop further.
8.3
Corporate Social Responsibility
8.3
Corporate Social Responsibility
Strong focus on environmental responsibility and footprint. Many initiatives and projects are ongoing to rehabilitate affected mined areas.
8.7
Culture
8.7
Culture
I think Alcoa has a great culture; everyone can joke around and have a laugh, but they also take things seriously and listen to the advice and concerns of those around them. My department has a strong sense of community and teamwork; we have regular department meetings, and everyone catches up for lunch in the conference room. We also have regular social catch-ups, whether its after-work drinks or lawn bowls
8.7
Diversity
8.7
Diversity
I've always heard good things about Alcoa's commitment to diversity. I first joined the company on a women's engineering scholarship, so I've always felt supported as a woman in engineering. My department is also very diverse, with employees of all different backgrounds and stages of life. A few chemical engineers have young children, so it's encouraging to see women with young kids supported and employed in Alcoa's workforce.
8.1
Satisfaction
8.1
Satisfaction
There's a lot of variety, and the work is really interesting. I am currently assisting with drafting management plans and reviewing documents that support a Part IV approval process, which is a fantastic opportunity to get a strong understanding of mining approvals.
8.0
Management
8.0
Management
My managers and supervisors always provide really good support and feedback. They're regularly checking in with me and asking me if I'd like to explore different opportunities to upskill or have new experiences.
7.5
Office Work Environment
7.5
Office Work Environment
I love wearing high-vis every day (it's a good, easy dress code). My office is a little older but has everything I need to execute my work, and all the offices are close together, making it easy to liaise with others.
8.8
Recruitment
8.8
Recruitment
The interview process consisted of a video interview, a psychometric test, and an assessment center day (team-building activities, case study analysis, and speed interviews).
8.2
Salary
8.2
Salary
The salary is good, and other employee benefits are very attractive.
8.1
Training
8.1
Training
Attending AIM for business and management courses is a really good opportunity. Informally, my colleagues are always open to showing me around and teaching me new things. I appreciate the amount of informal training that I receive from others helping upskill me. So far, I've picked up some presentation and communication skills from a formal AIM course, but also skills with Alcoas computer systems (Excel, Uniformance, and AWAprops).
8.7
Work Hours
8.7
Work Hours
Pretty flexible. On a typical day, I have to be in at 7:30 since I have early morning meetings, so there's no flexibility on the start time. But I've had opportunities to work from home when I've had commitments immediately after work, which I've really appreciated. I also love having an LDO each month to flexibly take off a day of work.
7.5
Sustainability
7.5
Sustainability
The company is known for research and improvement in post-mining rehabilitation but also has a strong focus on waste reduction, responsible use of water resources, and reducing carbon emissions.