What should high school students know about pursuing a career in the electrical industry?
Elijah, Secondary Systems Section Leader: “The key thing for me at the high school level is making people aware. Powerlink operates on a bit of a low profile - some people don’t even know who we are! I didn’t at that age. So, step one is telling them who we are and what we do. And then I talk about the range of different roles we offer. You might start in one career, but who knows where you’ll end up. We have lawyers, accountants, HR, WHS, engineering pathways, trades pathways. As far as an organisation goes, we’re big enough that most people’s interests can be found within a role at Powerlink.”
Sarah, General Manager Design Solutions: “Young people can learn so much about what we do here. Unless they have engineers in their family, they might not know about electrical engineering or think of it as a first choice. But once you enter the field, you see science in application, not just theory. You get to see the outcome of your work and how you can enrich people’s lives. We’re an essential business to power many other industries. So, I’d encourage young people to take a chance.”
What happens when you join Powerlink as an apprentice or graduate?
Frank, Manager for Network Strategy: “When I was in the graduate program, I rotated around a number of different areas. As much as we possibly can, we cross-pollinate because the problems we’re solving aren’t one dimensional. So, bringing in new people is a great way to bridge that gap. And it’s great for the graduate to learn so many new skills.”
Sefanit, Grid Controls Planning Engineer: “I started at Powerlink as a Development Engineer, and what they promised in the advertisement was exactly what was delivered. I got so many training opportunities and rotations, and within each rotation, they gave me real projects to work on and made sure I got the support I needed to learn. My final rotation was in the Grid Connections team and I knew it was the place for me, so it was great to have such a supportive team leader who helped set up an interview for me.”
What opportunities are there to grow your career with Powerlink?
Leanne, Power System Operations Team Leader: “There are certainly lots of development opportunities. I started in the field, and now I’m office-based. I’m doing my MBA at the moment, which opens up a lot of possibilities for me, too. There are plenty of different roles and responsibilities at Powerlink that I didn’t know about when I started. So, I recommend always looking for opportunities because you’ll find them.”
Sefanit, Grid Controls Planning Engineer: “If you’ve been with Powerlink for a while, there are still ways you can try something new. You might want to work in another team for a year or so. And if there’s a secondment opportunity, you’ll be encouraged to take it. That’s quite common.”
Elijah, Secondary Systems Section Leader: “There’s always exciting and interesting opportunities here. When I was in the field as an Engineering Officer, I was passionate about being hands-on while delivering projects. Now, I’m one level removed from that, but I still get to engage with that aspect of it. And at the same time, I’m in a position where I have the chance to drive real change internally. So, identifying those opportunities is always possible.”
How have the leaders at Powerlink helped you build your skills?
Sefanit, Grid Controls Planning Engineer: “Powerlink is a great place to grow. My team leader is currently exploring avenues for me to learn further, and one of those would be completing an industry PhD, which the work I do at Powerlink would contribute towards. That’s one of the reasons why I really love working at Powerlink. There are so many opportunities to advance your knowledge, and your team members are happy to invest in you and help you learn.”
Sarah, General Manager Design Solutions: “There was a leadership position opening here. My direct manager at the time walked up to my desk and said, ‘Are you going to apply for that role?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t think I can do it.’ But he said, ‘Of course you can.’ So, he supported me, and that whole experience helped me take my first role as a frontline leader. Now I’m a General Manager, and it’s all because of Powerlink. I’ve gone through so many different training sessions to improve my leadership skills.”
What advice would you give to someone wanting to build their career with Powerlink?
Frank, Manager for Network Strategy: “I’d encourage any graduates to give it a try because it’s only once you experience it for yourself that it opens your eyes to a world that’s a lot richer than you previously thought. If anyone has thoughts on the future of energy and the pivotal role we play in that, if you want to work on something super complex but very exciting, come here. It can be challenging because sometimes we’re working on things that don’t have a recipe. But that’s what makes it really fun.”
Leanne, Power System Operations Team Leader: “My recommendation would be not to limit yourself. You should always look for opportunities here. The network is expanding, and our technology is evolving. The whole energy system is transforming. I think this is a very exciting time for Powerlink and our industry because the next few years will be huge.”