Meet the Grads - Tomas
In 2025, SEEK’s Graduate Programs have welcomes thier ninth cohort since launching in 2017.
While the programs are designed to support graduates to launch their careers, around 80% of all participants are still working with SEEK. This highlights SEEK's success in effectively pipelining talent into the business.
To celebrate the success of our Graduate Programs, and the careers they launch for SEEKers, current and former grads have shared insights about their career experiences so far.
Let’s meet Tomas Bolger, who works as a Software Engineer in SEEK’s Indirect Platform team. Tomas was part of the 2022 Software Engineering Graduate Program.
Tomas Bolger is a Software Engineer and SEEK Graduate Program alumni.
When you were looking for graduate programs, what specifically drew you to SEEK?
What really stood out to me with SEEK was the kind of place it would be to work at.
The other companies that I'd had offers from seemed like the kinds of places where you’re a cog in the machine, but I really wanted to have a good team culture.
So I was also looking at some entry level roles, but what really drew me to the Graduate Program at SEEK specifically was getting to start my career with other people who were in the same spot as me. I wanted that experience of working with other people and knowing other people who were at that same life stage as you.
I was really drawn to that.
One of the things that stands out about the Graduate Program is that you do real work to help deliver on our Purpose. Can you share some of what you worked on?
On my second rotation, I moved into the Indirect space, where I stayed. I wanted to have the experience going from a team that was operating like a start-up in my first rotation to a mature team that had lots of services, and everything was core to what SEEK does.
At SEEK, the core product is technology and that was kind of company I wanted to go to. I knew SEEK would be putting effort into making the technology the best it can be.
Every team in the Graduate Program met you where you were. They weren’t trying to baby you. They would give you work that was benefiting the team, and in line with the team's OKRs.
You are now in the Indirect space, can you tell us more about that?
I thought: “Am I challenged? Do I feel like there's still space to keep growing in this team?”
And I one hundred percent did! “That's why I'm still here today. I'm continuing to get growth opportunities to keep pushing me to that next level.”
I was looking for a team where I could grow and there was interesting work. That was the main thing.
Comparing the Graduate Program to what you studied, was it what you expected?
Towards my final year in university, I did long group projects, and that was not a bad thing to prepare you for your career. But being boots on the ground, being at SEEK and having skilled people around you, you learn so much, so much faster.
The biggest difference was being able to work alongside people who are skilled and talented and then absorbing all of that from them.
There's also a big difference in terms of relevant work. I did a database unit at university that taught me how things were done in about 2005.
Whereas at SEEK, they're looking for: “what's the newest, best way of doing this?” Not just bleeding edge stuff, but always looking for the best new solution. That's the way the industry is doing it now.
What surprised you most about the program?
The projects. Being able to hit the ground running and work on things that are important to the team, rather than: “Oh, that's the grad, give them a side task.”
Every manager that I've had here has been phenomenal, supportive. People will back you and want to help you grow. You don't get micromanaged.
My team gave me the flexibility to complete some of my work on my commute because I lived far from the office. That's important to me.
I'd be hard pressed to get another job that would give me that same level of autonomy.
That means a lot to me.
Click here is you're interested in learning more about SEEK's Grad programs