When I was there years ago it was fair and the interview process was non biased. Now it is very much a boys club, and experience counts for nothing. But if you have a relative, friend or someone elses family member who is part of the current management circle of friends looking for a job with no associated experience welcome to Downer.My advise would be unless you fall into the above category .Look somewhere else, don't waste your time! Because you will be wasting your time.

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Productive and supportive workplace

Senior Health, Safety & Environment Advisor (Former Employee) - Waikato District, Waikato - 18 January 2023

Structure environment with lots of team building.Good training courses and very supportive during Covid.Plant and equipment is well maintained with an excellent Plant team who are very professional and keep up to date with technology.Communication is good within the region

Pros

Training

Cons

Never experienced any in my time with Downer

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un safe

Glove and Barrier, linesman, fault man, maintenance (Former Employee) - Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty - 10 January 2023

under cuts good companys who do the right thing employs thugs who bully workers breaks every rule in the book to make the jobs go ahead the best part is the job interview were they say how good it is

Pros

30 minute lunch

Cons

never get time

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Just don't

Manager (Former Employee) - Sydney NSW - 7 December 2022

This company chews people up and spits them out and then when they down, tramples on them. SO many of my co workers left damaged by the experience - just don't do it. The only posititve thing is the pay, just dont expect a payrise ever

Pros

You get paid

Cons

House, management, no pay rises, no direction, no fun

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Interesting and Varied Work, in various W.A. Non Ferrous Mining Industries.

Senior Electrical Engineer (Former Employee) - Belmont WA - 24 October 2022

The typical day ranged from designing, Man Power Management, Project Management.The Division had been brought by Downer and there was a clash between the original owners processes of "Deal Done with a Handshake" and the "The requirements of Quality Assured, Paper Trails" and so many old clients lost. The range of possible projects that could land on your desk was brilliant.

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Working for Downer is good good money an good bosses an good work mates

Water Cart Operator (Current Employee) - Whyalla SA - 25 September 2022

I like what I do at downers driving trucks I go to work with a smile on my face every day. What’s that tell ya . Downers bosses are good also an there wages are wicked I rate them highly

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Honestly the best company I've worked for

Gas service layer (Former Employee) - Perth WA - 5 September 2022

Couldn't say anything bad about downer. Everything was far better then most other places you could work for in a similar field.. would highly recommend to others and would go back in a heartbeat

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Downer makes you feel the way the name sounds

Cleaner (Former Employee) - Queensland - 3 September 2022

Downer was a very disappointing and toxic workplace. The pay was underwhelming, nepotism is high and incentive is low. I wouldn't recommend anyone to work here.

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Fun company with lots of benefit

Project Engineer (Current Employee) - Ryde NSW - 12 August 2022

Ive been with downer for 6 years now its been great. Ive been able to move internally and learn different things from different departments and work on various projects

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It's an OK not too good or bad

Designer (Former Employee) - Sydney NSW - 29 June 2022

Work is stressful, fast pace environment. You can be either a working slave or a boss. Not much training option, have to learn quick in stressful environment. Career progression is there but for certain people. You get liked and promoted and can retain long if you are in the club.

Pros

Can learn a lot if feel ok with stress. Corporate benefits

Cons

Stressful environment, favouritism, job insecurity

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Professional and rewarding company

Skilled Technical Officer/ Technical Training Officer (Former Employee) - NSW sites - 14 June 2022

Day starts with a tool box talk and days activity for the teams. There may be a course done with management taking this seriously and on any day a BBQ after work is completed in a timely manner . This team work and mentoring by senior staff brought out the best in everyone.

Pros

Free BBQs

Cons

Pressure to complete tasks in a short time. Unsafe .

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Overall not bad

Chef (Current Employee) - Wellington - 10 June 2022

Training options available in the beginning had lots of support but things are different now still have enjoyed my time working g there pay isn't great

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Good group of people!

Linesman (Former Employee) - Keysborough VIC - 30 May 2022

Good group of people! varied work. Distribution contracts often don't come across as binding. never sure how long they will last and when you will need to jump ship to the next company.

Pros

Good pay, plenty of overtime

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Upper management don't care about employees

Incident Response and Maintenance Crew Member (Former Employee) - Pennant Hills NSW - 19 May 2022

No weekend penalty rates wouldn't pay higher duties wagesUpper management told relief union case manager that an on going dispute had been delt with in house which was an outright lie

Pros

Good crew to work with

Cons

12hr shifts

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Excellent company to work for

Project Engineer (Current Employee) - Sydney NSW - 7 May 2022

Enjoyed working with Downer. Works starts at 06:45 am and ends around 05:00 pm. I worked in a JV where there was another company. Great management and mentoring and Downer really cares about the well being f its employee..

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stress full demanding bossy

Security Officer (Former Employee) - Bungendore NSW - 6 April 2022

there way or not at all not very understanding with family issues have to prove there was a death in the family demanded death certificate pay is never right always short paid or not paid then told you have to wait till next payday to be fixed

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Excellent work ethics and safety culture

Foreman (Current Employee) - Perth WA - 18 March 2022

Great company ethics and culture good management very approachable attitude toward staff great hours plenty of work all year round would recommend anyone to apply here

Pros

Long hours

Cons

Nil

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Awesome company

Estimator/ Project Engineer (Current Employee) - Darwin NT - 15 March 2022

The best company I had ever worked and will in the future The work and personal life is great and work environment is very nice Manager is one of the best in the town

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Good accommodations and working staff

Special Class Welder (Former Employee) - Darwin NT - 19 February 2022

It is a good company to work with, the staff are very friendly. And I’m willing to work with Downer in the future project, expecting bigger project along the way. God bless us.

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Great culture, supportive management

Team Leader (Former Employee) - Derrimut, VIC - 3 December 2021

I worked in the Derrimut FSC Gas Meter Reading contract. Very forward looking company, happy to invest in technology and equipment to improve working conditions. Flexible and encouraging management, safety focussed.

Pros

Great culture, fair pay

Cons

Nothing

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Downer upper managing should have close relationship with the customers.

Plant Manager (Former Employee) - Whitsunday QLD - 24 November 2021

Downer is a great company but due to greedyness of middle management Downer is loosing its reputation. Middle management misleading the higher management and it is too late them to realise the mistakes middle management has done. As per my experience, non of the councils that have given contracts to Downer will not reconsider to give a contract again. As ex-Downer employ I feel sad about the situation. On the other hand water & wastewater business is about 1% of total business and Downer may not worry about that but it is damaging the Downer’s reputation. It is very sad.