Inside SEEK’s Grad Program: Launching IT Careers (with Scott Dann and Ben Swart)

Thinking about your first job in tech or a career switch into IT? SEEK’s software engineering grad program might be your launchpad. In this episode of SEEK Bytes, SEEK engineers sit down with Scott Dann (Graduate Program Manager) and Ben Swart (current grad) to unpack how the program works, who it’s for, and why it’s designed to grow people as much as technical skills.
This episode's special guests: Scott Dann (SEEK Graduate Program Manager) and Ben Swart (SEEK grad)
In this episode, we explore:
• How SEEK’s 13-month grad program actually works – from the one-month Accelerator bootcamp to two six-month rotations grads choose themselves, PitchFest “Shark Tank” team pitches, and a “learn first, deliver naturally” philosophy that takes the pressure off breaking prod on day one.
• Who can apply (and what SEEK really looks for) – why there’s no requirement for a CS degree, how grads have joined from biotech, civil engineering, OT and career-change backgrounds, and why SEEK optimises for passion, teamwork, curiosity, problem-solving and continuous learning over “10x coders.”
• How the program lifts the whole engineering culture – creating mentors and future leaders, rotating grads through teams to spread best practices, building a 50+ person alumni community, boosting diversity, and even inspiring new grad streams in strategy, data, security and architecture.
Whether you’re a student, bootcamp grad, career-switcher or IT leader thinking about talent pipelines, this episode lifts the lid on what a modern, people-first grad program can really do for tech careers – and for the teams around them.
🔔 Follow the SEEK Bytes podcast so you never miss a new episode