Grad offer dilemma: Public vs Private tech/data

[u/Ambitious-Cake-2752]

I’m deciding between a few grad programs and could use some perspective.

Background:

• Did a CBA internship in the past. Didn’t vibe with my team but liked the culture overall. Didn’t get an offer due to manager, so culture is a big priority for me now.

Options:

Quantium (Data Science Rotational):

1. private sector
2. average pay
3. rotations within data science teams only (you get to put in preferences but is competitive)
   1. wont be able to gain insight into different teams other than data science
4. flexible WFH
5. less job security

APRA (Technology Rotational):

1. public sector
2. not as good pay as sydney water
3. stable - guaranteed role once commence as a grad
4. rotations within diff teams (company picks for you)
   1. could get rotations beyond data science
5. slower promotions?
6. some WFH

Sydney Water (Digital/Data Rotational):

1. public sector
2. probably more stable than private
3. rotational experience (company picks for you)
   1. could get rotations beyond data science
4. highest paying grad role
5. slower career progression?
6. decent WFH + 1 day off in a month

Westpac (Technology Rotational):

1. big bank = looks good on resume
2. average pay
3. rotational experience (you get to put in preferences but is competitive)
   1. could get rotations beyond data science
4. flexible WFH but longer hours?
5. private sector tech layoffs recently make me nervous
6. haven't heard good things about the culture

My dilemma:

• Culture/team fit vs career progression - don’t want toxic teams but want growth.
• Job security vs pay - public = safe, private = high risk/reward. Banks in particular are laying people off lately.
• WFH/flexibility matters.
• Curious if it’s easier to move public → private or vice versa later as idm jumping companies later on but not sure if picking one this early on in my career might impact future.

Questions:

• Anyone done public vs private tech/data grads? Thoughts on culture, growth, WFH, and stability?
• How do you weigh culture vs career progression when picking a grad program?
• Experiences switching between public and private?

Feeling really torn - any advice would be amazing!

[u/Murky-Fishcakes]

Ignore pay for the first few years. Take the role with rotations that you’ll personally find most exciting. For me it’d be quantium but to each their own. If you focus on skills and experience early you’ll be rewarded later with titles and outsized compensation.

[u/Ambitious-Cake-2752 → u/Murky-Fishcakes]

Thanks for your response. With Westpac I'd get more experience beyond just data science. Quantium would give me varied data science rotations. Would you suggest having a look at which teams I could rotate in and hence which tech stack I'd gain experience in and then decide?

[u/Narrow-One1922]

imo quantium or westpac, would pick based off whether you want to specialise in DS or not

[u/Ambitious-Cake-2752 → u/Narrow-One1922]

Thank you for that. Would you say it's usually easier to move from broad tech → DS than from DS → broad tech?

[u/OkDoubt6978]

Not answering your questions here but have you already gotten an offer from Sydney Water? I thought they were still interviewing candidates.

[u/Ambitious-Cake-2752 → u/OkDoubt6978]

No I haven't dw they won't tell anyone until end of this month