When I first visited Melbourne it was easy to fall in love with the city. But when I really sit down and think about why I stayed, the core draw was always the fantastic people and incredible culture evident across our Melbourne and Sydney offices. And don’t just take my word for it, take the team’s!
In 2021 we went through a rigorous application process that assessed our culture, values, programs, and employee feedback through WRK+ and were named the 5th Best Place to Work in Australia. This was no small feat, especially considering that 2021 was a year of extended lockdowns and “unprecedented times,” a coined phrase we hope to never hear again!
This year we decided to take it a step further. After another round of robust survey questioning designed to evaluate employee engagement levels, our team’s feedback resulted in us becoming a certified Great Place to Work. Within these results it was revealed that 100% of employees recommended working at AvePoint.
Why was this unanimous across the board? At a global level we adhere to our values of Agility, Passion, and Teamwork, but let’s take a closer look to see what that translates to in the day to day in Australia.
We Don’t Take Ourselves Too Seriously
We spend so much time at work, we might as well have fun doing it! This isn’t a business where you need a “work face;” instead we want to see your real face! And some of our favourite faces make for great Christmas gifts. We place an emphasis on being genuine and authentic—with a healthy dose of banter—all whilst remaining respectful and inclusive. It’s a balance for sure, but one we’ve perfected over the years.
We’re Serious Where It Counts
Banter aside, we know how to switch it on when it counts, and something we take very seriously is giving back where we can and contributing to the local community. Over the years we’ve raised thousands of dollars in fundraisers for different organisations (OneGirl, RSPCA, Australian Red Cross – just to name a few), competed in races like Connor’s Run where the proceeds help fund research and care for paediatric brain cancer, and have done plenty of offsite volunteer days. We aim to do this at least once per quarter, with our most recent being with FareShare in Melbourne and Oz Harvest in Sydney.
We Celebrate the Peaks
Be they major milestones or small wins that took a village, we celebrate them all the same. We recognise how each person contributes towards our overall regional goals and company strategy, which is why we make it a priority to get everyone together. While this has been more challenging in recent times, it hasn’t been unattainable. We managed through some virtual end–of–quarters and were very happy to see the return of in-person events. And for all the time in-between? We have Teams for that, with our closed/won chat and recognition channel where we shout out wins and achievements across all departments.
We Get Through the Troughs
If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that there will always be ups and downs, peaks and troughs. Being a small, close-knit, and transparent team, it’s often obvious when someone is “having a day.” We don’t expect anyone to be “on” all the time, and instead encourage our team to take mental health days when they need to recharge. Sometimes life can get in the way of us being our best, and that’s okay. In working here you’ll find that there is always someone willing to listen and to pick you up (figuratively or literally) when needed!
We Stay Humble
Sometimes it’s easy to feel that you’re in the shadows while someone else hogs the spotlight, but not here! Intern or Managing Director, it’s all a level playing field when it’s your shout at the pub or on the office floor. This mentality comes from the top and is embedded in our DNA (and even our logo).
We Can Always Be Better
Part of being humble is acknowledging that no matter who you are there is always more to learn, more to do, and more ways to grow. Our tuition reimbursement program gives employees the ability to pursue professional development annually, and at the employer level we subscribe to the same mindset. We know one area we can be better is having a more balanced workforce in a male-dominated industry.
Globally, our diversity and inclusion efforts have been driven by employees and executives alike, and locally we are always seeking ways to conquer unconscious biases. Whether it’s internal trainings that draw attention to how to avoid this in the recruitment process, revamping our primary and secondary carer leave policies, or having our team attend International Women’s Day events with Business Chicks, we are always on the lookout for ways to challenge the status-quo.
We Know How to Disconnect
Okay, maybe we do struggle a bit with disconnecting– I did say we can always be better! However, that is one of the upsides of using the Microsoft suite; we can work from anywhere. We were flexible far before it became the norm because we get it, people have lives outside of work too. While you can’t be skipping out on meetings, we understand that some people like to get things done at different times of the day. We trust our employees to manage their time and meet their deliverables in the way that works best for them.
We’re Free to Be Ourselves
With that flexibility comes trust, and with trust comes the ability to be ourselves. This is core to who we are and what’s echoed in our employee value proposition, “Unleash the Power of You.” Even though we might not seem that different on the surface at times (accidental matching happens more frequently than not), it’s our internal uniqueness and differences that makes AvePoint an interesting and great place to work.
It’s Always a “We”
Did you notice that we put an emphasis on “we?” At the end of the day we’re a team, and having that ongoing support from our colleagues is what pushes us forward and makes the collective greater than the individual.
So, can you get on board with what resonates with us? Check out our openings here and let us know!
