Graduate schemes in Germany

Graduate programmes refer to training and development schemes designed by corporations to address graduates that are looking for an opportunity to jump-start their professional career. Hence, similar to an internship, they offer an effective way to experience a variety of aspects concerning specific job posts, while also gaining a more in-depth understanding of an organisation as a whole. Many employers offer graduate programmes, including Allen and Overy, AlphaSights, Amazon, BASF & CGI.

However, graduate programmes are more than just industry placements. They form an introduction to an organisation’s core business, structure and internal culture while encompassing intense training, continuous mentoring, and a view towards permanent employment upon completion. The training fragment often revolves around general workplace skills, such as communication, management, strategy understanding, decision making etc. which are frequently applied across a wide range of business units. Your assigned mentor will be providing on-going career advice and assistance, while also assessing your progress and individual attributes in order to boost your professional development. Most of these internship programmes are with pay.

Your future placement in the organisation hosting the graduate programme will usually be in the form of a junior managerial role. Depending on your skill sets, assessment, and overall performance, though, getting fast tracked into more responsible positions within the company is a common outcome of the programmes.

Tip: Get started on the application process for your graduate scheme by updating your CV and writing a cover letter that is tailored to the job description.

In the search for a graduate scheme you are facing a diverse employer landscape in Germany: While the capital Berlin is the largest city in Germany and serves as its political power hub, it is harder to pinpoint one economic center in the country. In the north, Hamburg has the second-biggest harbour in Europe. Frankfurt am Main is famous for its financial district. In the west, the cities Cologne and Düsseldorf are home to many consumer goods companies, while in the south Munich and Stuttgart are the country’s “motor towns”. 

Tip: Be aware that the requirements for job applications in Germany may be different from what you are used to. So spend some time finding out how a standard German CV looks and be prepared for some of the peculiarities of the German job market.