Career start
The transition from studying to the working world
After completing their university education, graduates have a range of different opportunities to begin their professional experience depending on their degree, their chosen profession and their personal circumstances.
Internships
As many companies expect applicants to already have relevant professional experience, internships have become well established in many industries. An internship provides insight into a specific field of work and enables you to build relationships within the company and the industry, which can significantly increase your chances of receiving further job offers. An internship is ideal if you do not yet have a clear idea of your desired career path and would like to try out different areas first. You should be aware that internships can also be completed during your studies. However, since internships often come with low pay, it is important to carefully consider whether the internship is a good and educational opportunity for you. To help you assess this, you will find below the most important criteria for good internships:
Criteria Related to Job Content
- Appropriate level of requirements and suitable tasksVariety of tasks while maintaining a clear task structure
- Neither over- nor under-challenging
- Good workload
- Learning effects
- Practical relevance to your studies
- Realistic representation of professional practice
- Training-oriented character
Connection to work processes and organizational structures
- Integration into a team
- Opportunities for cross-team networking
- Involvement in work processes
- Independence in completing tasks
Supervision
- Guidance and leadership
- Support from senior staff
- Clearly defined contact person
- Regular feedback, including discussion of self-reflection
General Conditions
- Appropriate and defined duration: 3–6 months to allow sufficient immersion in tasks (exception: short trial internships)
- Employment reference
- Salary
- Time allocated for self-reflection
Trainee Programs
A traineeship offers you the ideal opportunity to explore various areas of a company and gain practical work experience. A trainee program usually lasts between 12 and 24 months and, in addition to providing insight into different departments, the company’s structure, and work processes, often also includes an international assignment. Another advantage of a trainee program is that, in some cases, you can decide for yourself in which areas you would like to gain experience. Thanks to this comprehensive introduction to the company, trainees often have good chances of securing a permanent position afterward.
Direct Entry
Many employers still offer the opportunity to join their company directly after completing a university degree through a permanent position. In contrast to internships and trainee programs, direct entry roles usually come with a permanent employment contract and a higher salary. While trainees often rotate between different positions or departments, permanent employees have a less flexible employment arrangement. However, after an initial onboarding period, they are often able to take on larger projects with greater responsibility at a relatively early stage.