For Career Starters
GROW is an international program for high-flying graduates and young professionals. Throughout the course of this 18-month program based in Germany, you’ll experience new challenges, exciting opportunities, the chance to build your network and, potentially, international assignments.
Do you want to GROW with us?
Once the program is complete, you’ll be ready to assume responsibility-filled positions at Deutsche Post DHL Group – and help lead us into the future.
Program start: 1. October 2019 Application is possible until: 24th March 2019
What you'll need
We look for candidates with a combination of strong academic performance, relevant professional experience and compelling personal qualities.
Academic
- Above average grades
- Graduating before start of program
Professional Experience
- Internship, apprenticeship or initial professional experience
- Strong German skills (national program)
- Excellent English skills (international program)
- Experience of living abroad (international program)
Personal
- Persuasive communication skills
- A true team player
- Adapts to change and new challenges
- Able to think both analytically and conceptually
Program Schedule
From the day you join, we’ll look after your development and ensure you have everything you need to succeed. Here’s a taster.
Central introduction – 2 days
During our kick-off event, you’ll get to meet with other graduates on the program as well as with GROW alumni. You’ll also learn about our corporate values and objectives, not to mention the different divisions of Deutsche Post DHL Group.
In Bonn you will start your graduate program with up to twenty further trainees at the same time. You will also get to know your buddy from another GROW vintage, who will be looking after you for the duration of the program.
Local introduction – 3.5 weeks
Once you’ve learned about our organization as a whole, you’ll enjoy an in-depth introduction to your specialization area. You’ll also visit some of our operational units, such as a “Briefzentrum” or our warehouses.
First program phase – 7 months
During this phase, you’ll carry out a project in your specialization area. You’ll receive support and guidance from an experienced project manager, and you’ll also undertake the first of your training units: basic consulting skills.
Second program phase (Transfer phase) – 3 months
During the second phase of the program, you’ll explore various work areas and cultures. If you’re part of the international program, you’ll experience project work in another country, division or specialization area (or potentially all three). If you’re part of the national program, you’ll experience an assignment in another division and/or specialization area within Germany. Regardless of which program you’re part of, you’ll undertake your second training unit: process improvement methodology (First Choice).
Third program phase – 7 months
During the third phase of the program, you’ll work on another comprehensive project in your area of specialization. You’ll also prepare for transferring into your future role, and receive individual training.
Functional Areas
Your personal graduate program will begin with an important decision: which functional area fits best with your CV, abilities, interests and professional goals?
Business Development / Strategy
The functional area Business Development and Strategy comprises different strategic topics of group wide or divisional relevance. Those topics range from strategic initiatives to identification, development and integration of new business areas and services.
For October 2019 DPDHL Group offers in following divisions a trainee program for Business Development & Strategy:
For all divisions and units, regardless of size or location, the Corporate Development / Strategy Department Center is responsible for the development of all Group strategies and basic principles, as well as launching and directing Group-wide initiatives and managing all investments and acquisitions. The Corporate Development department is responsible for all major strategic initiatives and projects within the group as well as the organization structure of Deutsche Post DHL. We focus on group-wide strategic projects that typically involve more than one division or are tasked on projects by the CEO. Another very important topic areas are cooperation with Start-ups and own incubation of business ideas. The Corporate Development department reports to the group CEO.
As the world leader in contract logistics, DHL Supply Chain offers customers standardized warehousing, transport and value-added services that can be combined to form customized supply chain solutions. Our contract logistics services include planning, sourcing and production activities as well as packaging, repairs and returns. These services are rounded out by e-commerce fulfillment services, warehouse solutions and management capabilities.
These are the following positions we can offer for October 2019 within DHL Supply Chain:
In Global Solutions Desig we are responsible for the strategic development of the function, driving common standards and processes worldwide that allow us to design state-of-the-art supply chain solutions. Our logistic engineers develop the best possible solutions for our clients and share those best practices within DHL Supply Chain.
As Lead Logistic Partner in the automotive sector we constantly review, improve and optimize operational Supply Chain processes in order to consult our customers and create efficiencies and improve our service. We lead the initiation of innovative ideas which contribute to improvement and support the development of new concepts, with focus area operations.
This vacancy in Lead Logistic Partner can also be found in the segment “Operations”.
DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps is one of the leading logistics providers in the Germany & Alps region. They offer complete end-to-end supply chain solutions for a wide range of industries and sectors. In the traineeship with Warehouse Management you work in the staff of the CEO DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps. Implementing, managing and revising processes to review and monitor projects and their performance are just one task, next to accompany transformation projects. To develop new strategies and deploy strategic project management initiatives are another working field.
Interested in working in this functional area? Please find all jobs here:
Corporate Functions
The functional area "Corporate Functions" comprises various functions, activities and initiatives which are of Group-wide relevance.
For October 2019 Corporate Real Estate and Demand IT offer traineeships.
The Department Corporate Real Estate takes the responsibility of more than 12.000 properties worldwide with a total area of more than 30 million square meters. The strategic service provider Corporate Real Estate Germany is responsible for strategy and management of all real estate activities in Germany and develops for and in cooperation with the clients’ professional and customized real estate concepts.
The Department Demand IT provisions infrastructure and services to their clients to deliver information that is timely, accurate and affordable. As a further priority, we address the critical topics of information security, data protection and privacy as well as business continuity and disaster recovery to protect the DPDHL Group from harm. One big responsibility is the internal communication of Demand IT related topics across service lines and functions (e.g. security, infrastructure and digitalization). We pride ourselves that our employees are professionally capable, diverse and socially responsible.
This vacancy in Demand IT can also be found in the paragraphs “Project Management IT” and “Marketing”. To apply for this vacancy please choose the functional area of “Project Management IT” in the application.
Interested in working in this functional area? Please find all jobs here:
Finance
As Corporate Center Finance Functions, this area lays the foundation for the successful management of the company – on a corporate as well as divisional level. Timely, high-quality information ensures transparency and makes a proactive contribution to the company’s success. Furthermore accounting and reporting systems are developed and run in this area.
In October 2019 Corporate Finance offers a traineeship. The Finance organization of DPDHL assumes key Finance responsibilities as a cross-sectional area of DPDHL. Corporate Accounting & Controlling is responsible to provide transparency to DPDHL boards and external stakeholders by preparing financial statements, to set group-wide accounting & controlling standards and guidelines, to advise Management in shaping Group´s direction and support decision making. We grant efficient access to financial data and drive digital transformation whilst ensuring compliance with external and internal financial regulation. Within Corporate Finance we do also work on Investor Relations and internal audits.
Interested in working in this functional area? Please find all jobs here:
Human Resources
This area serves as the strategic partner for the divisions and supports them in the areas of personnel processes, personnel development, compensation, labor law and personnel controlling. Herewith, the area of HR strongly contributes to the goals of our strategy 2020 “Focus.Connect.Grow.” Within HR, we want to make a significant contribution to our company´s business success. As a service company in the service industry with the aspiration of being employer of choice, provider of choice and investment of choice, we have to focus on world class HR services and world class HR capabilities.
In October 2019 the departments “Corporate Department HR Standards & Processes” and “DHL Supply Chain” offer traineeships in the functional area of “Human Resources”:
Within the board area Human Resources in charge for the whole Group, Corporate Department HR Standards & Processes focuses on the development of group-wide HR concepts in order to increase efficiency through scale, and boost service quality. Amongst others, this includes topics like Grading & Benefits, Compensation & Mobility, Talent, Sourcing & Development, HR Analytics & Reporting, HR Shared Data Hub & Global HR Data Management, Leadership@DPDHL and Digitalize HR. We foster the dialogue between the divisions and act as experts and qualified counterpart for all HR topics for the business and divisions.
Following teams offer a trainee ship in HR within the Corporate Department HR Standards & Processes:
At "HR Analytics & Reporting" we ensure high-quality HR KPIs and workforce statistics for our Group's reporting as well as focused analyses for our business. Precise information is required to effectively manage the business and this we deliver. We analyze specific HR topics, e.g. talent management, diversity, FTE & staff cost as well as analytics for HR driven business problems. We use HR analytics, to help you understand the causes behind people-related business problems. We use data science and advanced predictive analysis based on computational HR analytics models to describe business situations and illustrate solutions.
As “Group Talent & HR Platform Management” we design, implement and manage group-wide key HR processes (e.g. in the area of learning, recruiting, talent management or performance management). In everything we do, we partner with our Divisions to contribute to the success of our business and to an environment where people are engaged, are rewarded and can grow. We operate with a user experience mind set – driven by the value we add across the business.
In the team Stakeholder Management, we drive engagement across the group by analyzing employee feedback and continuously improving our programs accordingly. We identify opportunities to improve our working environment and business success by analyzing results from diverse surveys, e.g. employee opinion surveys or HR quality surveys. Furthermore we foster an easy-to-use toolkit and best-practice sharing platform to foster a culture of engagement at all levels across the group.
Within the division of DHL Supply Chain the Head Office Human Resources for Germany & Alps is looking for a trainee. Based on the corporate and business sectors strategies we are providing future oriented, pragmatic and efficient solutions. This guarantees that the right people are at the right time at the right place and that we are or become First Choice for our employees and customers. We see ourselves as experts and first point of contact for all HR relevant topics, e.g. labor relations, developing new HR concepts, talent management, recruiting.
Interested in working in this functional area? Please find all jobs here:
Project Management IT
Among others, this area covers the following functions: The creation of system concepts for internal and external clients, the development and deployment of defined system concepts as part of project execution, and follow-up support as well as modification of the system landscape.
For October 2019 DHL Supply Chain, Demand IT and IT Services offer traineeships in the functional area “Project Management IT”.
As the world leader in contract logistics, DHL Supply Chain offers customers standardized warehousing, transport and value-added services that can be combined to form customized supply chain solutions. Our IT department is central service provider for all IT relevant issues within DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps. Germany & Alps includes over 6000 employees in 57 subsidiaries in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We support the IT performance, optimize existing IT systems and are trustful partner within new IT projects whether implementing new software and processes or pushing for innovations and digitalization.
The service line Demand IT provisions infrastructure and services to their clients to deliver information that is timely, accurate and affordable. As a further priority, we address the critical topics of information security, data protection and privacy as well as business continuity and disaster recovery to protect the DPDHL Group from harm. One big responsibility is the internal communication of Demand IT related topics across service lines and functions (e.g. security, infrastructure and digitalization). We pride ourselves that our employees are professionally capable, diverse and socially responsible. This vacancy is to be found in the functional area of “Corporate Functions”.
This vacancy in Demand IT can also be found in the paragraphs “Corporate Functions” and “Marketing”.
The service line IT Services provides DPDHL with specialized build services and industrialized run services. Within IT Services, Business Partner Management is the single commercial interface of IT Services to their internal Business Partners for all provided services. Business Partner Management is assuming the overall Business Partner- and business accountability. We will market, manage and sell the complete service portfolio of IT Services, consolidating the Business Partners' demand for new, innovative services.
This vacancy in IT Services can also be found in the paragraph “Sales”.
Interested in working in this functional area? Please find all jobs here:
Sales
This area comprises all sales activities to win and care for our customers. Here, a strong customer focus and professionalism are important.
For October 2019 IT Services offers a traineeship in the functional area “Sales” with focus on IT Services.
The service line IT Services provides DPDHL with specialized build services and industrialized run services. Within IT Services, Business Partner Management is the single commercial interface of IT Services to their internal Business Partners for all provided services. Business Partner Management is assuming the overall Business Partner- and business accountability. We will market, manage and sell the complete service portfolio of IT Services, consolidating the Business Partners' demand for new, innovative services.
This vacancy in IT Services can also be found in the paragraph “Project Management IT”. To apply for this vacancy please choose the functional area of “Project Management IT” in the application.
Interested in working in this functional area “Sales” with focus on IT? Please find all jobs here:
Marketing
This area comprises the development of products and services, marketing concepts and all activities to ensure a successful commercialization of our services. Here, a strong customer focus and professionalism are important.
The service line Demand IT provisions infrastructure and services to their clients to deliver information that is timely, accurate and affordable. As a further priority, we address the critical topics of information security, data protection and privacy as well as business continuity and disaster recovery to protect the DPDHL Group from harm. One big responsibility is the internal communication of Demand IT related topics across service lines and functions (e.g. security, infrastructure and digitalization). We pride ourselves that our employees are professionally capable, diverse and socially responsible.
This vacancy in Demand IT can also be found in the paragraphs “Corporate Functions” and “Project Management IT”. To apply for this vacancy please choose the functional area of “Project Management IT” in the application.
Operations
This area covers all strategic and operational activities of our transport and logistics business. Key elements of success in this business include a high degree of standardization and continuously high process quality.
For October 2019 DHL Supply Chain offers a traineeship in the department Lead Logistic Partner.
As the world leader in contract logistics, DHL Supply Chain offers customers standardized warehousing, transport and value-added services that can be combined to form customized supply chain solutions. Our contract logistics services include planning, sourcing and production activities as well as packaging, repairs and returns. These services are rounded out by e-commerce fulfillment services, warehouse solutions and management capabilities. As Lead Logistic Partner in the automotive sector we constantly review, improve and optimize operational Supply Chain processes in order to consult our customers and create efficiencies and improve our service. We lead the initiation of innovative ideas which contribute to improvement and support the development of new concepts, with focus area operations.
This vacancy in DHL Supply Chain can also be found in the paragraph “Business Development / Strategy”. To apply for this vacancy please choose the functional area of “Business Development/Strategy” in the application.
Application process
Our application process is transparent and easy-to-understand, so you’ll always know where you are.
- Online application
- Online assessment
- Telephone interview
- Recruiting Day
- Job offer
Online application
To apply to the GROW Program, the first thing you need to do is fill out an application form. You’ll also need to provide your university transcripts, CV and letters of recommendation from any internships or other roles you’ve done. Ideally, these documents should be in pdf file format. Once we receive your application, we will send you a confirmation email.
From now on you have the possibility to register for the GROW Program before the application period starts.
Online assessment
Takes place after the online application
If we think you’d be a good fit, we’ll invite you to take an online assessment.
The test lasts around 60 minutes.
Telephone interview
Assuming you make it successfully through the first two stages, we’ll invite you to participate in a telephone interview.
The interview lasts around 45-60 minutes.
Recruiting Day
If the telephone interview goes well and no issues arise when screening your documents, we’ll invite you to an assessment center. This will give us a chance to analyse your strengths and your potential, and determine whether you are right for our graduate program. You’ll also get to meet other applicants and potential managers.
Job offer
Once we’ve finished assessing everyone, we’ll make our decisions. If we think you’re the kind of person who can thrive with us, we’ll offer you a job before the assessment centre is out. Once you sign the contract, we’ll then warmly welcome you to the program.
Testimonials
Kathleen
The GROW graduate program gave me the perfect opportunity to enter a new working world and embrace a completely different sector.
Martin
You quickly develop a large network, which gives you many opportunities to work internationally. Bonn… Miami… Thailand…
Jenny
As a GROW graduate you have the unique opportunity to get to know different business areas in a short period of time. As a result of the frequent job rotation, the company helps you to build up a company-wide network, which is a valuable basis for your future career.
FAQs
How does this graduate program differ from direct entry?
GROW is a development program for graduates and young professionals that enables them to learn about various business sectors. Through the many events of the program, such as the joint kick-off, you can quickly build up a cross-divisional and cross-functional network. A set of training and individual career counseling helps you with your development. This is in contrast to direct entry where you commit yourself to a specific area of the company from the very beginning.
How much will I earn as a graduate on the GROW Program?
The current salary is 46,500 EUR.
Is the GROW Trainee Program offered in countries aside from Germany?
Our 18-month trainee program only takes place in Germany. You can learn about additional trainee programs on our careers website at: www.dpdhl.jobs/students-and-graduates
Does the GROW Program include work in another country?
When applying for the program, you can choose between two different tracks: national or international. The national GROW Program is conducted solely in Germany. The international GROW Program includes a stay of 3 months in one of our worldwide locations. Apart from that, the concept and schedule of the programs are the same.
Is there a maximum age for applicants?
The GROW Program is designed for university graduates and people just starting their professional careers. There is no specific age limit.