Training programmes

Bundesbank's civil servant programme for the Higher Service

Why not complete the Bundesbank’s 21-month graduate training programme, which will prepare you to take on demanding tasks as a civil servant in the Higher Service? You will acquire all-round skills that will equip you for many attractive employment opportunities in virtually all business areas at the Bank. Depending on our needs and your interests, you could, for example, work at Central Office on policy issues in the field of economics, banking operations, organisation or human resources. Alternatively, you could be involved in ongoing banking supervision or in banking operations at one of our Regional Offices.

Requirements

You can enrol for the Bundesbank's civil servant programme for the Higher Service if you

• have a university degree, an (accredited) masters degree or other equivalent university qualification in economics or law (under civil service law, a diploma or degree from a polytechnic or a college of higher education does not fulfil the requirements for this trainee programme),
• are a national of one of the member states of the European Union,
• are under 32 at the time of recruitment (age limit for disabled applicants: 40),
• have a very good command of German and a good command of English,
• have clear analytical abilities,
• are able to adapt flexibly to varying demands and activities
• and are prepared to move anywhere within Germany.

Selection procedure

Before a decision about admitting you to the Bundesbank´s civil servant programme is made, you will be required to complete a two-stage selection procedure at an Assessment Centre to determine whether you have the knowledge and personal skills needed for the programme and subsequent functions. The first part of the selection procedure consists of a written test which provides us with information about your intellectual working capacities. The second part of the selection procedure includes a group activity, a written exercise, a structured interview, a presentation, a written English test and an in-depth discussion to assess your knowledge of economics and business management. This enables us to get to know you better as a person and to gain an impression of your professional abilities.

Please see our selection guideline for further details on the selection procedure.

Recruitment

You will be recruited by our Central Office in Frankfurt am Main as a “Bundesbank trainee” (Bundesbankreferendar) in the civil service with a revocable appointment. The starting dates are usually 1 March and 1 October every year. Your task areas during and after the training programme will depend on the Bank’s requirements although your personal preferences will be taken into consideration as far as possible.

Example of pay during training (as at July 2008)

Note: Married trainees and trainees with children receive a family allowance.

Training: theory

During the theoretical part of the training programme, you will gain the specialist knowledge required to perform your future tasks independently and become a generalist in your chosen career category. Our aim is that you develop a comprehensive understanding of the economic, business management and legal issues connected with the tasks and functions of the Bundesbank.

• Monetary policy and international monetary issues
• European Economic and Monetary Union
• General fiscal and economic policy
• Financial markets
• Organisation and activities of the Deutsche Bundesbank and the European System of Central Banks
• Balance of payments and exchange rate policy
• Payment transactions and accounting
• Banking and financial supervision
• Business and business policy of credit institutions and other financial service providers
• Personnel matters and personnel management

During your period of training, you will take part in courses lasting several weeks held at our Training Centre in Eltville am Rhein.

Training: practice

For the practical part of the training programme, we will assign you to interesting and important areas of work at our Central Office, Regional Offices and branches. Informatory periods will give you an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the core tasks of selected areas of work. Practical periods – of around six weeks at a time – will be dedicated to independent project work (eg writing statements, analyses and reports on current central banking issues).

Schedule for the 21 months

Examination

At the end of the training programme you will sit the Higher Service career development examination. You will be examined in economics and business management, with a special focus on legal and central banking issues. The examination has both a written and an oral part.

Probationary period

Once you have passed the career development examination for the Higher Service, you may, if you are considered suitable, be appointed as a “candidate for the post of Bundesbank higher-ranking civil servant” (Bundesbankrat zur Anstellung) and accepted into the civil service on probation in accordance with civil service law.

Permanent civil servant

Once you have successfully completed your probationary period - which generally lasts three years - you will be appointed as a “Bundesbank higher-ranking civil servant” (Bundesbankrat) and will enter the civil service on a permanent basis provided that the other relevant conditions under civil service law are fulfilled.

Applications

The next intake date for the Bundesbank's civil servant programme is 1 October 2009. Planned intakes are advertised in the major German daily newspapers and on our Job opportunities page. Please apply online. A link to the application form is included in the respective job description.

Online applications should be accompanied by the usual documents (letter of application, copies of your school leaving certificates, degree certificates (alternatively, evidence of university education and qualifications achieved to date) and - if applicable - job references or training certificates and confirmation of having completed military/community service) as file attachments.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the application deadlines or the application procedure, please contact:

• Mr René Freitag
• + 49 69 9566 6047

• Ms Caren-Berit Opper
• +49 69 9566 4188

• personalmanagement@bundesbank.de

If you have any questions about the structure and content of the training programme, please contact:

• Mr Volker Zürn
• +49 69 5808 5138
• Volker.Zuern@bundesbank.de

• Mr Alfons Hecht
• +49 69 5808 5133
• Alfons.Hecht@bundesbank.de

Career prospects

We offer you attractive career prospects in the Higher Service.