Training programmes

Fast-track trainee programme

Why not complete our practical fast-track trainee programme which (usually) lasts 12 months? It will equip you to take on demanding tasks as an employee subject to wage negotiations in the Higher Service in a variety of attractive departments at our Central Office in Frankfurt am Main. You could, for example, find yourself dealing with financial market matters or helping to resolve operational, supervisory or organisational problems.

Requirements

You can enrol for the Bundesbank fast-track trainee programme if you

• have successfully completed a degree specialising in economics, an (accredited) Masters degree or other equivalent university qualification (a diploma or degree from a polytechnic or a college of higher education does not fulfil the requirements for this trainee programme) and the main focus of your studies is closely related to the Bundesbank’s business areas,
• have a very good command of German and a good command of English,
• have strong analytical skills
• and are able to adapt flexibly to varying demands and activities.

Selection procedure

Before a decision about admitting you to the general fast-track trainee 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.

Recruitment

The starting dates are generally 1 March and 1 October every year. Trainees will be recruited by our Central Office in Frankfurt as employees subject to wage negotiations and will initially be given a one-year temporary contract. In exceptional cases, a permanent contract of employment will be issued before the twelve-month trainee period is over. During this fast-track trainee programme and upon completion, you will generally work at our Central Office in Frankfurt am Main.

Example of salary during training (as at July 2008)

Training: theory

We teach you the theoretical skills you need to work in various departments at our Central Office primarily in the first six months. The programme contains several blocks of courses lasting a number of weeks on subjects including

• Internal services
• Cash and cashless payments
• Monetary policy
• Financial and monetary system
• Banking supervision
• Personnel management

After that, you will be given the opportunity to put your newly-acquired knowledge to the test in a discussion.

Training: practice

The fast-track trainee programme – particularly in the second half – focuses on several pieces of practical project work, each lasting between six and nine weeks. You will work independently in selected departments at our Central Office on various subjects (such as writing statements, analyses and reports on current central banking issues). With the aid of orientation sessions, we will gear the content of your trainee programme towards your individual qualifications as well as to the current needs of our departments.

Schedule for the 12 months

Components
Induction course	Das Haus": all about the Bundesbank	2 weeks
Practical experience at Central Office	Project 1	9 weeks
Training course	Cash and cashless payments internal services	2 weeks
Practical experience at Central Office	Project 2	9 weeks
Training course	Financial and monetary system banking supervision personnel management	3 weeks
Practical experience at Central Office	Project 3	8 weeks
Training course	Monetary policy	2 weeks
Practical experience at Central Office	Project 4	8 weeks
Training course	Management seminar	1 week
Practical experience	Project 5	8 weeks

Applications

The next starting date for the fast-track trainee programme will be 1 October 2009. Please visit our Job opportunities page to find our current advertised vacancy. 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 last school-leaving certificate, 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.

Contact

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 the content of the fast-track trainee programme, please contact:

• Mr Volker Zürn
• +49 69 5808 5138
• Volker.Zuern@bundesbank.de
  
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• Mr Alfons Hecht
• +49 69 5808 5133
• Alfons.Hecht@bundesbank.de

Careers prospects

We offer you attractive career prospects in the Higher Service.