GROW Graduate Program

• Kick-off event with all program participants (graduates, mentors, etc.)
• Presentation of Corporate Values and objectives
• Introduction to the different divisions of Deutsche Post DHL (Mail, Express, Supply Chain, Global Forwarding and Freight, Global Business Services, Corporate Center)
  
• Start: Oct. 2012, Duration: 2 days

• Detailed introduction to specialization area
  
• Visit and / or assignment to an operational unit (e.g., Leipzig air hub, warehouse, letter sorting centre)
  
• Start: Oct. 2012, Duration: 3,5 weeks

• Execution of a project in the specialization area (e.g., subproject of a major strategic project)
  
• Support and direction from experienced project manager
  
• Training unit I: Process improvement methodology (First Choice)

• Start: Nov. 2012, Duration: 6 months

• Exploration of various work areas and cultures
  
• For participants in the international program (i.e. international transfer phase): transfer and project work in another country and/or another division and/or specialization area (e.g. Express, Supply Chain)
  
• For participants in the national program (i.e. transfer phase in Germany): assignment to another division and/or specialization area
  
• Training unit II: Basics project management
  
• Start: May 2013, Duration: 5 months

• Second comprehensive project in area of specialization
  
• Preparation for transfer into future role/responsibility (target position)
  
• Training unit III: Basics leadership & communication skills
  
• Start: Oct. 2013, Duration: 6 months

This area covers all strategic and operational activities of our transport and logistics business in the company’s divisions GLOBAL MAIL, GLOBAL FORWARDING & FREIGHT as well as SUPPLY CHAIN and their branches around the world. Key elements of success in this business include a high degree of standardization and continuously high process quality.

Specific project positions in 2012

Global Mail, Global Operations

• Definition of global operations standards incl. quality measurers and KPI reporting
• Providing guidance and standards for operations IT systems and acting as competence centre for automation
• Coordination of inter-regional supply chains
• Best practice management and process improvements together with the regions
• Management of global carriers
• Global match and brokerage support for regional organization

Ocean Freight

• Ocean Freight is part of the Global Forwarding business; with this is the Less than Container Load (LCL) business
• Solutions for our customers consider the whole supply chain – from production site to target location
• Execution of market, competitor and trend analysis
• Recommendations for new business opportunities, system and process improvements

Supply Chain, Sector “Consumer" and Sector “Retail"

• Supply Chain solutions are provided to different sectors and customers, whereas Retail and Consumer are the biggest two at DHL Supply Chain in Germany
• Here, all services for retailers are produced
• E.g. innovative solutions for complex customer requirements such as handling goods of a textile producer and directly delivering the goods to the branches of a customer (B2B)
• Sector Consumer and Life Sciences & Healthcare (LS&H) provide innovative solutions for the food, tobacco and trade logistics businesses. LS&H has great future growth potential
• Projects could be the development of innovative warehousing and distribution concepts, as well deducting recommendations, managing operations processes, tendering, and cooperations with customers

Supply Chain, Operations Excellence

• Flexibility, reliability and cost efficiency are the critical value drivers of DHL Supply Chain
• Thus, continuous improvement is of great importance
• Operational Excellence takes care of the required quality of operations processes
• This is been ensured by the units Business Improvement, Operations Consistency & Efficiency, Operations Standards & Infrastructure, Project Management & Engineering & Solutions
• Amongst other things, developing and implementing operations standards, methods and measurement systems, is part of their tasks
• This also includes continuous improvement of processes

Requirements

If you are interested in this area, you should have a strong interest in taking over management responsibilities. Furthermore, pragmatism, being an excellent team player, flexibility, and willingness to go the extra mile are important.

This area serves as the strategic partner for the divisions and supports them in the areas of personnel processes, personnel development, wage policies, labor law and personnel controlling. Herewith, our strategic bottom line “Employer of Choice” is of great importance.

Specific project positions in 2012

Corporate Executives

• Main focus is the worldwide cooperation with the corporate executives of DHL and the Corporate Centre
• Cross-divisional planning and talent development and strengthening our common business culture
• Identification of development opportunities throughout the group as well as personalized advice and support
• Impartial advice and feedback as well as a trustworthy partner for our corporate executives
• Integration and alignment of HR processes with all DHL divisions

• Individual HR services for our corporate executives, e.g. salary and bonus topics

Business HR

• Development and communication of the long- and medium-term HR strategy for the business division, considering the employers’ as well as business needs in the regions and countries
• Support of the business through advancing a culture of team work and excellent performance, and therewith contributing to “Employer of Choice”
• Typical responsibilities are e.g. talent management, personnel development, employee retention, recruiting and management of personnel processes

Requirements

If you are interested in this area, you must possess a good manner with people and have strong communication skills. You must also be a skilful negotiator and a self-confident individual. In general, we are looking for candidates with a focus on HR management and / or law with the respective focus.

This area covers the three 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 and modification of the system landscape.

Specific project positions in 2012

Business IT - Strategy

• Provision of innovative and market leading IT solutions, which are relevant to the industry
• Development, provision and roll-out of the IT strategy
• Development of roll-out plans as well success KPIs with regard to the IT strategy and it’s implementation
• Stakeholder management and preparation of strategy reviews

Requirements

The Project Management IT area is known for its particularly innovative thinking and its customer-focused approach that is carried out under consideration of the optimal use of resources.If you are interested in this area, you should to be able to think in a process-oriented and analytical way and should have broad technical knowledge. Strong communication skills and ability to empathize round up your profile.

As competence center, Finance lays the foundation for the successful management of the Company – at both the Corporate and the Divisional level. Timely, high-quality information ensures transparency and contributes proactively the Company’s success. Thanks to anticipatory thinking and action, opportunities and risks are identified and addressed in a timely manner.

Specific project positions in 2012

Corporate Controlling / Business Controlling

• Focus of Controlling is the financial performance of the Group as well as of all single divisions / areas of the Group
• Most important task: documentation, analysis and provision of information on financial performance
• Additionally: support and companionship of the yearly budget and planning process
• Cost efficiency is one of the key drivers of the performance of the business divisions
• Close to the business: analysis of large-scale investments and support of preparing top-management decision papers
• Close alignment with relevant controlling departments of the divisions is of great importance and if needed also consulting in controlling topics

Accounting

• Accounting is part of the Group’s financial organization
• Here, Affiliate Accounting offers all accounting services, such as accounts receivables, accounts payables, asset accounting and general ledger accounting
• One of the main duties of Affiliate Accounting is reporting in accordance with German GAAP and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• Affiliate Accounting is partner for the affiliates for all questions concerning accounting principles, valuation of assets / liabilities and the processes behind.
• Beyond that integrations, mergers, asset deals and support of start up companies are main duties - Affiliate Accounting ensures the successful implementation of these interesting topics

Internal Audit

• Providing independent and objective auditing services and audit related consulting services with regard to compliance requirements for the Board and Senior Management
• Internal Audit contributes to the Management Processes by analyzing and evaluating the processes, through which company objectives and values are defined and the achievement of these objectives is monitored
• The focal point of the activities of Internal Audit lies in the analysis and assessment with regard to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Internal Control System, the Risk Management System as well as to organizational control measures within the functions, corporate departments or at a divisional level

Requirements

If you are interested in this area, you should be able to think analytically and enjoy working with numbers. You should be a self-confident individual as you will have contact to some critical stakeholder. Additionally, you are able to handle the freedom associated with working independently and you demonstrate commitment.

The functional area “Business Development” and “Strategy” comprises different topics, which are both at home in the corporate center as well as in the divisions. Those topics range from cross-divisional strategic initiatives, development and exploitation of new business areas, to bigger change management initiatives and process improvements for our customers.

Specific project positions in 2012

Corporate Development / Business Development

• This area is characterized by high top-management involvement
• Here, topics are generally of international and worldwide relevance
• Interface to divisional, regional and / or functional contacts
• Execution of complex analysis for different questions, e.g. industry and market, competitors, portfolio, customer satisfaction
• Development and evaluation of options, as well as deduction of recommendations referring to those questions, incl. structured illustration and presentation of results
• Execution of stakeholder analysis
• Management of corporate initiatives on divisional level

Process Management / Change Management

• Embraces the philosophy incl. methods and tools to improve processes which have an effect on our customer satisfaction (inter alia Lean, Six Sigma)
• Aspects of it comprise change management topics
• Here, we focus on the development and enrichment of the change management toolbox as well as approach, implementation support, execution of change projects and support with workshops
• A typical change project would be support with regard to reorganization with new responsibilities, content and roles

Requirements

If you are interested in this area, you must possess outstanding analytical and conceptual abilities proven by exceptional results from your university career. You will be a good team player, you are solution oriented, creative, and have strong communication skills. Above-average willingness and ability to work under pressure and flexibility rounds up your profile.

DHL Solutions & Innovations is a driver for innovations as well as the central cross-DHL function which bundles the development of new technologies for tomorrow’s world. Based on market studies, analysis of industry strategies, and detailed customer surveys, DSI lays the fundament for future oriented and standardized logistics solutions. Therewith, DSI has a special focus on topics like urbanization, security and digitalization.

Specific project positions in 2012

• Development of innovative solutions and products together with the DHL business units
• Taking care of the solutions and products – from idea to marketability, and anchoring as well implementing them in the business units
• E.g. for technological solutions in the RFID area, city logistics concepts or solutions and products for the energy sector

Requirements

If you are interested in this area you should be able to work in a creative and solution-oriented way. You should have a strong interest for logistics and technological topics. Besides your analytical skills you should also know how to implement solutions, and have good communications and team skills. You do not mind working independently.

Procurement is part of Deutsche Post DHL’s Global Business Services and an internal service organization that bundles all procurement activities of the divisions. Through quality control and cost efficiency, procurement makes a key contribution to success of the operative business.

Specific project positions in 2012

Global Sourcing Operations

• Definition and implementation of the corporate procurement strategy for respective Clusters
• Lead Global (virtual) Teams in respective Clusters
• Process Optimization within Network Supplies
• Support in tenders for network supplies (e.g. corporate wear) and/or facility management Support the supplier development process for network supplies

Requirements

If you are interested in this functional area, you should possess outstanding analytical abilities proven by exceptional results from your university career. Furthermore you should have strong communication skills. High commitment and proactiveness are also important. You love to work consistently on new topics. Besides speaking German and English fluently, additionally one more modern language (e.g. Spanish, Chinese) is required.

Personal data
Name:                         Katrin Westermann
Studies:                      European Business Programme (EBP)
                                     Master in European Studies
Current Position:      Procurement Europe, Category Services

My GROW-Program
I found the selection process very professional, transparent and fast. We started the GROW Program with a joint kick-off event and one week training. Afterwards I spent three weeks in the International Mail Center in Frankfurt getting to know the operational work on shop floor level. This was a great time to get to know each other, learn about the company and be prepared for my first project.

Reasons for my decision
Deutsche Post DHL is an international, multicultural company, with a great variety of attractive jobs. The program offers me an insight into different functional areas and the company’s divisions. For me it is very important that each graduate has his own mentor. These are important to develop not only professional skills, but as well regarding personal matters.

My career within the group
I started the program in Brussels, which is a truly international environment. After this first stage I will transfer to an another division and functional area in an other country for 6 month. This interdisciplinary and international approach will give me good knowledge about the company. It is difficult to say now already where I see myself after the program. I hope to work in an international environment, maybe in one of the regional category teams in Procurement.

Personal data
Name:                        Jan-Dirk Rauf
Studies:                     Law (second state examination), Mediation
Current Position:     Human Resources, Code of Conduct

My GROW-Program
For me the GROW-Program is a very international experience. My first project is the group wide implementation of the Code of Conduct. As it is a global project, I am working in a team with many nationalities: my colleagues are Italian, Spanish, Philippine and Portuguese.

Reasons for my decision
Deutsche Post DHL is an amazing mixture between global player and “down-to-earth business”: in Germany the image of Deutsche Post DHL is shaped by the local mailman with whom you can have a short chat every day. On the other hand Deutsche Post DHL has made a rapid development from federal admin into the largest logistics provider in the world. Both faces of Deutsche Post DHL are of value and both will secure its future prosperity.

My career within the group
As I am currently enjoying only the initial phase it is too early to say in which of the companies diverse functional areas I would like to work long term. But I feel very comfortable within Deutsche Post DHL and especially within the Corporate Culture Team – so the GROW Program has already provided one field of work where I can certainly imagine a rewarding future.

Personal data
Name:                        Nadia Susanova
Studies:                     Business Administration (MBA)
                                    European School of Business, Reutlingen
Current Position:     Program Manager Automotive
                                    DHL Global Customer Solutions EMEA

My GROW-Program
The selection process (Assessment Center) serves as a good preparation for a turbulent Business Development environment, proving your ability to cope with stress, to convince other people and “to sell”. During the home track of the GROW-program I was involved into customer acquisition projects in Sales/Business Development. The exchange track of GROW gave me a deep insight into another functional area and division of Deutsche Post DHL and provided a better overall understanding of the logistics world. 

Reasons for my decision
My reasons to choose Deutsche Post DHL are great opportunities for a personal and career development within the dynamic world of a global player, combined with my high interest in the rapidly growing logistics industry.

My career within the group
After my GROW program I worked about two years in Sales / Business Development at DHL Supply Chain in Hamburg, Germany. Starting from October 2009 I made up my mind to pursue a more international career within the Group and switched to the global Team of DHL Global Customer Solutions, based in Brussels, Belgium.

Personal data
Name:                        Therese Nilsson
Studies:                      Master of Science Mechanical Engineering,
                                     Lund University, Sweden
Current Position:      Senior Business Analyst,     
                                     Operations Planning & Development,     
                                     DHL Express Europe, Brussels

My GROW-Program
Coming to a new company it was nice to be part of the GROW community, where we could support each other. The kick off workshop and initial training was a great opportunity to meet a lot of nice colleagues and it was easy to network. Through the variety of projects within the program I have gained great knowledge about the business as well as a wider view and understanding of the company. The different trainings during the program prepared me excellent for my professional life.

Reasons for my decision
Since Deutsche Post DHL is a large international company there are endless career possibilities. It is easy to switch positions and move to other countries.

My career within the group
From June 2006 to November 2007 I worked as GROW participant in four different positions: Operations Programs Europe and Pick-up & Delivery (both in Brussels), Travel and Entertainment category in Corporate Procurement in Bonn and Operations Planning & Development in Brussels again. Since December 2007 I have been working as Senior Business Analyst at Operations Planning & Development, DHL Express Europe in Brussels.

Personal Data
Name:                         Holger Schattke
Studies:                      European Studies of Business & Management     
                                     (Bielefeld / Rotterdam)
Current Position:      Leader Project Unit     
                                     Digitalization Incoming Mail

My GROW-Program
My intention to participate in the graduate program of Deutsche Post DHL was to get to know the traditional as well as the new businesses of Deutsche Post. During this time I got to know the Finance area, where I did partner management for retail outlets. I worked as Key Account Manager at eCommerce Services and as Product Manager at ePost Portal.

Reasons for my decision
Deutsche Post DHL is an international company in a fast moving environment. I chose the graduate program, as it offers a career entry with various opportunities. Its training is tailored toward individual needs. After the program you are qualified for a wide range of possible roles, due to experience gained in operational leadership or developing special expertise.

My career within the group
In 1999 I started as a graduate at Deutsche Post AG. My next roles were: Product Manager ePost Portal (free email service of Deutsche Post) from 2000 to 2001, Product Manager Dokumentenservice Online (electronic bill presentment & payment services) from 2002 to 2005 and Team Leader Project Management Outsourcing Services from 2006 to 2007. Since October 2007 I have been working as Leader Project Unit Digitalization Incoming Mail.

Personal data
Name:                        Guillaume Rolland
Studies:                     - APICS certification in Supply Chain Management
                                    - Master degree in Logistics
                                    - Mechanical Engineering background
Current Position:     Standardization Project Coordinator
                                    DHL Express Europe –
                                    Operations Pick-Up and Delivery

My GROW-Program
The Assessment Center at the end of the selection process was a great and challenging experience: you get a good evaluation on which areas you can develop yourself further. The transfer phase is a great opportunity to adapt to a different way of interacting professionally with people. During the program you meet many people of different nationalities. The European Coordination Center in Brussels for example is a very international place: there are people from about ten different countries only in my functional area.

Reasons for my decision
My reasons to choose Deutsche Post DHL as an employer were its market position, the international spirit within the company and its internal career opportunities. For me the potential of the brand DHL and its impact on the customers was also an exciting aspect.

My career within the group
From June to December 2006 I worked at DHL Express Europe in Brussels, Operations Planning and Development, as a Project Analyst. This was followed by my second project as Business Analyst in Marketing and Sales at DHL Global Forwarding Germany. Since June 2007 I am back in Brussels again, working as Project Coordinator at Operations Pick-Up and Delivery.

The application period will start in January.

To successfully apply to our graduate program, first of all you will have to decide about participating in the national or international program and to follow one of the links to our standard application form:

• National graduate program
• International graduate program

Please have your university transcripts as well as letters of recommendation from any internships, professional positions that you have had, and your CV in table form ready to be uploaded. We recommend pdf as the preferred file format.

After we receive your application, it will be automatically placed in our applicant database. You will receive an e-mail confirming the arrival of the application.

After your online form is reviewed, we will invite you to an online assessment from end of January on. To facilitate this assessment, you will receive an e-mail containing a code that will identify you and enable us to make an individual evaluation about your performance.

You should expect the test to take about 90 minutes.

Middle of March till end of April, you will be invited to a telephone interview.

Based on the results of the online CV and online assessment a second selection will be conducted. We will invite successful applicants to a telephone interview that will be conducted by our recruiting experts.

The interview will last about 45 minutes.

Our assessment centers will be held in May and June.

After having successfully completed the telephone interview, and after the functional responsibles having screened your documents, we will invite you to an assessment center. Applicants and potential mentors have the chance to get to know each other personally. By analyzing your strengths and your potential, we would like to assess your qualification for our graduate program correctly.

We will make our decisions at the end of the assessment center in May respectively June.

Applicants who successfully complete all steps of the selection process will receive a job offer at the end of the assessment center.

After signing the contract, we will warmly welcome you as a member of our graduate program at the beginning of October.