Alexandra Zoelle
Talent Management & Organizational Development
Novartis Pharma GmbH
What opportunities are there for students/graduates to join Novartis – temporarily or permanently?
We offer students the opportunity to complete an internship in various areas and to work as a working student while studying. Graduates can start with us as direct starters or start as trainees.
Which degrees do you prefer?
For direct entry, this depends on the position, usually at least a master's degree. A doctorate is mandatory for trainees specializing in medicine. Applicants also need at least a master’s degree to focus on marketing or in one of the support functions (purchasing, human resources, supply chain management). We attach particular importance to a very well completed diploma or master's degree or doctorate with a focus on medicine. In addition, initial experience in the form of internships in the relevant areas is desirable. International experience and non-university involvement are also important to us.
What does a trainee career at Novartis look like?
You will be employed as a trainee at Novartis Pharma GmbH for a permanent period. For the duration of your trainee program (18 months), you will be integrated into all work processes right from the start and will take on demanding tasks in project and day-to-day business. Your flow plan will be designed individually with you and your department. Among other things, there is an introductory event for new employees where you will find out everything you need to know. You will also receive an alumni trainee sponsor for the first six months. You can also expect fireside chats with management and alumni networks to make the start easier.
Which degree programs are you particularly looking for at the moment?
This varies depending on the target position. In most areas, we are interested in degrees in natural sciences and business administration as well as graduates in human medicine.
What are the opportunities for advancement?
We have a lot of training fluctuation abroad and at the headquarters in Basel. Around 50 percent of all trainees take advantage of the opportunity to work for a global company. By the way: We don't need a women's quota either: in 2012, 70 percent of our new hires were female, and the first management level is already 50 percent women.
What further training options are there?
The trainee program is accompanied by a practice-oriented development program with several modules (currently time and self-management, communication training, team building, conflict management). All employees, together with their supervisor, can choose from an extensive range of training courses tailored to their individual needs (IT training, language training, leadership training, soft skills training, etc.).
What does a newcomer earn at Novartis?
Novartis offers an attractive trainee salary as well as accommodation in an apartment for the first three months. We also cover the brokerage and moving costs. In addition, we offer an attractive and comprehensive health & fitness concept, subsidies for the company canteen and public transport subscription.
What is important to you in the interview?
Personally, it is important to me that the applicant is authentic.
Further information about applications and open positions can be found here.
Mathias Finkele, HR manager
Pfizer Germany
What options are there for students/graduates to join Pfizer – temporarily or permanently?
We offer students the opportunity to gain practical experience as a working student during their studies. The students then support a department with up to 20 hours a week - alongside their studies. An internship in various areas is also possible. Graduates have the opportunity to go straight into the job or get to know the company and the job as a trainee. We advertise all open positions online at pfizercareers.com .
Which degrees do you prefer?
We are very open about the deal. We also offer our own BA degree programs, for example International Business Administration.
What does a trainee career at Pfizer look like?
A trainee program usually lasts 24 months and is possible in different areas, for example in marketing or medicine. The open positions are advertised on pfizercareers.com/de . During the program, the trainee gets to know the company, the area and the activity “on the job”. The trainee usually goes through several stations and can take advantage of external training if necessary.
Which degree programs are you particularly looking for at the moment?
We are currently particularly looking for natural scientists (medics, biologists, chemists, pharmacists) and economists.
What are the opportunities for advancement?
We are a dynamic company where there are always many opportunities. There is no such thing as a “planned” career path because a lot depends on the ambitions and ideas of the employees. For trainees, the first goal is to be given a permanent position if they perform well. We succeed in this in most cases.
What further training options are there?
There is no fixed training program that all employees go through. In annual discussions, supervisors and employees consider together where there are development opportunities and how they can be realized. Where it makes sense, external programs are made possible.
What is important to you in the interview?
In addition to the technical requirements, the most important thing in the interview is to find out whether the candidates are a good fit for Pfizer and the respective area. We are particularly looking for colleagues who want to contribute their own ideas, are open to challenges and want to work in an international context.
How important is international experience on your CV?
Experience abroad is certainly an important aspect - especially in a globally organized company. However, it is certainly not the only deciding factor. Language skills are extremely important in addition to professional suitability. A stay abroad during your studies is definitely an advantage here.
Further information about applications and open positions can be found here.
Birgit Huber, Head of Center of Excellence People and Talent
Sanofi Germany
What options are there for students/graduates to join Sanofi – temporarily or permanently?
Students can complete a (compulsory) internship or a thesis at Sanofi or take on a working student position during the semester break. After completing your studies, you can start through a trainee program or as direct entry.
Which degrees do you prefer?
We prefer applicants with a master's degree, in research and development with a doctorate and, if necessary, a post-doc.
What does the “typical” entry into Sanofi look like?
Most interested parties apply specifically to a job advertisement, some even on their own initiative. In some areas of the company, entry through a trainee program is common, such as in marketing and sales, while in other areas direct entry is preferred. The new employees are often assigned a mentor from the specialist department at the beginning. An orientation day “Getting Started” with a company presentation, getting to know management representatives and a tour of the large Höchst industrial park round off the start. In order to enable people to look beyond their own horizons and into other departments, we use the “Connect” program to put all new academics in touch with a tutor from another company department for their first year.
What does a trainee career at Sanofi look like?
We generally attach importance to alternating areas of application in our trainee programs. Trainees go through at least two stations, preferably three, one of which can also be abroad. Marketing trainees, for example, also complete a station at Medical. Trainees in the human resources department work in personnel marketing and personnel development. In addition, a demanding, individually tailored development program is agreed upon.
Which degree programs are you particularly looking for at the moment?
In the natural sciences, we are looking for applicants from the fields of biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, pharmacy and human and veterinary medicine. When it comes to engineering, the main disciplines are mechanical engineering, mechatronics, medical, plastics, precision engineering, pharmaceutical, electrical, automation and EMR technology.
What are the opportunities for advancement?
At Sanofi there are no “predefined” career levels, but rather a varied “career climbing wall” with a variety of development opportunities. This means: specialist, management and project tasks alternate and the employees actively influence their own career paths and are supported by accompanying development measures.
What further training options are there?
We offer our employees individual, career-long training opportunities as well as an extensive catalog of internal and external seminars and training courses. There are also development programs for our young “talents” and mentoring programs for our “high potentials”.
What does a newcomer earn at Sanofi?
Trainees at Sanofi receive around 45,600 euros gross in the first year and around 48,000 euros in the second year. In the natural sciences and technology sector, the starting salary for bachelor's graduates is around 56,500 euros gross, and for master's graduates it is around 66,000 euros. Applicants who are hired with a doctorate can expect a starting salary of around 70,000 euros annually. Salaries for academics are generally regulated by the general collective agreement for academics in the chemical industry. The salaries for young professionals and professionals depend on the position. We offer our employees an attractive compensation package including a bonus, employee share programs, pension systems, modern working and part-time models, mobile office, support with childcare and elder care as well as health promotion programs, fitness centers close to the company and sports with colleagues.
What is important to you in the interview?
During the interview, it is particularly important to us that applicants present themselves authentically and are well prepared. Great attention is also paid to the personality and strategic view of the customer. We are looking for communicative team players.
How important is international experience on your CV?
Language skills and international experience are an advantage, for example through an au pair year, a semester abroad, an internship or a thesis, especially in English-speaking countries. What is important to us is an interest in intercultural work, because that is the order of the day at Sanofi!
Further information about a career at Sanofi can be found here .
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Alexandra Zoelle Talent Management & Organizational Development Novartis Pharma GmbH What opportunities are there for students/graduates to join Novartis – temporarily or permanently? We offer students the opportunity to complete an internship in various areas and to work as a working student while studying. Graduates can start with us as direct starters or as entry-level employees
