DZ BANK is preparing for the future in terms of innovation and digitalization - and is looking for trainees with a passion for digital topics and a hands-on mentality. HR manager Katja Haag explains in an interview what else is in demand and what the program offers.
Ms. Haag, on May 1, 2018, DZ BANK will launch the “Trainee 4.0” program for career starters for the first time. What's new about it?
What’s special is the focus on innovation and digitalization – in several specialist areas. We are therefore looking for people who bring new and unique perspectives, are very digitally active themselves and want to push forward new things together with us.
So digitalization poses major challenges for DZ BANK?
This applies to the entire financial sector and therefore also to banks in general. For example, look at how many FinTechs in Germany want to “revolutionize” the banking business and offer banking services. Competition and willingness to change will increase sharply. Especially among Generation Y customers who, on the one hand, only do everything online - but, according to studies, on the other hand also want personal advice. The challenge is to reconcile all of this. That's why we not only have to be open to new trends, but also use new channels and be brave to think differently in order to stay on the ball when it comes to digitalization.
How does the trainee program work and in which specialist areas can it be completed?
The program runs for 18 months and is offered in six different specialist areas: Payments & Accounts, Transaction Management, IT, Investment Promotion, Corporate Banking and Private Customer Securities Business. We have a total of six trainee positions, one in each department. Five of them are at the Frankfurt location and one is at the Düsseldorf location.
What they all have in common is the modular basic training, which imparts knowledge about innovation management, trend scouting, ideation and prototyping, among other things. The rest is individual and is designed together with the respective department.
Like for example?
In the trading area, for example, consulting services and securities platforms are to be further developed innovatively, and in the area of payment transactions, the aim is, among other things, to develop new payment methods. As mentioned, there is the opportunity to design the content of the trainee program together with us, that is wanted and we also attach importance to it.
So there is also a lot of room for your own ideas and creativity?
In any case. For example, the trainees can also go to our Innovation Lab with their department. This is a place where you can work on an idea as a team for three months, detached from day-to-day business. Apps, for example, are developed there using methods such as design thinking or prototyping. Once the three months are up, the individual ideas are pitched and evaluated. Ideally, your own app will then come onto the market as a product.
Do you have to be a “classic” business economist to do this?
No, applicants are welcome to be a little more “exotic” and have looked to the right and left along their path in life. However, knowledge of the banking business is important as a basis. This could have been an internship or training before studying.
The most important thing for us is a real interest in digital topics. Terms like VR, AI and blockchain should not be foreign words. Experience in the areas of innovation and digitalization is also an advantage. But you don't have to be a business IT specialist to do this - then you wouldn't need the trainee program.
It would be great if the passion for digital was evident in the application and you could see that there is interest and understanding. The “slightly different application” in terms of content and appearance – that would impress us.
So character and interests are ultimately more important than the “right” course of study?
For us, mentality is more important than university education. We look forward to new colleagues who have fun and the courage to change and improve things. This is also reflected in our name “The Initiative Bank”. A hands-on guy who isn't afraid of encountering resistance but keeps going anyway - and continues to have fun at the same time - would be perfect. In some circumstances, a physicist who runs his own blog or YouTube channel or who has already programmed an app privately is more suitable for us than someone who has a classic business administration or banking focus.
How will the selection process work?
If the application is interesting, you will receive an invitation to a video interview. There are six questions to answer, which is easy to do if you have looked at the advertisement beforehand. Once this hurdle has been overcome, the next stop is a full-day assessment center. Three candidates from each department are invited to this, and they can convince us of themselves in interviews and group exercises. If the assessment center goes well, at the end of the day one of three will receive a concrete offer for the trainee program 4.0 at DZ BANK.
In your opinion: What are the advantages of a trainee program compared to direct entry?
In the trainee program, new colleagues can “try out” topics and focuses because that is how the program is designed and intended. It's easier to get a taste of other topics or specialist areas, for example to change your personal focus. This contrasts with direct entry into a specific job and task profile, where you usually have to quickly take on responsibility in a team. For those who already know exactly what they want, this is certainly the right career start. For anyone who has not yet made a 100% commitment, joining a trainee program offers the opportunity to commit within this time. As a trainee 4.0, I think you can do this excellently.
Welcome to DZ BANK. We are the central institution of the cooperative financial group Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken and central bank for around 1,000 German cooperative banks, in which we are majority owned, are the second largest commercial bank in Germany and have the holding function for the companies of the DZ BANK Group. With our extensive range of financial services, we support the Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken in private customer, corporate customer and securities business as well as in transaction banking. Close cooperation and shared values shape our success.
Specialization in Transaction Management
Trainee 4.0 - focus on innovation / digitalization, specializing in transaction management
Specializing in private customer securities business
Specialization in product management, payment transactions
IT specialty
Trainee 4.0 - focus on innovation / digitalization, specializing in IT
Specialization in investment promotion
Trainee 4.0 - focus on innovation / digitalization, specializing in investment promotion
Specializing in corporate banking
Trainee 4.0 - focus on innovation/digitalization, specializing in corporate banking
DZ BANK is preparing for the future in terms of innovation and digitalization - and is looking for trainees with a passion for digital topics.
