Germany

In Germany, traineeships are called "Praktikum" and have a long and established tradition in German companies. The Praktikum can be either compulsory, for students in secondary schools, vocational training centres (14 to 18 years old) and technical universities (18 to 24 years old), or voluntary, for students and graduates from schools and universities who wish to supplement their studies with practical experience in a company.
This type of traineeship is particularly popular in the media, publishing and advertising sectors.

Graduates wishing to move into managerial positions can also participate in a Trainee-Programme, which is usually carried out in large multinational companies offering paid traineeships of up to two years, where rotation in several company sectors is provided. The voluntary Praktikum as well as the TP are also open to young graduates from the European Union who wish to have a qualifying experience in a company. In this case a good knowledge of German is necessary. It is advisable to apply for a certificate at the end of the placement period.

The duration of the traineeship can range from 3 to 6 months (for a voluntary Praktikum) to a maximum of 24 months for an TP; the intern is usually asked to commit himself full-time.

A minimum remuneration is not always guaranteed for the traineeship. The payment of an allowance depends on the type of traineeship and its duration. 

For more information visit the Traineeships section of the EURES Portal.

Visit the Federal Employment Agency's database to find a traineeship.