ZF trainee programme selects 3 Indian students

ZF Friedrichshafen AG has rolled out a ‘ZF International Postgraduate Trainee Program’ for young engineers from Germany, USA, China & India offering them an opportunity to kick-start a career with the automotive component supplier. This is the second year this programme is being conducted in India. Over 1,000 applications from engineering students were received out of which 300 students were shortlisted for the assessment rounds & finally 3 students got through the rigorous assessment to join a global mix of 25 International postgraduate trainees selected from Germany, USA, China, Brazil & India for 2012/13. “The two main reasons for ZF to conduct this programme in India are that ZF sees future growth potential coming from the Asian Markets and the availability of a young, qualified talent pool is another plus point,” emphasises Jürgen Holeksa, member of the Board of Management and responsible for Corporate Human Resources . The programme spans over fifteen months, starting each year in October & beings with an orientation week in the Headquarters of ZF at Friedrichshafen, Germany. Post this orientation; there are four one-week workshops/seminars between the individual projects to discuss topics: project management, communication management, intercultural skills, etc. The structure of the programme provides for an individual and a team project. In the individual project, the student will work on four self-organised individual projects at four different locations including one outside Germany. Each project lasts three to four months (1-2 projects outside area of own expertise). In the joint team project, all trainees are assigned to a joint project, which must be completed as a team, within the time frame of the trainee programme. A steering committee accompanies the group, which includes executives from within the company. Upon successful completion of this programme these students will be given an assignment within the ZF Group.