Your graduate program - Your future

Giuseppe completed his master’s degree in Management in Italy and joined us as a graduate trainee in the Digital Transformation & Projects department.

As an international management graduate, I have always tried to find myself in a global environment, so when I was considering a workplace, UniCredit was at the top of my list. I initially applied and completed the selection process for the UniCredit Impact Graduate Program in Milan. Although I was not among the 25 people selected, I received positive feedback and a few days later was given the opportunity to join UniCredit in the German Graduate Program in Munich. 

I ended up being hired by UniCredit Bank GmbH, finding myself in one of the most international teams - with colleagues from Austria, Croatia, Ukraine and Mexico - making the burden of not speaking German a bit lighter. As part of the CEO office, I am currently in a department that is fully involved in supporting the decision-making process. Our positioning is helpful in order to quickly gain information about how the bank is evolving while keeping an eye on the future. The time here has really flown by, thanks to the healthy workplace I found when I moved here and all the really pleasant colleagues / friends I have had the chance to meet.

Juliana got off to a flying start as a Junior Sustainable Finance Officer CRO after completing her graduate program in Internal Validation. She now works as a Risk Manager for Real Estate & Private Clients with an ESG perspective on real estate.

Something that has always been particularly important to me is open and transparent communication with colleagues and managers and the associated feedback and error culture. In my opinion, this plays a very important role in one’s own development and progress. This is especially the case if you are working on an unfamiliar topic. Through this regular and open exchange, I was able to both encourage and challenge my environment and myself. 

There are many opportunities to learn about and participate in other areas of activity at the bank. By participating in various initiatives (e.g., Brownbag Sessions, Trainee Meets Manager) and other events - some of which we also organised from our own graduate trainee ranks - I was able to gain many different impressions. Above all, the possibility for rotations during my graduate program and the direct collaboration and support allowed me to think beyond the scope of my work. 

For example, I worked on the Sustainable Finance Regulatory project for about eight weeks. This work fascinated me so much that after completing my graduate program, I was given the opportunity to join the project on a permanent basis. Entry opportunities after the graduate program period are therefore not set in stone. If strengths and interests are clearly evident (as they were for me in the ESG area), why not go in a different direction? I highly recommend that everyone gain as much insight and experience as possible and make the most of the opportunities presented. 

Fabian advises wealthy private clients in his graduate program and really appreciates the many networking opportunities during the program.

HVB places great emphasis on successful and stress-free onboarding. Everyone takes a great deal of time - be it at events or in person on site. Management takes time for us, tells us about their careers and answers our questions. And my personal buddy, Elias, made the first few days easy for me - We still keep in touch on a regular basis. ‘Networking’ is a top priority in the graduate program and is also encouraged accordingly. As a new graduate trainee, you notice this right away. 

During my graduate program, I was able to expand my network through events such as Welcome Day, ‘NEWS’ or Graduate Trainee Day. On the one hand, I was able to get to know other graduate trainees quickly, for example in a graffiti workshop or when we solved an escape-room challenge together. On the other hand, I also got to know many other colleagues and the bank’s top management. As graduate trainees, we are ambassadors - and we are committed to our employer.

I share my experiences and impressions with the world through LinkedIn, for example. Our suggestions and ideas are also heard internally. I had the opportunity to communicate my impressions and ideas to the board in a small GEC Connect group. A particular highlight was the invitation to the CEO Dinner, where I had the chance to be part of interesting and valuable conversations with our CEO Marion Höllinger, the entire Management Board and our CEO of UniCredit Group Andrea Orcel, thus expanding my network even further.

Irfan brings his knowledge from Business Client Service to the Digital Transformation team after completing his graduate program.

My Small Business Clients Sales graduate program was the perfect way for me to combine practical experience with my continuing education studies after my apprenticeship as a bank clerk. Through my numerous rotations, I was able to meet many interesting colleagues and experience many different areas of responsibility. Changing workplaces and teams frequently was sometimes exhausting - But always went hand in hand with a huge networking opportunity and a wide range of knowledge from different fields of activity. 

During the course of the graduate program, I also particularly appreciated the flexibility in terms of my workplace and working hours, something that is increasingly becoming the new normal in our bank. From my point of view, a graduate program is the best way to get an overall view of banking. In the end, it helped me develop cross-divisionally from Business Client Service to project work on the Digital Transformation team.