Boost your career: Join our International Management Trainee Program

Hey cosmopolitan! Thrilled you’re here and interested to get to know us and our program! As you may already know from your research not many trainee programs offer the opportunity to work on your intercultural competence and on country-specific projects at the same time. Ours do! And we have come up with even more things as well such as regular information rounds and feedback meetings, individual development and training options as well as personal support and a lot of networking opportunities, of course.

We want you if:

• You hold a university degree, preferably in economics
• You are eager to meet new challenges
• You have ambitious goals
• You are you looking forward to a career in the dynamic world of retail
• You are energetic and have an entrepreneurial spirit

What we offer in return:

• An intensive and challenging 16-months program in international retail
• Exciting international & national projects and tasks you’re directly responsible for
• Opportunity to build up an international network helping you to thrive your projects
• Active participation in our core business while leaving your very own footprint
• Individual planning of your trainee program and subsequent career path

As you see, our international trainee program provides you with the right mix being your opportunity not to only shape your personal future successfully, but also drive change and meet challenges and thus shape the future of retail business – together with us!

Curious to hear or read more? We asked our graduates and current trainees to share their impressions and experiences.

Key figures

• Next program start: 15.11.2021
• Deadline for application: 12.09.2021
• Number of trainees: 6 trainees per round
• Involved countries:

Professional and personal requirements

• Academic degree preferably with focus on economics
• Practical or international experience – either through internships or studies abroad – are a further advantage, but we also address young professionals
• Enthusiastic and curious about the retail industry
• Ambitious team player with high personal commitment as well as strong communication, project management and analytical skills
• Fluent in local language (for applicants in Austria: German), fluent in English
• Mobile to travel and openness to take international career opportunities including relocation

Our program at a glance

ELEMENTS IN DETAIL

• Store Experience: You will enjoy extensive basic training to handle your first management responsibilities: during this training block you receive a comprehensive insight into the processes of a store in your home country/ country of employment and learn about the challenges of sales.
• International Project: You will partake an exciting project abroad to get to know our international business in a foreign European business unit at REWE International.
• Job Rotation: You will gain further insights via job rotation of a central division of your home country/ country of employment taking an active role.
• HQ Project: You can expect another exciting project on a comprehensive topic in our Austrian or German headquarters.
• Supply Chain: You will get to know the supply chain in this in-depth job rotation in the central departments.
• 2^nd Job Rotation: You will have the opportunity to get to know the local interfaces of the future position in the company via quick rotations.

Accompanying Measures during the whole program

• Special professional and personal development training courses and coaching sessions
• Regular feedback meetings with Strategic HRM RIAG (AUT) providing individual support
• Benefiting from a personal mentor on a high management level
• Regular exchange meetings with other trainees
• Group-wide networking

Inspiring Offers & BENEFITS

• Sustainable, exciting and multifaceted work for a trustworthy employer in a very supportive team with international career opportunities
• A diversified range of duties in an intercultural, dynamic, diverse and internationally active environment 
• Your own company mobile phone and laptop enabling maximum flexibility
• Country-specific benefits

Recruiting Process

Please include the following documents in your application: curriculum vitae, transcript of records (interim report or diploma) & a cover letter. In your cover letter, please include a prioritized list of three areas you are particularly interested in, selected from the areas below:

• Digital, Analytics, CRM
• Corporate Communication
• Finance & Controlling
• HR
• IT
• Marketing & Product Management
• Legal & Compliance
• Logistics & Transport
• Purchasing & Category Management
• Real Estate & Expansion
• Strategy & Consulting
• Sustainability

TO BE ACCEPTED INTO OUR INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT TRAINEE PROGRAM YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A MULTI-STAGE APPLICATION PROCESS

STAGES IN DETAIL

1. Online Application: You will apply in your home country at the respective REWE International business unit – please follow the instruction in the respective job advertisements.
2. Phone/ Virtual Interview: A phone or virtual interview with the respective country and business unit you have applied for will be conducted. The focus lies on you – your competencies, your motivation and your personal fit with the trainee program. A short presentation of the trainee program will also be included.
3. Recorded Video Interview (WEPOW): You receive an invitation to a time-shifted and recorded video interview, where you answer five predefined questions within a given time.
4. Real-Time Interview (in person or virtual) with Recruiting Team REWE International: You will briefly introduce yourself and confirm your preferences. Following a detailed program structure will be presented giving you the opportunity to ask in-depth questions.
5. Virtual Assessment Center: You will dial in to the virtual AC from the offices of the country organizations. We have the opportunity to get to know each other in more depth and we will assess your fit to the program and vice versa.
6. Decision & Offer: We are happy to have you on board! Your contract will be delivered as quickly as possible.
7. Program Start: New opportunities – your journey begins!

Take your career on another level and have a look for our local job advertisments!

Growing together – Further insights from our trainees and graduates

The first round of our trainee program started in 2001. Since then, over 60 people have already completed the program successfully, with our current CEO Mr. Marcel Haraszti as one of the first graduates. Over the years, the program has been cultivated, extended, and adjusted to cater to future requirements and remain attractive as well as competitive. In 2020 the very successful Austrian Management Trainee Program has been raised to an international level. As of now, high potentials will be sourced in all involved REWE International countries with one common goal: Finding and hiring the best-fit talents. Below you will find an excerpt of our current trainees and graduates of the past years.

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“Since my master in International Management, I have started a path that gave me the opportunity to live in different countries and to discover new cultures. My goal was to build an international profile and to continuously face challenges in new environments. By starting the career as a trainee, I held the responsibility of continuing the path of growth and development. Every step of the trainee program is provided with support and it gives the opportunity to continuously test yourself.

I have just concluded the store phase, in which I worked intensively in the shops of my home country. This was a rare chance to learn how a store impacts on the customer’s experience. Indeed, the store is where the selling takes place and it is the only moment in which you meet personally your customer. After this phase, a trainee can put in place all the experience maturated in the past months and bring his own point of view. Therefore, I will get the chance to participate in projects held in different countries and, most interestingly, it will be possible to have a broader image of REWE International and its implications.

In fact, as an international leader, REWE International comprises different brands and it embraces different cultures each with their own specific challenges. This heterogeneity requires to be open-minded but also to be prepared to catch the specific needs of every context. However, to master heterogeneity is also the core asset necessary to be competitive nowadays.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“I finished my master’s degree in Economics and Management with a specialization in International Trade and Finance. During my studies, I was having multiple internships in Corporate Finance and Accounting. I was also fortunate to experience working and studying abroad in Germany, Taiwan, and the USA. I decided to join BILLA Czech Republic because it is probably the first company, I connected with, even as a child. I am a regular customer for more than 20 years and because I am a food lover, this made a good match.

Further, the Trainee Program, gives me many opportunities, rotations, and challenges and I am learning quickly all needed skills and knowledge in the retail industry and project management. As a bonus, I will have a chance to go abroad and expand my network. I’ve currently finished my first phase (store phase). I feel a little bit nostalgic because I will miss this time so much. I am glad that I experience how challenging these jobs are and listen to all advice and concerns from all employees. A very good opportunity was also spending some time in PENNY Czech Republic and see something different. Now, I am more than ready to get back to the office and start to use my knowledge in practice.

Probably, I am most excited about the international project that will occur in IKI Lithuania but also for HQ project, that would be the icing on the cake.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“For me, being an International Management Trainee at REWE International, is the perfect opportunity to start my future career in the management of an international and well-known company. As my previous profession in the aviation sector has been completely different from working in the office and especially in the retail industry, I strongly believe this traineeship is the best way to discover the company from bottom to top. While working in different stores of the various brands of REWE in Austria for my first six months, I got an extensive insight into the daily business and challenges at the point of sale. Due to the close work with area and store managers I could gather first leadership experiences. Furthermore, this time gave me a hands-on view on the operation and tasks of a store, which was very interesting. Overall, the transformation process to BILLA Plus was definitely the highlight of my store phase.

I am convinced this time set an excellent basis for the following steps of my traineeship. As I am interested in strategy topics, I got the unique chance to accomplish my headquarter project in the inhouse consulting department of REWE International. There, I am working with experienced colleagues for an exciting project regarding the future of BILLA. I am very happy to use this time to learn and develop myself to work successfully in the management.

Having around nine months to go, I am looking forward to the next challenges waiting for me, especially during the international project abroad. Thinking ahead, I really like that my future job after the program is not prescribed yet. So, I can pursue my interests and use the different phases to find the perfect position for my future within the company.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“Because of my rural origins, I was taught certain values and attitudes, such as my awareness of the interdependence of humans/animals/environment, the understanding of the work behind the care of nature, the raising of animals, the cultivation and production of basic foodstuffs as well as the responsibility that results from this. This awareness and the down-to-earthiness associated with it have shaped me to this day.

As a management trainee at REWE International, I have the unique opportunity to work in different areas of the group, where I can grow and acquire new skills during this time. More than anything else, I have grown from the variety of tasks, from taking on my first project-related activities, from the challenging training in trading and from the personal mentors.

Particularly close to my heart is the further integration of biodiversity, nature and animal protection into our everyday life. That's why I spent a few months in a strategic health project for BILLA CEE, another few months at Ja! Natürlich in product and raw material management and now in our sustainability department. Especially in these challenging times, it is very exciting to work for a group that carries this sense of responsibility, cares for a sustainable society and sees this as an essential part of the business strategy.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“I think through my business studies and internships in different companies I have acquired the necessary hard skills for the program. Furthermore, the experience of my 2-year work-and-travel-trip gave me the necessary soft skills in terms of openness and intercultural competence.

I had several areas of interest and that is why it was a good idea to get to know the entire group rather than start as a direct entry. As a result, I was able to build up a network and also get to know PENNY Hungary in the international project. The current phase of the central project in floor management, I am enthusiastic about the various processes in the background that are necessary to offer the customer a good shopping experience. The team spirit is great and you can achieve goals together.

At REWE International, I think it's great that there are so many opportunities for further development and that you can always take a new career step. I am really happy to be part of it!”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“Although I was not so aware of it beforehand, it was actually clear that my career path would lead to the food industry. With a master's degree in business in one hand and a master's certificate in confectionery in the other, I had a clear affinity for food but had not yet identified a specific career field for myself.

With the International Management Trainee Program, I was not only able to explore food retailing from the ground up, but also had the opportunity to experience the complexity of the REWE International at first hand. This allowed me to gain a deep insight into the operations and processes in the stores as well as to get to know the versatile departments at the headquarter. The store period was a unique and very beneficial experience for me. In the subsequent central departments, I realized how important it is to truly understand the core business at the POS. As part of the trainee program, I also had the opportunity to visit a few of our suppliers. Looking at the other side of the value chain also helped me to better understand the big picture.

Today, the numerous experiences I gained during the trainee program facilitate and enrich my work in the Brand Management Team of the organic private labels. I am glad to have soon completed the program and thus found the perfect department and an ideal start for my professional career!”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“Out of interest in food, I started working in the delicatessen business during my law studies. That's when I finally became a food lover in the literal sense. A foodie, to use a more modern term. After graduation (and a few jobs later), I finally wanted to combine law, management and food. Thus, I took advantage of the great opportunity offered by the REWE Management Trainee Program.

Working in a store, shelving products and getting to know the core business was an ideal start. One of the most exciting projects as a trainee followed in product management: the launch of a new organic brand with a young and dedicated team. It was a wonderful and exciting moment to see customers discovering the new products.

After getting to know the CEE business and the sustainability department, I am now back closer to my legal roots. At the moment, I'm working as a legal project manager - product management and the purchasing department are right next door.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“After having successfully completed my studies in business management in Vienna, Seoul and Krems I have joined an Austrian Management Consulting company as a consultant. After one year in this specific role I have decided to take the next step and I became part of REWE International in 2018. 

I started my career at REWE International as a Management Trainee and worked there for 6 months in the BILLA Store “Ringstraßengalerien” in Vienna.  Although this time was quite intense and instructive, I really enjoyed getting to know how the day-to-day operating rhythm at a store works. During the first 6 months I also had the opportunity to work in the following stores of our other Austrian subsidiaries (BILLA Plus, BIPA, PENNY & SUTTERLÜTY).  For the second part of my traineeship, I joined the strategy department of BILLA CEE where I was able to work and support the team on various exciting international projects.  After completing my traineeship program I took the chance, and started to work in the Austrian strategy department where I have mainly supported the merger of MERKUR into the BILLA Family now called BILLA Plus.

Since the beginning of 2020 I am working for Marcel Haraszti, who is one Members of the Executive Board at REWE International and responsible for the “Full Range Stores in Austria”. In my daily work, I support Marcel Haraszti with strategic & conceptual tasks and questions with focus on project management and organization. Looking back to 2018 I’m very glad that I have joined REWE International as a Management Trainee.  During my time as a Trainee, I have seen how REWE International is structured and how the different departments are interacting with each other. I can recommend everyone to take the opportunity and start into the work life with a traineeship.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“I hold a master's degree in Sales Management and a diploma in Tourism Management, hence always was working in trade and service sector, close to the customer. This means for me, together with my team, digging deeper in the customer behaviour and needs, acknowledge their individual shopping mission and finally work out the best business solution for it. I started my career in the international tourism sector and came then to food retailing, all long focused on Operations and now in Strategy and Project Management. Personally, I am a fast-paced person, like to be a step ahead my personal comfort zone and to push myself day by day to achieve the best result, to try out something new, steadily develop further. Consequently, also as a Strategy Manager - what sounds very theoretical - I break down the concepts to the operational needs, to the project teams and the stores, to make a customer experience out of it.  I have abroad working experience in Berlin, on the Island of Mauritius and in Russia. As you can imagine, the people, the culture, the habits are very different and exactly this makes it so special to work international. 

This brought me to REWE, because especially for young ambitious people, the trainee program offers a smart possibility to jump into the big world of the REWE International and allows to create the own way of career. I liked most, that independently I was able to plan my schedule and so had exchanges and work time in all sales formats in Austria, starting from “snapshot visits” of Sutterlüty as a regional pioneer in Vorarlberg to 3 months working in BILLA Corso, the flagship store in Vienna. The fascinating time during my program was for sure my project work abroad, where I was involved in operations projects for BILLA Russia. This cross-functional work allowed me to get a valuable holistic overview of the company’s business processes and enriched my approach how to efficiently work with intercultural teams. It is about the right balance between international know-how sharing and local market expertise, what made my work in the country successful.  

The time abroad bound me from the beginning, to dive into the other culture and mirror it in the work. Consequently, my program ended smoothly into a position in the country, at that time as a Referent for the country CEO and further Strategy Manager and Head of Project Management Office in the area of BILLA CEE.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“The first experience working abroad I made before graduating from school. Ever since then I used every opportunity to work and study in different cities and countries. Being confronted with different people, mindsets and cultures and constantly stepping out of the comfort zone is definitely a good preparation for all the challenges you face in the course of your professional life.

What makes this program beautiful is the mixture of the different stages. Rather than selecting one of them, I prefer to highlight that you are able to drag very different take-aways and experience from the different phases. Putting all the pieces together provides you with a solid base that can guide you through any starting position in the company and further. The traineeship gave me the opportunity to still learn, develop and explore before deep-diving into the niche of a specified position. So far, I have been lucky enough to prevent my learning curve from flattening out, even during the post-traineeship period and I believe that the traineeship was building the ground for this. There has been hardly a week without learning on the go and this is exactly what keeps my motivation engine running. 

What I like about the company is the diversity of job profiles that it offers. It is not only about the differentiated profiles of your colleagues and co-workers that makes cooperation interesting and fruitful, but it also implies that you can find a multitude of options to develop further. Especially, when you are not 100% decided what your target position is in the next 5 to 10 years, and you would rather decide on it depending on which direction your strength and interest is evolving, then this company is give granting you a good opportunity for that. I started as a Junior Category Manager in BILLA Slovakia and assisted for two different Senior Category Managers in their category segments. In addition to learn about the operative business in category management, I got assigned to a project focusing on developing the assortment analysis process further. This allowed me to gain experience in both, the operative as well as the strategic aspects of the work with assortment, as the heart of the retail business.”

MY TRAINEE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

“After my Masters in Executive Management in Vienna, I decided to reorganize my career and restart with a Management Trainee Program at REWE International.

For six months, I stacked fruits and vegetables on shelves, ordered deli goods at the warehouse, baked bread, worked the cash desk and even lead operations in a BILLA store in the centre of Vienna. After learning a lot about sales and customer satisfaction, I moved to Slovakia for another 6 months where I introduced a new process in competition analysis on a commodity group level. The job rotation that concluded my program brought me back to the REWE International HQ in Wiener Neudorf.

After gaining such deep insights into the entire supply chain of REWE International on an international level, I decided to stick to keeping this overview and joined the logistics unit in supply chain. My current job is a cool mix of operational and strategic activities in bundling international deliveries to all warehouses of our strategic units in CEE and Italy. REWE values people, who are proactive and solve challenges in a sustainable way and I love doing just that. The Management Trainee Program gave me the right tools to understand and evaluate the impact of my team’s action on the entire supply chain.  If you are still seeking what you are passionate about, this program might be just the thing for you! Come join the team!”