Career development

All students complete a summer internship between their first and second year of study. Ideally, the mandatory internship is complemented by the ensuing cooperation between the students and the internship institutions in terms of the master thesis. This final project enables students to work on pressing issues on behalf of the respective institution and to find solutions to topical problems. The Hertie School partners with institutions from all three sectors to offer internship positions. Securing an internship is the responsibility of each student, but the Career Development office provides support where possible.

If you want even more working experience, you can apply to complete a full Professional Year between the first and second year of your studies. The Professional Year is not compulsory but offers an excellent opportunity for students to gain professional experience during their studies. Students who participate in this programme leave the Hertie School for 9 to 15 months in order to acquire professional experience. The partner institution ascribes suitable tasks to students and pays an appropriate remuneration. After the Professional Year, the students return to the Hertie School to begin their final year of studies.

To help you find the position that matches your interests, the school has established relationships with a range of attractive institutions such as ministries, international companies and NGOs.

Prospective students interested in gaining work experience in public sector consulting while completing their graduate degree are invited to learn more and to apply to the Integrated Professional Year with public sector consultancy BwConsulting. 

Handshake is the hub for all Career Development services at the Hertie School, designed to support students and alumni in navigating their professional paths. This platform provides you with 24/7 access to:

• Job opportunities from our employer network
• Connect with employers across various industries on Handshake.
• Join career workshops, company events, and recruitment days
• Career articles and videos with advice, tips and tricks
• Our 1:1 coaching calendar to book appointments with a qualified Career Coach
• A network of Hertie students and alumni from a diverse array of fields and backgrounds

All Hertie students gain access to their Handshake account upon enrollment. You’ll be able to activate your account by using your Hertie student account and password. And don’t worry, you’ll still have access even after graduating!

We’ve partnered with Enhancv, a user-friendly platform where Hertie students can create tailored CVs and cover letters free of charge when they use their Hertie student email address. Upload your CV or LinkedIn profile, choose a template, and customize your documents. Get instant feedback to meet ATS standards and tailor your applications per job role.

Offered as singular workshops or as bootcamps, our interactive Career Essentials workshops aim to develop skills in navigating the world of work and boost your confidence. We cover topics including exploring career options, job search strategies, CVs, cover letters, interviews, negotiations and much more!

We shine a light on a specific company, job role, field, or industry to give you insights into potential careers paths and help you explore your career options. You can connect with working professionals to discover where you can go with your degree, what skills are needed to succeed, and what they’re looking for from future talents.

Grow your professional network and expand your horizons at our networking events. Often kicking off with a panel talk with industry experts, you can gain new insights, potentially discover work opportunities, and hone your networking skills in a safe environment of Hertie alumni and company partners.
 

Every February, we bring students and alumni together with diverse array of companies from civil society, government agencies, international organisations, consulting, and other private sector organisations to promote networking and job opportunities at our annual career fair.

At Hertie, you’ll find a wide range of mentoring programmes tailored to your interests and background — from Women in Sustainability to the First Generation Mentoring Programme or initiatives designed specifically for alumni. These programmes are a great way to bridge the gap between theory and practice, while learning directly from experienced mentors who have navigated similar paths.

The Career Development team offers the Emerging Leaders Mentoring Programme, open to all first- and second-year students eager to develop skills in team dynamics, project ownership, and early-stage management. Beyond career guidance, this programme helps you build the mindset, confidence, and leadership capacity to lead ethically and inclusively in today’s complex environments.

On this page, you’ll find an overview of the mentoring opportunities available at Hertie.

Career planning is a lifelong matter. Be it a CV check, potential analysis, mock interviews, general orientation or decision-making, career coaching at the Hertie School supports students in all matters related to their career development. In individual sessions you receive advice, feedback or coaching on your professional questions. Even after having graduated you can schedule a meeting for individual coaching via Handshake.

Got a general careers question? Or just need a quick answer? Come and visit us during Career Corner, our drop-in office hours, which takes place every Monday and Tuesday from 1pm – 2pm in the cafeteria during term-time. No need to book, just come and find us on the big red sofa!