Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Vocational Training

A true game changer — your vocational training at Fraunhofer

Start your career at Fraunhofer and help shape exciting and socially relevant topics even before you finish your vocational training! With some 40 vocational training tracks across the fields of physical and life sciences, technology and engineering, IT, media and administration, we offer the perfect starting point for your career. Whether you choose to work at one of our institutes or our central administrative locations in Munich, Sankt Augustin or Stuttgart, conditions here are perfect to help you get your career journey off to the right start.

Who you are

To embark on vocational training at Fraunhofer, you need to have completed at least a general secondary education (Mittlere Reife or equivalent in the German system) or have earned a higher education entrance qualification (Abitur or equivalent in the German system) or an equivalent diploma. A lower secondary diploma (Hauptschule or equivalent in the German system) is sufficient in some cases. It is also important for you to be motivated about learning and have a personal profile that is a good fit for us, with the right soft skills.

We also welcome those who have completed some higher education but not finished a degree.

If you have any questions about applying and/or the various vocational training tracks available, feel free to reach out to the contact persons at the Fraunhofer institutes.

Let’s go! Our topics:

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Two trainees sitting at a desk in front of a computer screen. A woman stands behind them and points at the screen.
Two young women sit at a desk and look at a computer screen.

Do you have finely honed organizational skills and a good head for numbers? Are you open, communicative and always willing to work as part of a team? Do you enjoy using digital tools and interacting with people, too? If so, then vocational training in business and commerce could be the perfect fit for you!

Business and commerce is an incredibly diverse field, offering fresh challenges on an ongoing basis, from accounting and HR to marketing and purchasing. Learn how to keep track of the big picture and manage your time efficiently. At Fraunhofer, you can do your training either at one of our institutes or at headquarters. You will not only lay a broad basis for your future career but also explore exciting prospects along the way.

So, what are you waiting for? Take the first steps to a promising future today!

Business and commercial vocational training tracks at Fraunhofer 

  • Office manager (Kauffrau/-mann für Büromanagement) 
  • Tourism services management clerk, management clerk for business trips (Tourismuskaufmann/-frau, Fachrichtung Geschäftsreisen)
  • Event manager (Veranstaltungskauffrau/-mann)

A young woman in a lab coat sits in front of laboratory device in a clean room. In the background, a man in a lab coat stands at another piece of laboratory device.
A young woman and a young man are sitting at a workbench soldering.

Experimental research is beneficial for our day-to-day lives. Do you want to play a part in it? Do you have a pioneering spirit driven by interest in the physical and life sciences, with a thirst to understand, observe and analyze processes with a holistic approach? If so, you would definitely thrive in vocational training at one of our institutes!

Many Fraunhofer institutes offer unique challenges in modern lab settings, from microtechnology to materials testing. You will be a part of our projects from day one, working closely with leading scientists and researchers. You will take a deep dive into day-to-day research practice, studying substances, analyzing samples and conducting experiments on your own.

It’s crystal clear: Fraunhofer shapes the future. Are you in?

Vocational training tracks in physical and life sciences

  • Biological laboratory technician (Biologielaborant*in)
  • Chemical laboratory technician (Chemielaborant*in)
  • Lacquer and varnish laboratory technician (Lacklaborant*in)
  • Microtechnologist (Mikrotechnolog*in)
  • Physics laboratory technician (Physiklaborant*in)

A young woman and a young man are sitting at a workbench soldering.
A young female and a young male trainee operate a milling machine in a workshop.
A young woman and a young man are sitting at a workbench soldering.

The right technology is the key to successful research at Fraunhofer. At our specialized workshops, teams work with various materials geared specifically toward science and research. From assembling and installing components to developing applications and designing complex systems, vocational training with us will open doors to positions of responsibility while also giving you the opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge and put it to work right away.

Or is electricity your element? If so, then vocational training in electronics could be the perfect fit for you! You will learn how to light up buildings and make sure everything works smoothly. Even better, you don’t have to go it alone — you’ll work as part of a team and always be in touch with helpful colleagues. 

Long story short: If you’re excited about energy and/or technology and are good with your hands, you can choose from a number of vocational training tracks:

  • Plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning systems
  • Precision optician (Feinoptiker*in)
  • Precision machinist (Feinwerkmechaniker*in)
  • Wood mechanic (Holzmechaniker*in)
  • Industrial mechanic (Industriemechaniker*in)
  • Mechatronics fitter (Mechatroniker*in)
  • Surface coater (Oberflächenbeschichter*in)
  • Technical product designer, product design and construction (Technische/-r Produktdesigner/-in, Maschinen- und Anlagenkonstruktion)
  • Design
  • Technical system planner — specializing in steel and metal engineering technology (Technische/-r Systemplaner/-in, Fachrichtung Stahl- und Metallbautechnik)
  • Mechanic in plastics and rubber processing (Verfahrensmechaniker/-in für Kunststoff- und Kautschuktechnik)
  • Electronics technician — specializing in energy and building technology (Elektroniker/-in der Fachrichtung Energie- und Gebäudetechnik)
  • Electronics technician for automation technology (Elektroniker/-in für Automatisierungstechnik)
  • Electronics technician for industrial engineering (Elektroniker/-in für Betriebstechnik)
  • Electronics technician for devices and systems (Elektroniker/-in für Geräte und Systeme

Two young women sit at a desk and look at a computer screen. A man stands in the middle and also looks at the screen.
Two young women stand in front of a server rack. One woman holds a tablet, the other is checking one of the server cables.

Do you love technology and think analytically? Are you always at the forefront of the latest in technology and interested in economic and industrial contexts? If so, vocational training in IT at Fraunhofer is probably the right thing for you! You can get started in practice right away, plan technical applications, resolve issues and advise users.

Advanced information systems and tools are essential to our research and administration activities. The IT departments at Fraunhofer keep everything running smoothly, from planning and configuration of technical applications to troubleshooting and supporting our employees.

Learn more about our vocational training tracks in IT here:

  • Information technology specialist, applications development (Fachinformatiker/-in Anwendungsentwicklung) 
  • Information technology specialist, systems integration (Fachinformatiker/-in für Systemintegration)
  • IT system electronics technician (IT-System-Elektroniker/-in)
  • Mathematical-technical software developer (Mathematisch-technische/-r Softwareentwickler

Two younger women and a man looking at a tablet.

Do other people envy your skill with words? Are you creative, and do you enjoy working with state-of-the-art information and communication technologies? Great! These qualities are the perfect foundation for a career in media.

Depending on where you believe your strengths lie, you can find the right vocational training spot for you here:

  • Specialist in media and information services — specialism of librarianship (Fachangestellte/-r für Medien- u. Informationsdienste, Fachrichtung Bibliothek)
  • Specialist in media and information services — specialism of information and documentation (Fachangestellte/-r für Medien- und Informationsdienste, Fachrichtung Information und Dokumentation)
  • Digital and print media designer (Mediengestalter/-in Digital/Print)
 

We say you’re worth it! Your benefits with us

We have a lot to offer. How do the following sound?

 

  • A secure vocational training spot with excellent chances of being hired on afterward
  • Multifaceted and exciting tasks
  • Attractive compensation under a collective bargaining agreement
  • Supplemental funding for your learning materials
  • Opportunities to spend time abroad at selected institutes
  • 30 days of annual vacation
  • Flexible working hours and flextime account
  • Room for your ideas and opportunities to take on responsibility early on in your career
  • An open, friendly working environment with flat hierarchies
What are we like as an employer? More info, right this way
 

The application process

Ideally, you will apply online via the job posting or by postal mail addressed to the relevant institute.

 

We need the following documents from you:

  • Cover letter containing your full contact information (address, phone number, email address).
  • Résumé/CV stating your diploma(s) obtained, favorite subjects, language skills and hobbies
  • Plain (not certified) copies of your last two school transcripts or your diploma certificate with transcript
Helpful hints for applying are available here

Still have questions? We have answers: our FAQ

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