Bosch is investing in future executives: this year, the supplier of technology and services plans to fill some 280 positions in its program for junior managers. A global search is underway for graduates with above-average college grades. Bosch wants them to join its Junior Managers Program (JMP), which will prepare them for executive positions.

"Tomorrow's business leaders need to be navigators and beacons," says Christoph Kübel, member of the board of management and director of industrial relations at Robert Bosch GmbH. "That is why we qualify our trainees to lead associates in a connected working world, to provide them with orientation, and to work with them to create excellence."

Most of Bosch's trainee positions are in Germany (65) and China (41). With roughly 34 positions, the company is expanding its program in the Southeast Asia region. For the first time, four candidates are also to be recruited in Africa. Kübel adds: "We are looking for well-rounded individuals with IT and software skills, as well as engineering and business graduates." The JMP is considered to be a career springboard. Four members of the current Bosch board of management are former trainees. The company plans to announce soon how many trained graduates it plans to recruit in total.

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