Why Vinzent’s Internship Offered the Best of Both Worlds 

Vinzent Narz had worked as intern with other companies — so he thought he knew what to expect when he landed a three-month internship with DHL Consulting.

“But I immediately realised that this was going to be quite different,” says Vinzent. “For example, during my numerous client interactions at DHLC I was never treated as ‘a consultant’. Rather, I was welcomed by clients as a valued colleague who was there to offer them support. I also had lots of partner interactions, which isn’t that common for interns in other consultancies in my experience. So the power dynamic was completely different at DHLC, which made the work more efficient and fun. That was the most enjoyable part for me.”

The internship wasn’t just a chance for Frankfurt-born Vinzent to see what it would be like to work as a full-time Consultant at DHLC. He also found out more about the Bonn area. “I didn’t know the city,” he says. “But I’ve ended up loving it. The DHLC office and the DHL Group’s Post Tower headquarters are set in beautiful locations. And I really like the vibe here. Bonn is small but very international and it’s also near Cologne, so the mix is wonderful. That makes it a very special place.”

We asked Vinzent about his entire internship experience, including the application process, the work itself, the skills he learned, the support he received, and what it was like to be offered a full-time role at DHL Consulting.

What attracted you to an internship with DHL Consulting?

I studied a Master’s in Business and Economics, so I was debating whether to go into a consulting role or a finance role. Then I attended an online event where I met a consultant from DHL Consulting who told me more about the company and the types of projects it works on. It sounded really interesting. I also figured that DHL Group and DHL Consulting offer the best of both worlds.  

In what way?

 DHL Group is a big international name and one of the few companies with operations in nearly every country of the world. Its business model is fascinating, too, because everyone knows what DHL does — logistics! — even if they’re not quite sure what that entails.

Then there’s DHL Consulting, which is a dynamic, fast-paced environment with lots of young colleagues from all over the world who are constantly working to improve the services and solutions that DHL offers its customers. I felt that combination set DHLC apart. It was the main attraction for me. 

What was the application process like?

After my online chat wth the DHLC consultant I completed an online test. Then I was invited to an interview day, which also took place online. That was comprised of two interviews and some cases to solve. 

What was the interview process like?

It’s really good from a candidate’s perspective, because you feel supported all the way — which, I discovered, is DHLC’s USP. This included a preparation session where I was given some helpful insights about the types of case-solving problems I might encounter and the kinds of questions I might be asked in the interviews. That was extremely useful.

Also, the day itself was well-structured. True, it was an intense three or four hours — but, after that, the offer came through quickly which I found very convenient. I started the internship in February 2024. 

Were you given any training?

During the first week I had a number of different training sessions. I learned more about DHL and the structure of the organization, plus some basic skills such as PowerPoint and so on. I also had various ‘welcome sessions’ with partners which were really insightful. 

Did you learn any skills during the internship?

Regular client interactions meant that I learned how to communicate effectively and efficiently. I got to understand which project details need to be prioritized in a meeting, and which pieces of information need to be delivered more succinctly. That’s a useful transferable skill. I also learned various technical skills such as Microsoft Power BI, Excel and PowerPoint. 

Did you face any challenges during the internship?

At the beginning of a consulting project, there are usually uncertainties to deal with. You ask yourself: ‘How will I solve this issue?’ The way forward is to go deeper into the topic so that you really get to understand it, and then have brainstorming sessions with colleagues.

For example, at one point it was my responsibility to create a Power BI dashboard, which I’d never done before. My first thought was: ‘How do I do that?’ But it ended up being a great learning experience. Now I’m really good at Power BI — and by developing a dashboard I was able to add value for the client, too. 

Did you have support from colleagues along the way?

Yes! Support is available from everyone. I had a buddy to help me with daily tasks and questions. I also had an assignment manager. And I had a personal developer who was a little more senior and who supported my progression. He wanted to know how I wanted to develop, what I liked about DHLC, what I didn’t like about it, and if there were things that I hadn’t done as an intern that I wanted to do. I asked him if there would be an opportunity to see some operations close up and, as a result, got to work at a DHL parcel hub in Bielefeld. That was a really cool experience. 

Were there any memorable in-office events you took part in?

Lunch and Learn sessions are very enjoyable. As the title suggests, these take place in the office over lunch and offer important learning opportunities! Recently we had one focusing on business strategies for the Group; but there are cultural Lunch and Learns too, where colleagues of different nationalities bring in food from their countries of origin and talk about the things that make their culture special. It’s informal and fun.

Another brilliant offering for interns are knowledge-sharing sessions where consultants explain their work on other projects, the challenges they faced and the solutions they came up with. 

What made you decide to join DHL Consulting full-time after completing the internship?

The internship was a great opportunity to find out if DHL Consulting was as cool as I imagined it to be. I thought: ‘If I enjoy it here, I’ll stay.’ I was really open about my expectations because I had some job offers from other companies. But I loved the internship and, once it finished, I was delighted to be offered a full-time role. I started as a Consultant in July 2024.

Ambitions-wise, I see my future at DHL. I don’t know if I will stay at DHLC or if, at some point, I might get an opportunity to take up a role in one of the many divisions of the wider DHL Group. Let’s see! 

Do you have any advice for future interns or those who are considering applying to the program?

For future interns I would suggest coming into the office as much as possible, especially at the beginning. That way you’ll meet many new people and get the full DHL Consulting experience, particularly if you attend ‘moments that matter’ events such as Lunch and Learns.

For anyone considering applying for an internship I would say: it’s an excellent opportunity, especially for international interns, because you don’t have to speak German to work here. Also, Bonn is beautiful, as is nearby Cologne — which has an even more international flavor — so it’s a great area to relocate to. My advice would be: ‘Yes, do it!’