Top 10 international companies for internships in Hamburg

Want to boost your career with an internship in Hamburg? Get a feel for your internship opportunities and industries in the economic hub of Hamburg.

Marle

8 minute read

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Updated on 1 Nov 2024

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Working

Are you about to get started in the world of business? By choosing the Hanseatic city, you couldn't have picked a better place to kick start your career than with an internship in Hamburg.

Did you know that Hamburg ranks as a key economic hub? There are many expats pursuing the career of their dreams in international companies in Hamburg. A magnet for innovation and creativity, but also for tourism, maritime and research - Hamburg opens up a vast range of job opportunities. So, in this economic hotbed, you shouldn't run into any problems in finding your internship in Hamburg!

We'll take you to the best companies for internships in Hamburg (the Top 10 companies in Hamburg!) and introduce you to the wide range of industries that might be suitable for your internship in Hamburg.

It's no secret that the port of Hamburg's the centre of the regional industry. Hamburg is a definite key player in logistics.

But what other economic clusters exactly does Hamburg boast? In which sectors could you apply for an internship in Hamburg? Some good news: You certainly can choose from a wide range of areas - and you're sure to find the right fit!

The strong economic position of Hamburg also reinforces its role as a research and innovation hotspot:

as one of the world's top innovation and research centres, Hamburg stands out as one of the leading in Germany, and even in Europe.

This makes it an ideal choice for students looking for an internship within medical technology, chemistry or physics.

At the same time, Hamburg is home to the creative scene as well as the media world, shipbuilding and aeronautics, finance, insurance, communication, advertising and hospitality.

So as a prospective intern or working student in Germany, you'll have a wide variety of options at your fingertips! But let's delve a little deeper into the specific economic areas so that you get a real taste of your internship opportunities in Hamburg. Let's get started!

Aviation traffic

One of Hamburg's key economic pillars is aviation, thereby securing its leading role as not only an essential economic sector for the city but also as one of the major locations for the aviation industry!

Most of the world's top aviation companies are based in the Hanseatic City: Airbus, Lufthansa Technik and Hamburg Airport all have their homes in Hamburg. On top of these, there're more than 300 aviation suppliers, whose expertise drives the industry forward. Do you wonder how many people are employed in aviation in Hamburg? A total of 40,000 specialists are involved in aviation manufacturing, maintenance and airport operations. Wanna be part of them?

Maritime

Germany is an exporting country and therefore its economic success depends on its infrastructure. It comes as no surprise that the port of Hamburg is the key to the German economy and its strong performance is boosting economic growth.

And you'll certainly be surprised how many job and internship opportunities the maritime industry in Hamburg has to offer: from engineering to shipbuilding, maritime technology and offshore activities, there's a broad spectrum for your internship opportunities!

Logistics

The port hub is not only the linchpin for the maritime business, but naturally also for logistics. As a matter of fact: Hamburg is one of the key logistics centres in Northern Europe.

Did you know that almost 3,000 export companies are headquartered in Hamburg? No doubt you'll be able to find an internship position in a jiffy. As one of the leading centres for foreign trade, Hamburg draws numerous foreign export companies; for example, almost 400 Chinese companies have their headquarters in Hamburg.

All in all, there are almost 154,000 employees in the logistics industry who take care of transport, shipping and warehousing.

Healthcare

Another sector in which Hamburg holds the top spot is the healthcare sector. And this is no coincidence: after all, the internationally renowned healthcare system boasts research facilities, hospitals and a wide range of different medical treatments.

Guess how many people work in the healthcare system in Hamburg? We'll give you the answer: just about 160,000 employees work in the special clinics, research facilities or one of the 79 hospitals.

What makes the health care system in Hamburg stand out is that they adopt an interdisciplinary approach and therefore grow faster through enhanced cooperation. So, fancy your internship in the healthcare sector? Hamburg is the perfect place for you!

Medical and biotechnology

The Life Science North network comprises a whopping 500 companies that jointly develop innovative medicine and medical products and services. A total of 20,000 talented employees work in medical and biotechnology, pharmaceuticals or telemedicine. In other words, the city provides the best venue for all students with a thirst for knowledge seeking to swap their medical studies for an internship in Hamburg.

Creative industries

Perhaps you get the feeling that Hamburg forms the heart of science. No worries, though: there's much more Hamburg offers and creative minds will also find a home in the Hanseatic city. Truth to be told, along with Berlin Hamburg is the hotspot for creatives in Germany.

This is also why award-winning advertising and design agencies feel home in Hamburg alongside film studios or musical talents, bands and producers.

When it comes to creativity, you'll find it all in Hamburg.

The ideas of the creative minds literally bubble over and so they produce hip new creative concepts, projects, slogans or campaigns for corporations and small businesses. It comes as no surprise that in Hamburg the design industry constitutes the third strongest source of financial income and with 3,000 companies has almost 14,000 employees in industry.

Perhaps it's because of Hamburg's fresh breeze, the blend of alternative trendy districts and lavish residential neighbourhoods, or the laid-back Hamburg style that inspires the many creative talents in Hamburg. When looking for an internship in Hamburg, don't be intimidated. Internationally renowned agencies like Jung von Matt, Gerkan, and Marg & Partner are just around the corner! And for budding fashion designers, you can find labels like Anna Fuchs and corporations like Otto Group. As a musician, immerse yourself in the world of famous German singers like Jan Delay or Udo Lindenberg.

Media & IT

So, is there anything Hamburg can't do? Nope, the list is endless. Hamburg is also known as the "media capital". After all, Hamburg is home to many well-known media houses like Gruner+Jahr, Axel Springer, Spiegel, Die Zeit and dpa. Want to join the Grazia magazine? Then Hamburg is the right place for you.

The giant media hotspot not only boasts 23,000 companies from the industry but also employs almost 110,000 people in the sector! However, alongside the media houses, tech giants have also found their home in Hamburg. Did you know that Google, Facebook, Twitter and Yelp have pitched their tents in Hamburg? A dream for every intern who sees his or her future in social media or search engines.

And that's not all: Germany's largest job portal XING also comes from Hamburg. For gamers, there are dream internship positions in the gaming industry, where almost 150 different companies are based in Hamburg and employ almost 4,000 people. Now, joke aside, isn't there one thing Hamburg doesn't do?

So, now you have a taste of some of the most renowned industries that the city can offer you for your Hamburg internship. But which companies are looking for interns in Hamburg? We have compiled a list of the top 10 companies so that you can get a better feeling of the best companies based in Hamburg.

1. G+J Electronic Media Sales GmbH You're already familiar with this media giant: Gruner+Jahr. Looking for your internship as an international media marketer, as a roving reporter for Stern (for which you should have German language skills though) or as a web/app developer? Then join the 10,500 G+J employees as an intern. And: the company is located directly at Baumwall, right on the river Elbe. So you can be sure to have a dreamy view in your everyday life as an intern in Hamburg.

2. EDEKA ZENTRALE AG & Co. KG There is this one supermarket giant in every country, in Germany this is EDEKA. The food giant has established a hip brand with its business philosophy. What's more, EDEKA works closely with Hamburg's creative scene, landing viral commercials year after year. Sounds cool? That's exactly how 74,125 employees see it. Look through the internships for purchasing, IT, marketing and more for your new internship in Hamburg!

3. Otto Group The global fashion behemoth is a German trading and service company and plays a leading role in shaping the future of e-commerce. The group owns a total of 20 brands that are distributed worldwide. Interested in fashion? Then Otto is just the place for you. After all, it's no coincidence that the group is able to retain 47,000 employees. The e-commerce company provides its employees with major benefits: besides an employee discount on the fashion brands, you can apply for an equity share, use the vehicle fleet for private purposes and help yourself to a nutritious range of food - the list is long.

4. Asklepios Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA Just the place for every future intern in the healthcare & medical sector: Asklepios Clinic. With almost 160 health care facilities, the clinic association is Europe's largest privately family-owned clinic operator! And the large headcount speaks for itself: Asklepios employs almost 49,000 people. Hamburg is home to the largest hospital cluster in Europe.

5. Lufthansa Technik AG A dream come true for every aircraft enthusiast: at Lufthansa Technik, you can join the company as an intern in aviation maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification.

6. Beiersdorf AG One brand that has been and still is in the bathroom cabinet in almost every German household: Nivea. The Beiersdorf brand has made it into international trade with its body and skincare products so that it is well-known almost all over the world. The cosmetics group employs almost 20,000 people who are involved in all aspects of production, development, marketing, sales and distribution.

7. Panasonic A glance into your living room reveals that most households own a television, camera or kitchen appliance from the Japanese enterprise. In Germany, you have the opportunity to work as an intern to help the electrical giant in marketing, sales or IT.

8. Fielmann For all spectacle wearers, the road almost always leads straight to Fielmann. With its almost 18,000 employees, the company with a long tradition keeps spectacles in constant motion.

9. Airbus The pioneer in aviation: Airbus. The company is an international leader in the design, processing and delivery of aviation products, services and solutions.

10. Techniker Krankenkasse According to Focus Money, Techniker Krankenkasse is one of the top health insurance in Germany. Do you wonder what's in it for you? When you start as an intern at Techniker Krankenkasse, you'll not only be working with one of the best solutions in the industry; once you've completed your internship and take on your first full-time employment, you can expect a juicy entry-level salary. After all, insurance companies pay above-average salaries!

As you can see, Hamburg's taking its stand as the veritable economic lever in Germany. On top of its core activities coming from its location on the river Elbe, the Hanseatic city has built up a broad spectrum of industries; alongside maritime affairs, Hamburg acts as a hub for the creative scene, innovation, research and tourism. Its appealing and wide-ranging blend attracts not only employees from Germany and abroad, at the same time it provides valuable opportunities for potential investors.

However, there's another underlying motivation for the growing popularity of Hamburg among investors which is linked to you! The impressive variety of private and public universities in Hamburg and its apprenticeship opportunities also puts the city in a vanguard position among other cities in Germany. So, you see: the multifaceted talent pool simply couldn't be more appealing to potential investors!

Were you aware that about 87% of employees are employed in the service sector?

And out of this 87%, 397,400 employees work in logistics, hospitality, IT, communication and commerce. If we shift our gaze to the healthcare and welfare sectors, there are around 354,700 workers in these areas. Finance, real estate, insurance and corporate services employ a total of 312,900 people in Hamburg!

As you can see, Hamburg certainly merits the title of one of the key economic hotspots in Europe. After all, the Hanseatic city boasts a spectrum of successful industries and attracts expats from all over the world to kick start their careers.

Whether in the maritime industry, aviation, research or the creative scene: Hamburg provides plenty of internship opportunities - and possibly even your entry into the professional world. Now it's time for you to drop off your applications. Don't forget to search for student accommodation options near your Hamburg office!