Inside ABB's Discovery and Early Talent Programs: Where Fresh Graduates Build Global Careers

Starting a career at a company that operates in over 100 countries can feel daunting, but ABB has built a structured pathway to make that leap manageable, and rewarding, for early-career talent. Through two flagship programmes, ABB Discovery and the Global Early Talent Program (GETP), the technology and automation giant gives graduates a genuine head start: real projects, international exposure, and a support network from day one.

Two Programmes, One Mission

ABB's early talent strategy centres on giving new graduates more than just a job, it gives them a journey. Both programmes are rotational by design, meaning participants don't sit in one role for two years; they move through different teams, functions, and sometimes countries, building a broad picture of how a global industrial business actually runs.

At the local level, some business units also run their own specific graduate schemes, so candidates are encouraged to explore ABB's job search directly to see what's live in their region.

ABB Discovery: The Business-Driven Rotational Programme

ABB Discovery is the company's broader early-career offering, open to graduates from a wide mix of disciplines - business, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering among them. It's designed for those who want variety before specialising.

How it's structured:

• Runs 18 to 24 months, split across three or four rotations
• Covers a wide range of functions, including commercial sales, finance, IS, project engineering, field service, supply chain, and operations
• Combines hands-on assignments with social, networking, and soft-skills development
• Activated at country level, so start dates and intake frequency vary by location - commonly April, June, July, or October, with one or two intakes a year depending on local demand

Who tends to apply: Bachelor's or master's graduates, depending on the specific programme's requirements, drawn to the idea of testing multiple roles before committing to a specialism.

Support along the way: Participants get a mix of soft-skills training (communication, intercultural awareness, virtual teamwork, interview prep) and role-specific technical training, tailored to their assignment and business area.

What happens after: In the closing months of the programme, participants apply for permanent positions that open up — turning the rotational experience into a genuine launchpad for a long-term role at ABB.

Global Early Talent Program: Built for Finance and Information Systems

The GETP is a more specialised, globally-run track focused specifically on two functions: Finance and Information Systems. It's aimed at recent master's graduates with a strong academic record who want deep functional expertise combined with genuine international exposure.

How it's structured:

• A three-assignment journey: nine months in the home country, six months on an international assignment, then nine months back home
• Kicks off with a week-long induction at ABB's corporate headquarters in Zurich, where participants meet peers from across the globe
• Includes a structured leadership development track throughout, culminating in a Leadership Learning Week - a project-based challenge where small trainee teams tackle real ABB business cases and present their findings to senior sponsors

What ABB looks for: Fluency in English is mandatory (other languages are a bonus), alongside strong communication skills, cultural adaptability, and resilience - unsurprising, given the international rotation built into the programme.

Beyond the technical training: GETP participants are mentored by senior leaders and work on live business challenges - recent cohorts, for example, contributed to a Generative AI project spanning Finance and Strategy, presenting their work in Zurich to functional heads.

The Common Thread: Real Work, Real Mentorship, Real Outcomes

What stands out across both programmes isn't just the rotation structure - it's the emphasis on mentorship and genuine business contribution. ABB leaders who sponsor trainee projects consistently point to the same thing: early talent brings fresh, unbiased questions to problems teams have stopped questioning. That exchange is treated as a two-way benefit, not just onboarding for the graduate.

For candidates weighing their options, the practical difference comes down to focus and breadth:

• Want to sample multiple functions and business areas before specialising? ABB Discovery offers that flexibility.
• Know you want a career in Finance or Information Systems, with a clearly defined international rotation? GETP offers a more targeted, deeply structured path.

Explore ABB's open early-career roles here https://mygwork.com/organizations/abb/early-careers