Insights from Vera, Senior Consultant at DHL Consulting.
What does it actually mean to start a career in Inhouse Consulting?
For many students, consulting is associated with external strategy firms, demanding travel schedules, and working for different clients every few weeks. Yet more and more early-career professionals are discovering a different path: Inhouse Consulting.
For Vera, now a Senior Consultant at DHL Consulting, this path offered exactly what she was looking for — challenging projects, steep learning opportunities, and the chance to create lasting impact within one of the world’s leading logistics companies.
After completing her Master’s degree in International Management at the University of Cologne, Vera joined DHL Consulting through the Elevate internship program. Today, she has successfully transitioned into a full-time consulting role.
Looking back, one thing stands out most:
„I felt like a real member of the team from day one. I wasn’t treated as an intern — I was trusted with meaningful work and real responsibility.“
Why Inhouse Consulting?
Before joining DHL Consulting, Vera had already met representatives from various consulting firms. What attracted her to DHL Consulting was the opportunity to combine consulting work with deep industry expertise.
„I was interested in working in internal consulting for a global company in the logistics sector. I wanted to understand a business from the inside and contribute to long-term improvements rather than simply delivering recommendations.“
This is one of the key differences between Inhouse Consulting and external consulting. Consultants work closely with business leaders across the organization and often see how their recommendations are implemented and generate value over time.
Real Responsibility from the Start
Many graduates wonder how much ownership they can expect during their first consulting experience.
For Vera, the answer came quickly.
During her internship, she worked directly on a transformation project for DHL Express. Her role included conducting stakeholder interviews, analyzing information, and helping shape project recommendations.
„My project manager never treated me as ‚just an intern‘. I owned my workstreams and was encouraged to contribute independently from the beginning.“
This level of responsibility accelerated her development and gave her valuable insights into consulting methodologies, stakeholder management, and problem-solving.
Creating Impact Close to the Business
One aspect that surprised Vera was how closely DHL Consulting works with its internal clients.
As an Inhouse Consultant, she regularly collaborates with decision-makers from different DHL business units and functions. This creates a strong connection between project work and operational reality.
„You understand the business challenges first-hand. You can see how recommendations influence decisions and help drive change across the organization.“
Rather than moving on once a project ends, Inhouse Consultants often witness how their work contributes to long-term business transformation.
Learning Beyond the Project
For Vera, consulting development went far beyond analytical skills.
Through mentorship, networking opportunities, and daily collaboration with experienced consultants, she learned how to communicate effectively, influence stakeholders, and contribute confidently in discussions.
One piece of feedback particularly shaped her development.
Early in her internship, she was encouraged to speak up more often — even when she wasn’t the subject-matter expert in the room.
At first, this felt counterintuitive. Over time, however, she realized that asking questions and offering new perspectives often created significant value for the team.
This experience taught her an important lesson:
„You don’t need to know everything to contribute. Sometimes an outside perspective helps uncover things others might overlook.“
Why Early-Career Professionals Choose DHL Consulting
Today’s graduates are looking for more than just a prestigious job title. They want meaningful work, continuous learning, and opportunities to grow.
For Vera, DHL Consulting offered all three.
She highlights the combination of challenging projects, strong team culture, and career development as the main reasons she decided to continue her journey with the company after her internship.
Today, she contributes not only to client projects but also to recruiting activities, internal initiatives, and the broader DHL Consulting community.
Vera's Advice for Future Consultants
For students considering a career in Inhouse Consulting, Vera has a clear recommendation:
„Be proactive, take ownership, ask questions, and make the most of every opportunity to learn. Consulting is a team sport, and the relationships you build are just as valuable as the skills you develop.“
Thinking about a career in Inhouse Consulting?
At DHL Consulting, early-career professionals work on strategic and operational challenges across the DHL Group, gain early responsibility, and contribute to transformations that shape the future of logistics.
Whether through internships, working student positions, or full-time roles, there are many opportunities to discover what modern Inhouse Consulting is all about.
