Frequently Asked Questions

The next edition of the TNO Traineeship begins on 1 September 2026.

Are you unable to start on 1 September 2026? The following traineeship begins in February 2027, and the Trainee Selection Day for this programme will take place on 30 October 2026.

The vacancy opens on Monday 13 April 2026. You can apply until Sunday, 3 May 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Would you like to be notified when applications open? Sign up for our job alert and stay informed about new opportunities.

In addition to your cover letter and CV, we kindly ask you to prepare an assignment that focuses on your impact and learning objectives. You can find the assignment on the vacancy page and below under the heading ‘Assignment’.

In English.

No, you will no longer have access to the originally uploaded versions. If you accidentally uploaded an incorrect version of your documents, you can send the correct version to [email protected].

Our partner lxly provides you with an online assessment consisting of questionnaires about your personality, motivations and values. If the results of the assessment, combined with CV, motivation letter and assignment match our criteria and wishes for the TNO Traineeship, we will invite you to the Trainee Selection Day.

During the selection day, you will have two job interviews, complete a group assignment and give a short pitch. You will also get to know current and former trainees and other TNO employees.

This day will take place in Leiden, at Sylviusweg 71.

• Application deadline: May 3, 2026
• Trainee Selection Days: May 28, 2026
• Final interviews in The Hague: June 4 or 5, 2026
• Employment terms discussion (digital): June 11, 2026

No, that is not possible. The Trainee Selection Day in Leiden is a mandatory and important part of the selection procedure. On this day we will meet each other and you will get to know TNO and the TNO Traineeship better.

Yes, that is possible. At any stage of the selection procedure you can contact the recruiter (Lara Dimitrovski) or email [email protected].

Assignment: Your impact and learning objectives:

Prepare one PowerPoint slide in which you answer the following two central questions in the TNO TNO Traineeship:

1. How are you going to make an impact?
2. What do you want to learn about yourself?

Submit your answer in one slide (PowerPoint format, .pptx). We encourage you to answer these questions in a personal and creative way. For example, you can illustrate/visualize the answers, write them out or add a link to a video. When writing, use a maximum of 200 words. If you want to share a video, limit it to 30 seconds and add a secure and accessible link to the slide.

We ask you to submit all documents, including the assignment, in English.

Our systems support MP4, MOV, WMV, MPG and MPEG formats. Please note that you place a link to the video in the PPT slide and do not upload a video.

There are 6 positions available for each starting date of the TNO Traineeship.

We try to take your interests and educational background into account as much as possible. This will be discussed during the selection process. For your assignment, we also depend on the departments that are available.

The TNO Traineeship is a full-time programme. This means: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

That depends on the department you will work for, but it will be at one of our locations in the Netherlands. Our head office is located in The Hague. You can check out all our locations here.

No, there isn’t a dress code at TNO. You can check out our LinkedIn or Instagram if you want to see how our colleagues dress. We recommend business casual for the Trainee Selection Day.

No, you will not receive a certificate or reference letter. However, you can include your experiences on your resume, as the TNO Traineeship involves working in various roles.

It is not possible to remain a trainee for longer than 2 years. Most trainees continue working at TNO in a role that suits their talents. Are you curious about the different roles? Read the stories of our employees.

At the end of the TNO traineeship, you will be prepared to take on a role such as Project Manager, Business Developer, Consultant, or (line) management. If you prefer to work in the role of Scientist, we advise you to look at our (entry-level) vacancies.

If you have the ambition to specialize as a scientist, to delve deeply into a specific field and want to develop professionally in that specific role, then a starter position as a scientist is a better fit for you. As a scientist, TNO also offers you a programme in which you get to know and develop your talents: our Talent Development Programme.

If necessary, we will reimburse hotel costs. Before booking, please contact HR via [email protected].

If you move to the Netherlands for your position, we can arrange a number of things for you. We always discuss what you need. This can range from housing, to tax and language assistance.

No, you do not have to live in the Netherlands. Please note that we only consider applications from European residents. If you live in the Netherlands or another European country, but are a non-EU citizen, TNO can sponsor your work permit in the Netherlands.

TNO is primarily a Dutch organisation. However, colleagues speak English when necessary, and we strive to make all internal communication and important documents available in English. Some units and research departments have predominantly Dutch-speaking customers, so speaking Dutch may be a requirement for certain departments. We offer you Dutch courses once you start the TNO Traineeship.

TNO is a Dutch organisation. We also work for many international customers and in European projects. TNO employs people from over 50 countries. The majority, approximately 80% of our employees, are Dutch.

• At the start of the traineeship, you must hold a Master’s degree (MSc).
• You must have graduated no more than two years prior (University MSc), calculated from the traineeship’s start date.
• You have a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the following fields:
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Data Science and/or AI
  • Econometrics
  • Physics
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
• In addition, you have either:
  • A field of study that demonstrates breadth and the ability to connect disciplines, such as a Master’s in Industrial Engineering and Management, Innovation Management, or Transition Management. Or:
  • A broad range of interests, demonstrated by extracurricular activities undertaken alongside your studies.
• You live in Europe.

We hope to see the following in your motivation letter:

• You are interested in and perhaps already have knowledge of and experience with helping to solve social and economic issues.
• You are driven by knowledge and science and like to translate this into real world solutions.
• You want to innovate and look beyond the status quo.
• You are daring, in coming up with new ideas.
• You have strong communication skills, which allows you to connect with the people around you and work towards new solutions.
• You like a challenge and enjoy taking responsibility.
• You take control of your work, but also of your own development.

At TNO, we attach great value to both professional skills and (inter)personal skills. These skills can be developed within or outside your studies or work. We are curious about the experiences you have gained, what you have learned from them and how the result of that learning process is visible in other experiences.

A University Master is required.

• You have at least a qualification in one of the following fields:
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Data Science and/or AI
  • Econometrics
  • Physics
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering

For further information about the selection criteria, please refer to the question 'What are the selection criteria?'

If your background is not listed, the TNO Traineeship is not the best match for you. But you can stay informed by registering for our job alert or view our other vacancies for something that matches.

No, that is not possible. Matching the right candidates with our available places is a complex process. You can trust that the recruiters and research managers will, in addition to the interests of the organisation, take your interests into account. Ultimately, both parties benefit from the best possible match.

No, matching the right candidates and our available spots is a puzzle where you can rely on the recruiters and research managers to keep your best interest at heart. In the end we all benefit from the best possible match.

You can read more about the TNO Traineeship.

You can stay informed by registering for our job alert and selecting ‘Traineeship’ under ‘Job Type’.

You can contact our recruiter, Lara Dimitrovski, via +31 (0)6 50740690.