According to the Federal Association of German Management Consultants (Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberatungen, BDU), around 75,000 job vacancies in Germany were filled with the help of personnel consultancies in 2024. This clearly demonstrates the extent to which companies, specialists and executives rely on professional support when searching for employees or a new job.
But why do applicants choose to work with a recruitment consultancy? What level of support can candidates expect – and how does this differ from directly applying to the company?
Market knowledge and industry expertise
Two key advantages are the market knowledge and industry expertise of personnel consultancies. As experienced consultants, we specialize in industries and functional areas. Through our daily work, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the German labor market and built up a robust network in our industries.
A good personnel consultancy has a number of tasks. One of these is to actively advise candidates on career opportunities, options for changing jobs and appropriate renumeration based on this market knowledge and industry expertise. We can assess which job roles are currently in demand in specific regions. This knowledge enables candidates to make informed decisions and realistically evaluate their opportunities.
Thanks to our close collaboration with various companies, we have a clear understanding of the specific requirements of certain industries and functions. This allows us to assess what employers prioritize in the application process and how applicants can present themselves in the best possible light. For example, while technical qualifications ('hard facts') are often the main focus in IT, cultural fit and identification with the company play a greater role in other areas.
As part of our consulting services, we help candidates optimize their application documents when necessary. We provide personalized advice on tailoring your resume to the desired position and industry, ensuring your strengths are clearly recognized and your application meets the company's expectations.
A glimpse beyond the job posting
As a personnel consultancy, we see ourselves as an extension of our clients' businesses, enabling applicants to gain an authentic glimpse beyond a company's job posting. Job postings are often written in a standardized way that primarily showcases an ideal candidate with all the desirable qualifications. This makes it difficult for many people to assess how well their experience aligns with the position.
Thanks to our direct contact with relevant departments and HR managers, we know which skills are crucial for each position and which can be developed on the job. This allows us to identify which candidates are a good fit for the company and where there is potential for growth. We then approach the people we think are particularly well-suited for the position. This gives candidates the advantage of learning about jobs that are objectively a good fit for them, even if they are not actively looking for a job.
Additionally, everyone has different expectations of employers, corporate culture, and leadership. Employees at start-ups typically enjoy a high degree of personal responsibility and flexible structures, while other companies emphasize clear processes and defined hierarchies. Such cultural differences cannot be fully reflected in a job posting, and online research often provides only a limited picture as well.
Through our discussions with companies and candidates, however, we can offer realistic insights into working methods, communication culture, and values. These insights cover everything from leadership style and team dynamics to flexibility, work-from-home regulations, and decision-making processes.
Close support throughout the application process
Another advantage of working with a recruitment consultancy is receiving professional support throughout the entire application process, reducing one’s own time resources needed for the process.
We coordinate and communicate with companies and applicants, providing a transparent overview of the entire process from the first interview and organizing all interview appointments. We also ensure that processes do not stall and that candidates receive timely feedback by taking care of follow-up.
Additionally, our candidates receive a brief overview before interviews with our clients. We share our experience to explain what the company values in an interview, whether the focus of the first interview is more on professional or personal fit, and the typical topics addressed. This allows applicants to prepare more specifically and appear more confident in the interview.
After the interviews, we collect feedback from everyone involved. We reflect on the positive aspects and areas where questions may remain. This provides applicants with valuable insights on how to present themselves in subsequent stages or prepare for follow-up interviews.
Since many companies still provide too little or too general feedback, we, as a personnel consultancy, place particular importance on providing open, honest, and constructive feedback. Our goal is for candidates to gain insights from every interview and develop personally, regardless of the outcome of their application.
Many opportunities with just one application
If you apply to us and agree to store your data beyond the application process, it will remain in our system. As soon as we receive a new, suitable job offer, we contact those candidates in a targeted manner. This creates a clear advantage: with just one application, several career opportunities open up without any active searching or repeated application efforts.
Additionally, candidates who work with a personnel consultancy gain access to positions that are not publicly advertised, known as hidden searches. Many companies choose to fill vacancies exclusively through a recruitment consultancy for reasons such as confidentiality or strategic personnel planning.
At the same time, applicants can rest assured that their job search will be handled discreetly and confidentially. While there is a risk of unintentionally disclosing information about wanting to change jobs when submitting numerous unsolicited applications, a reputable personel consultancy guarantees the utmost confidentiality, especially if no job offer results from the process.
We take a targeted and responsible approach. Resumes are not forwarded to companies indiscriminately, but only when a position is truly suitable. Of course, this is done only after prior consultation with and the express consent of the applicant.
Conclusion: More guidance and opportunities through professional support
In summary, working with a personnel consultancy can make the entire application process easier for candidates. Applicants benefit from market knowledge, insights into job profiles, contact with several companies through a single application, and individual support throughout the application process.
Our goal is to bring together people and companies that are truly a match – professionally, culturally, and personally. Because when the fit is right, long-term, fulfilling working relationships are created.