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Eighty percent of Germans apply for jobs online

Looking for a new job? Applying over the internet is fast, simple and inexpensive. Germany's well-known platform - jobpilot.de - lends some sound advice for successful online applications.

Published: 11 May 2013 07:20 CEST
Eighty percent of Germans apply for jobs online

Company name: jobpilot.de/Monster Worldwide Deutschland GmbH

Interviewee: Elke Guhl, Vice President Marketing Central Europe

Tell us a little bit about your company and your background.

In 1994, Jeff Taylor founded Monster Job Board in the US, the first internet-based recruitment platform. Monster became available in Germany in 2000 and four years later, it overtook the market leader – jobpilot.de. In the meantime, Monster has developed its local presence around the world and is available in 40 countries.

How important is job searching via the internet in 2013?

Over the last several years, the internet has become an increasingly important tool in recruiting.

Our most recent studies clearly demonstrate that internet-based recruiting channels are far ahead of other sources when it comes to job searches and placements. Internet job portals have become the most popular.

When searching online for a suitable job or candidate, the quality of the results is far more important than the quantity.

Our semantic search – currently available as a beta in Germany – finds jobs based not only on traditional criteria such as title, qualifications and industry, but is also capable of interpreting the search terms in such a way as to find appropriate results based on context.

This allows user to find jobs that may not even contain the terms they initially searched for. As a result it is no longer necessary for users to tediously input multiple job titles when performing a job search.

And moreover, results can also be filtered to only show those available in a specific city or region, for example, jobs in Stuttgart.

Monster has also released apps for several different mobile operating systems in order to accommodate the ever-increasing number of mobile internet users.

Furthermore, our Facebook application, BeKnown, is also available in a mobile version. It allows job seekers to inform themselves about new opportunities and to network while they’re on-the-go.

I’m a job seeker– where should I look online?

Candidates searching actively for attractive employers can use portals such as monster.de or jobpilot.de but they can also opt to search for a company’s profile on Facebook.

Other good sources of information on potential employers are platforms that allow workers to rate their employers or job fairs, such as the ones supported by Monster (CeBIT, for example), where potential employers introduce themselves to prospective employees.

More than 80 per cent of Germans prefer applying for jobs electronically because of the several distinct advantages it offers. Applying over the internet is fast, simple and inexpensive.

Can you give us your best tips for a successful online apply?

It is important to use a ‘neutral’ email address when sending applications – some email addresses that are intended for personal use may not resonate well with

employers. Photos should also be shot and edited professionally.

A candidate’s CV, references, writing samples and other documents should be systematically named and preferably, saved as PDF files. Email attachments should not exceed 3MB. By following these rules, you ensure that the recipient can open the email and that it will be displayed properly.

Generic applications are also a no-go online. As a job seeker, one should be able to clearly and individually formulate why they want a particular job in their motivation letter. They should also be able to convincingly outline why they think they are the best candidate for the job.

Visually appealing formats are recommended and one should also keep in mind that grammatical errors are taboo. It is all too easy to press the ‘send’ button so candidates are recommended to double-check everything. Have the right documents been attached? Has the application been addressed to the correct person? Is the subject line correct?

A standardized profile on an online job community doesn’t leave much room for error, as form and contents are usually predetermined. However, if you present yourself on a forum or your own web page, pay close attention to the design and other details.

Lastly, honesty is the best policy. Information that has been released onto the internet tends to stay there and can be read, questioned and commented on by anyone.

Can companies to search for employees abroad on jobpilot.de?

Jobpilot.de is a German portal which hosts online job postings. However, on monster.de, both companies and potential candidates can search worldwide for new opportunities or employees.

How will job searching develop in the near future?

Mobile apps are becoming increasingly important for the simple reason that mobile internet use is rising rapidly in conjunction with the rising use of mobile devices.

Smartphones and tablets have become omnipresent companions in the modern working environment. With its repertoire of mobile apps, Monster is actively catering to these demands.

The significance of social media in recruiting is also set to increase. The opportunity for employers and job seekers to exchange dialogue on the social web is a major development. Both companies and employees are likely to increasingly use social networks in their recruitment or job search efforts and we see social media as an ideal extension to online job portals.

Article sponsored by jobpilot.de/Monster Worldwide Deutschland GmbH

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WORKING IN GERMANY

Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Bavaria is no doubt a beautiful state with a strong economy, but can be a hard place for non-German speakers to integrate. The Local takes a look at job opportunities in Germany’s southeastern 'Free State.'

Published: 7 February 2024 10:54 CET
Updated: 10 February 2024 08:20 CET
Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Munich ranks third in German cities with the highest total GDP, behind Berlin and Hamburg, but in terms of GDP per capita, it’s higher than both of them.

It also consistently ranks high, often highest, in terms of average household income.

As of 2023, nine of the 40 companies listed on DAX, Germany’s stock index, were based in Bavaria. Seven of those are based specifically in Munich.

While Frankfurt is commonly known to be Germany’s business capital, Munich can claim the title of Germany’s insurance capital, which is saying something, as Germany is home to some of the largest insurance firms in the world, like Allianz.

Beyond the state’s capital city, a number of international companies are based elsewhere in Bavaria, particularly in the Franken region, near Nuremberg.

Which companies actively hire English speakers?

Bavaria, and Munich in particular, is home to a number of companies at the forefront of international business. But the state is known for its traditional, sometimes conservative, culture, which affects its business culture as well.

Whereas companies embracing English as their primary business language are easy to find in Berlin, the practice is less common in the south. That said, there are some notable exceptions. 

Sportswear giants, Adidas and Puma, both have their headquarters near Nuremberg in Herzogenaurach, and regularly recruit English speaking international talent.

“As an international company, our teams reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities,” Jon Greenhalgh, Senior Manager Media Relations for Adidas told The Local. “Fostering a culture of inclusion where we value and leverage differences, ensures that we can authentically engage with our employees and truly connect with our consumers.”

He added that around 40 per cent of Adidas’ Germany-based employees are foreign nationals, from over 100 different countries.

Siemens and BMW rank among Bavaria’s top employers, and are also known to hire their fair share of foreigners.

“In Germany, we recently had around 2,000 open positions,” Konstanze Somborn told The Local on behalf of Siemens AG.

He added that Siemens operates in 190 countries. “That is why we value international teams very much…English as a common language is very usual.”

READ ALSO: ‘Which German companies want to hire foreigners?’

Similarly, BMW hires workers from a variety of backgrounds. 

“Every year, we hire lots of internationals and welcome them to the BMW Group,” Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl, a press spokesman for BMW Group told The Local. 

But not all of these positions are available to non-German speakers.

Ketterl added that BMW’s working language is German in the country, even though, “English is an indispensable entry requirement as the second corporate language in many areas of the company.”

Check job boards and follow best practices

If it’s your first time applying for jobs in Germany, make sure to change your resume to the German format, even for English positions.

While Germany is home to its own job boards, like Xing, LinkedIn is probably the best place to start. In addition to searching for positions based in your preferred location, you can check relevant groups, like Munich Startups, to broaden your horizons.

The English Jobs in Germany website is also a good resource to start with. 

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