Finding the right recruitment channel
You want to recruit skilled workers from abroad? We explain step by step how the process works and what you need to consider when recruiting abroad.
Publish your job advertisement
You also need to think carefully about where you post your job offer. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Via which channels can I best reach my target group?
- How can I get myself known abroad?
- What other possibilities are there for finding staff?
Posting vacancies on "Make it in Germany" job listings
Are you interested in reaching skilled professionals from abroad as well? Publish your job offers on the “Make it in Germany” – job listings.
In order to publish your job advert you have the following options:
- Mention, when you register your job vacancy at the local Federal Employment Agency (BA), that you wish for it to be published on www.make-it-in-germany.com as well.
- Register the job offer yourself online via Federal Employment Agency (BA) . To do this, go to "Veröffentlichungen bei Kooperationspartnern" and then to the selection of cooperation partners and mark the box on "Veröffentlichung im Portal "Make-it-in-Germany" (see picture below):
Screenshot for publishing a job listing via the Federal Employment Agency
Video: How to publish your job offer on Make it in Germany
Please beware
The job exchange of "Make it in Germany" can only accept job offers for which a qualification (at least a vocational training) is required. Unqualified activities such as assistant jobs or seasonal workers are automatically excluded. Temporary work or other professions that are not suitable for skilled workers from abroad (e.g. military professions) are excluded as well.
Tip
Ideally, you should formulate your advertisement in English. Foreign qualified professionals often need more information about the advertised position. Please take note of the tips for formulating a job vacancy.
Job listings abroad
You will find numerous international or country-specific job listings on the Internet. You can post your job advertisement there, or search for suitable candidates in the applicant pools of online job listings. When writing your job advertisement, make sure that it is formulated as accurately as possible and that it describes the requirements in concrete terms. This will help qualified professionals who are not very familiar with German technical terms and locutions to know that the advertisement is targeted to them.
Job offers on the EURES network
The EURES professional mobility portal helps employers who are looking for qualified professionals in other European countries. If you want to register at EURES as an employer, you can search for CVs of applicants who correspond to your requirements. You will find further information on the EURES portal.
Trade fairs abroad
Another possible recruitment channel are trade fairs abroad. Potential applicants can be met in person and you can gain a first impression of them. Another benefit is that your company makes itself better known abroad.
The International and Specialised Services (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency regularly organise recruitment events in Germany and abroad. For further information, please call +49 (0) 228 713-1313.
Making use of social networking platforms
You can also make use of national or international career platforms to draw attention to your company and your job advertisement. Many foreign workers are active on this special type of social platform to network with businesses. As a company, you can generally draw up your own profile, search for suitable applicants or post job offers there.
Please beware
Notify the Federal Employment Agency of your vacancy. This is (in some cases) the only way of getting the required "Vorrangprüfung" – the test to see whether there are job applicants with preferential rights – carried out, for example if you wish to fill your vacancy with someone from outside the EU. You can find out more about admission to the labour market in the "Entering and working in Germany" section.
Information on the web
- Federal Employment Agency (BA) Information on admission to the labour market
- Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände (BDA) HR Tech: How AI & Co. are changing HR work (German)
- Information for employers on recruiting international qualified professionals (available in German)
- KOFA (centre of excellence for securing a supply of qualified professionals) Recruitment procedure – judicious recruitment of qualified professionals (available in German)
- Recruiting from abroad – efforts to secure skilled labour without borders (available in German)
Do you have any questions?
Receive advice on recruiting skilled workers from abroad. Our experts will gladly help you. Get more information on the different ways of contacting us by clicking on one of the symbols.
