Recruitment in Germany: Meet Our Native German Consultant!

We have been recruiting in Germany for a while now, and it is about time that we introduce you to Agnes Hammer - ITR’s Native German Speaking Recruitment Consultant! Thanks to Agnes and the rest of the sales team, we have been able to expand further into the German market and meet new clients that we may have not come across before.

Agnes has been living in the UK for 5 years now, and although she admits to struggling with the cultural differences in the beginning, she is now happily building a life and successful recruitment career in the UK.

We were interested to understand how speaking the German language can help to recruit in the German market, and asked Agnes to share her perspective on the German Sales Market and her experience working with German candidates and clients. ??

What does the German Sales Market look like right now?

“There is currently a war for talent – candidates are being bombarded with recruiter messages and seem to appreciate highly personalised outreach messages as well as detailed information about the job. They’ve got high expectations of both recruiters and companies; and the luxury to choose between numerous amazing job offers.

The market is still prioritising high salaries, but not just that. Many candidates’ main motivation is the company culture. They hope for talented and driven teams, highly skilled leaders, flexibility, the chance to progress (with SMART objectives), and to really have a role fit around their strengths, rather than them having to fit around a role.

It sounds very cliché, but the attitude is very much ‘work to live’ and not ‘live to work’ anymore. Covid-19 has obviously shaken things up a bit, as numerous tech companies have been laying off their staff and put a hold on their recruitment, and as a result - pulling their open roles. However, the recession will pass, and many companies will begin to recruit again soon.”

Does being multilingual help you in your role?

“It’s great that I can put both my English and German language skills to use at ITR. It seems to open up more possibilities and I learn a lot about building business internationally.”

How does it affect your relationship with candidates?

“Since most tech companies we recruit for operate internationally, most German candidates are more than happy (and capable) to work in an English-speaking environment – with the roles often being a mix of English and German.

I would safely assume that about 80-90% of Germans are fluent in English. Therefore, being a Native German speaker doesn’t make much difference in regard to when I work with candidates.”

How does it affect your relationship with clients?

“Clients often seem to be positively surprised when they hear that I am a native speaker. Since a lot of internal talent acquisition teams are English-speaking, my clients appreciate that I can test candidates’ language skills from an early stage on.

I believe another aspect that helps me build strong relationships with clients is that they are reassured knowing that I truly understand the German culture and therefore have a realistic chance of finding the right German candidate who aligns with both the role and work culture.”

Is it important for recruitment consultants to consider cultural differences across markets? ?

It’s crucial to be aware of your market’s culture and adapt accordingly. Every culture has a different communication style – whether that’s about small talk, negotiation, or tone of voice, there’s so much to consider.

My advice would be to try not to stereotype - the more experience you gain within your market, the better your perspective will shape. My current German candidates and clients appreciate me being as open, honest, and detailed as I can be, getting straight to the point – no time wasters. Transparency and efficiency are key.

Next steps

Are you on the hunt for your next Sales role in Germany? We are confident that we can help.

Please reach out to Agnes , or submit your CV today. ?