Local Expertise and Contacts are Key for Successful Expansion in Germany’s Tight Labor Market

Since founding Technical Choices, Inc. (TCI) in 1999, and being involved with recruiting in Germany since 2000, we have encountered an endlessly changing recruiting market.  Current trends include an extremely tight market for qualified sales, engineering and IT professionals.  With baby boomers retiring and a short supply of applicants - particularly in high tech - the German labor market is bound to get even tighter.  If employed by a successful company, professionals can be hesitant to enter the job market.  When they do, they find many options and can often drive the process.

Adding to the current challenging recruiting landscape are increasingly mobile professionals.  The current generation of top talent is more open to offers from outside Germany, such as opportunities in Asia or the US.  “This, coupled with a tight applicant supply, further intensifies the ‘war for talent',” says Matthias Leitzmann, TCI’s founder.

Employers looking for a German market presence need to position themselves strongly from the start.  Although legal and tax burdens have eased, setting up a branch in Germany needs to be a well-executed endeavor. Hiring an experienced “anchor”, someone who has previously helped a foreign company with a German start up, should be a prime objective.  Leveraging their expertise and contacts will minimize risk and improve the odds of success.      

Currently, TCI has four recruiting and research professionals focusing on the German market. As we continue to meet demand over the next five years, we expect to double our German resources. More info on TCI can be found at www.TCIcompany.com