Finding Jobs in Germany That Aren’t Advertised

It is increasingly becoming tough to find the dream job. For most this being a job that matches your qualifications, you are good at and enjoy doing.

Experts now reveal that 70% of all jobs awarded in top companies are gotten through existing knowledge of the applicant.

Of these only 30% are publicly advertised, the rest are put on company websites or online job portals. Reiner Hellweg a Career Consultant told Focus Online that top management positions which fetch a six figure salary would normally not be advertised.

This accounts for nearly 90% of dream jobs spread across lucrative careers like medicine, architecture, corporate CEOs etc.

While this seems to be frustrating for applicants, there are other alternatives of how and where to land that dream job. The key is to establish a Network of Contacts which includes both new and old contacts. They will range from:

1. Private Networks

These are people with shared professional interest, they could be your former colleagues, employers and acquaintances often with a wealth of valuable tips on which jobs are on offer, and links to access them. Germans call this the Vitamin B (B for Beziehung).

2. The Internet

With the internet acting as an extension of our social interactions, it serves as a valuable source of information for networks such as LinkedIn, Xing and other professional sites. Here you can prove your skills, collect recommendations and be tracked by head hunters.

3. Company Networks

If you know a secretary or an employee of a given company that you are interested in working with, great! Acting as a contact person, ask them about vacant positons when some retires. Get to know whom to send the application at the Human resources department.

Besides having an extensive network, one must invest in a selling application. Bear in mind that sometimes unsolicited applications have a slim chance to be reviewed, but it is worth putting in one that is professionally crafted.

An ideal application should have the following qualities:

Address gaps and new tasks that you intend to bring to the company.

Avoid writing a speculative application, but rather tune it to the job requirements, bearing in mind that normally the HR department would take only 40 to 60 seconds to scan through your application. It must be catchy, crispy written, devoid of spelling mistakes and common grammatical errors.

It is best to send the application to the line manager not to the personnel department. The direct supervisor will take time to read the application and if not convinced of your potential will have to discuss with his superiors.

So here is the checklist before you make your next application for dream job.

• Use networks and maintain private, business, corporate, and media contacts.
• Prepare your application to stand out in case of unsolicited positions
• Make your application, clear and yet trustworthy
• Identify the problem in the company and offer solution
• Send the application to the line manager, and not to the HR.