100 candidates report on their experience during the application

Berlin One thing, says coach Stefan Wickenhäuser, clients have repeatedly reported to him in recent times: They felt little of the effects of the shortage of skilled workers when they applied. “Many only get a response from the company weeks or months later. Some never hear anything again,” says the expert.

Part of Wickenhäuser’s job is to accompany companies through change processes and to help them retain talent. At some point he asked himself: What’s the matter with employers – who are actually desperately dependent on good candidates?

Wickenhäuser dared an experiment: in personal conversations, via e-mails, LinkedIn and Twitter, he wrote to hundreds of people from various industries – and asked them specifically about their recent experiences in looking for a job or candidate.

For the Handelsblatt, the coach summarized his five most important insights for a successful application, which he gained from almost 100 interviews.