German Personnel Consultants’ Day in Bonn on June 26 and 27 with the participation of the IT Personalberatung

The IT-Personalberatung is a member of the BDU (Federal Association of German Management Consultants), which emphasizes our commitment to quality when it comes to filling executive, sales, and specialist positions in IT.

After an exciting kick-off meeting with participants, speakers, and BDU representatives on the evening of June 26, the participants from the personnel consulting industry spent the following day actively exchanging ideas on current topics and future challenges in the industry. In addition to a presentation of individual social media profiles, AI, ChatGPT, and digital transformation were the key topics of the day.

TV presenter Verena Bender gave a highly entertaining talk about the dos and don'ts of self representation in social networks, including numerous illustrative examples.

Many lively discussions were held on a wide range of topics related to AI. The industry essentially assumes that AI will simplify and optimize application processes, but that experience and empathy will continue to play a crucial role in the selection of personnel.

The use of AI is subject to relatively strict regulations in Germany. In the future, this could also mean that search activities for suitable candidates will be conducted abroad.

Unqualified and impersonal mass communications on XING or LinkedIn, particularly by foreign recruiters, already complicate the sustained work of the personnel consultancies that are members of the BDU. Fortunately, top candidates are increasingly mindful of who approaches them and only trust personnel consultancies with detailed knowledge of their clients and the vacant positions, as well as verifiable search mandates to guarantee a professional application process.

One of the central issues in the discussions was the fact that the candidates‘ demands on future employers are currently changing radically.

Salary requirements have increased substantially compared to previous years. At the same time, flexibility and the willingness to relocate or commute longer distances have drastically decreased. In addition, there is an increasing demand for work from home. Younger employees also expect extensive training and coaching opportunities.

The personnel consulting industry as well as its clients will have to adjust to these requirements unconditionally. Otherwise, the vacancies will not be filled.