Headhunter Europe - Your Hamburg partner for entering the German market

Kontrast Personalberatung Hamburg - Berlin supports international companies entering the German and European market - Executive Search, Direct Search and Recruiting "made in Germany".

Headhunter Europe - your partner for entering the German market

If you want to start as an international company in Germany or the DACH region, you need more than a good market analysis: the first key people on site are crucial. As Headhunter Europe based in Hamburg, we support international companies in recruiting their country managers, sales and site managers as well as specialized specialists for market entry in Germany.

Our permanent recruitment consultants combine management experience and psychological know-how. We understand both the strategic goals of your Market Access project and the cultural characteristics of the German labour market - and translate both into suitable candidates for your organization.

Market Access Germany - the right people for your location development

Whether you are setting up a new branch, expanding an existing sales office or establishing a European headquarters in Germany: We accompany your Market Access and location development project from the first key role through to strengthening your team in subsequent years.

Typical positions within Market Access Germany:

Country Manager / General Manager Germany or DACH
Head of Sales & Business Development, Key Account Management
Responsible for operations, service, project management and technology
Managers in finance, controlling, HR and administration
Specialists in engineering, IT/computer science or regulated industries such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals and medical technology

We know what German candidates expect from employers, remuneration, contract design and work culture - and ensure that your offer stands out in the competition for talent.

Headhunting & executive search for international clients

For management and leadership positions in your German or European setup, we rely on executive search with a clear structure:

We work with you to develop a precise understanding of the role, define areas of responsibility and reporting lines and clarify how the person will mediate between headquarters and the German organization. On this basis, we identify management personalities who have both: international openness and a good feel for the German market.

As part of our headhunting approach, we take on the discreet direct approach, conduct multi-stage interviews - in German or English - and prepare decision papers that are easy for international management teams to understand.

Direct search, active sourcing & personnel marketing

In addition to management positions, we also fill specialist and key roles for Market Access Germany that are crucial to your success in the target market - for example in engineering, IT/computer science, finance and accounting or HR.

To achieve this, we combine:

Direct search in target companies and relevant industry clusters,
Active sourcing in business networks and digital channels,
targeted HR marketing measures to make your employer brand visible to German candidates.

All applications and feedback come together in a structured application management system. We conduct interviews, check qualifications and motivation and create clear shortlists so that your decision-makers - who are often far away - have a reliable basis for their selection.

Selection process, compliance & "German HR Standards"

International companies in particular value our support with selection procedures and HR compliance in Germany. We are guided by the legal framework conditions of the German labor market (e.g. AGG, GDPR) and ensure transparent, documented selection processes.

Structured interviews, skills profiles and psychologically sound aptitude assessments help to combine gut instinct and professionalism. On request, we moderate selection interviews, support committee decisions and accompany contract negotiations - including advice on standard market conditions and benefits in Germany.

Trust - why international companies work with Kontrast

As Kontrast Personalberatung GmbH Hamburg, we have been active in the DACH region since 1993 and support both medium-sized companies and international corporations in setting up and expanding their locations in Germany and Europe.

What clients particularly appreciate:

Permanently employed headhunters and personnel psychologists instead of a network of freelancers,
many years of experience in dealing with international decision-makers,
structured, ISO-certified approach to recruiting,
clear communication, reliable timelines and realistic market feedback,
no temporary work, no temporary employment - we only place candidates in permanent positions.

This makes headhunting Europe a predictable process for Market Access Germany: from the first strategic key role to a stable team on site.