How international specialists come to the Münsterland

Münsterland e.V., WESt and WFM invited to an exciting exchange

It was all about employer branding, global recruitment agencies, Germany's image in the world, commitment to employees from Germany and abroad - and the topics of international recruitment and skills shortages hovered over everything: Münsterland e.V., Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Steinfurt mbH (WESt) and Wirtschaftsförderung Münster GmbH invited guests to the conference rooms at Münster/Osnabrück Airport in Greven on Wednesday (29 November) and put together a programme with exciting speakers. In the end, one thing was clear to all of the 70 or so guests in attendance: without employees from abroad, it will not be possible to overcome the shortage of skilled labour in the future.

"We are all concerned about the issue of international skilled workers," emphasised Monika Leiking, Head of Onboarding@Münsterland at Münsterland e.V. and moderator of the event. She also introduced the regional initiative Service Onboarding@Münsterland and emphasised: "Münsterland is not only an attractive place to work, but also to live. That's why we want to shine together as a region - ideally even beyond the state borders. To ensure that we retain skilled workers in our region in the long term, it is all the more important to prepare for integration in the company and at the place where they live at an early stage - ideally even before the skilled worker arrives in Münsterland."

The invited guests were given a variety of ideas on the day. There were practical insights, field reports and expert opinions.

Tomás Salamanca, a lawyer from Münster and board member of the German Foreign Lawyers' Association, spoke about his own career, among other things. He himself came to Münster from Spain in 1987 and emphasised: "I feel at home in Münster and wouldn't want to live anywhere else." Using data from the German Economic Institute, he showed, among other things, that Germany is dependent on labour migration from abroad.

Christian Liepert also knew what he was talking about. The consultant from the InterConnect group of companies came to Germany from Mexico and spoke about how to attract, inspire and retain employees from abroad - for example through a positive welcoming culture, support in everyday life and the promotion of integration. He also emphasised that Münsterland has nothing to hide in international comparison: "Münsterland not only offers a wide range of tourist attractions, but also an economic and educational landscape at the highest level."

Melanie Buchmann from the recruiting agency Blu Selection spoke about recruitment within Europe and reported on her work process - from the interview with the employer and the search for candidates through to integration into the company. She emphasised that skilled workers from abroad also contributed to the company as a brand: "Companies with a strong employer brand receive 50 per cent more qualified applicants," she said.

Daniel Lindener and Iñaki Goyeneche from ieTeam added a further perspective and discussed the recruitment of skilled workers from Latin America. This is still a lot more complex, but worthwhile, they said. "Germany still has a great image in Latin America," said Lindener.

Finally, Birgit Schmiemann and Erik Wendt from the ABC clinker group in Recke reported from the field. To counteract the shortage of trainees, they have taken on trainees from Spain. Employee Erik Wendt not only talked about the successes, but also about the challenges that such a commitment entails - from finding accommodation to language deficits and cultural differences.

Sonja Raiber, Deputy Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Steinfurt, was impressed by Erik Wendt's comments: "Companies and individual employees in companies must realise that it is in their interest to invest in and integrate foreign skilled workers. After all, this is ultimately an investment in orderly company structures and processes and makes day-to-day work easier for everyone."

Antje Wunderlich from Wirtschaftsförderung Münster GmbH also concluded on a positive note: "There is enormous potential for recruiting international skilled workers in our strong Münsterland economic region. The participants have made us realise how important it is that the entire process - from the selection of potential candidates abroad to onboarding in the company - must be carried out from a single source."