The right candidate for the job - helping SMEs to find the right applicant to fill training positions and integrate foreign skilled professionals

The programme aims to find "perfect-fit" German and foreign young people to fill training positions in small and medium-sized enterprises, and to strengthen the performance and competitiveness of SMEs through this contribution to securing the future supply of skilled labour. Support is granted to advisory services and support measures of the chambers of trade, industry and commerce, the liberal profession associations and other not-for-profit organisations in the economy.

The consultants visit and advise the businesses, identify the business's apprentice needs, create job profiles, look for potential apprentice candidates, sort applications, hold interviews with selected candidates and perform aptitude tests. Based on the results, they create a short-list of suitable apprentices and make a recommendation to the business that is tailored to its needs.

"The right candidate for the job" (Passgenaue Besetzung) is the follow-up programme to the "Perfect-fit placement" programme (Passgenaue Vermittlung) from the 2007-2013 programming period. It has been extended to include services to advise SMEs on how to integrate young foreign apprentices, particularly those from other European countries, and how to integrate foreign skilled professionals. The aim is to establish a welcoming culture in the businesses.

Profile of the programme

Target group
  • Enterprises

small and medium-sized

  • Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Thematic objective

A: Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility

Additional Information

web­sites of pro­gramme


Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie

Referat VIIB 4

Villemombler Strasse  76
53123 Bonn