Headhunter for SMEs. Medium-sized companies need different minds than large corporations: people who take responsibility, think entrepreneurially and feel comfortable in lean structures.
This is exactly where Kontrast Personalberatung GmbH comes in. As a headhunter for SMEs, we support owners, management and HR teams in filling key positions - from top management to specialized specialists.
Our brand essence: permanently employed headhunters with a management background work closely with HR consultants with psychological expertise. This combination of management and psychological expertise forms the basis for our headhunting projects - ISO 9001-certified, legally compliant and proven throughout the DACH region since 1993.
Our range of services for SMEs
1 Executive search for management and executive positions
We provide discreet and structured executive search headhunting for management, board members, directors and division heads in the SME sector. We identify and recruit personalities who fit the strategy, culture and size of your company - in management, engineering, IT/computer science, finance & accounting and HR.
The scope of services includes the development of a clear requirements profile, the targeted approach of suitable candidates, professional application management and the preparation and moderation of selection rounds. This creates an end-to-end process from the initial contact to the signed contract version.
2 Direct search, active sourcing & application management
For specialists and managers in the fields of
- Engineering & technology,
- IT & computer science,
- Finance, Controlling & Accounting and
- Human Resources / Personnel Management
we combine direct search, active sourcing and modern headhunting. We analyze markets and competitors, define target companies and approach suitable candidates personally - GDPR-compliant, respectful and in line with your employer brand
All responses - from headhunting, recommendations and online channels - flow into a structured application management system: pre-selection, telephone and video-based interviews, standardized assessment principles and the creation of comparable shortlists. This provides management and HR with a reliable basis for decision-making without getting bogged down in administrative work.
3 Personnel marketing & employer branding
Alongside headhunting, we strengthen the visibility of medium-sized employers with professional HR marketing:
- Search engine optimized job advertisements and career texts,
- target group-oriented campaigns on job exchanges, in business networks and social media,
- specific employer branding modules that make the advantages of SMEs (short distances, creative freedom, security, sense of purpose) tangible.
In this way, we improve the reach, quality of applications and the candidate experience - and position your company as an attractive employer in the competition for specialists and managers.
4 Selection process & aptitude diagnostics
On request, we can accompany structured selection procedures for specialists and managers: moderated interviews, specialist case studies, management assessments and committee meetings. With clear competence profiles, structured questions and psychologically sound aptitude assessments, we support a fair, comprehensible and legally compliant selection of the best candidates.
This makes headhunting for SMEs an end-to-end process: from the definition of the role, candidate recruitment and application management through to the final selection and contract decision.
"Trust" - why SMEs rely on Kontrast
Medium-sized companies choose Kontrast Personalberatung GmbH because they are looking for a trustworthy, long-term partner - not just a project manager.
- Headhunter and personnel consulting partner for SMEs and public companies in the DACH region since 1993
- Permanent headhunters and personnel psychologists - not a freelancer model, but a well-established team
- ISO 9001-certified processes in executive search, direct search, active sourcing, personnel marketing and selection procedures
- No temporary work, no employee leasing - we only fill permanent positions
- Strong candidate pools in management, engineering, IT/computer science, finance/accounting and HR
The result is what we understand by trust: transparent processes, open communication, fair personnel consulting - and high-quality appointments that will strengthen your medium-sized company in the long term.
For which positions in medium-sized companies does Kontrast Personalberatung GmbH work?
Wir besetzen Fach- und Führungskräfte in Management, Ingenieurwesen, IT/Informatik, Finanzen & Rechnungswesen sowie HR. Das Spektrum reicht von Geschäftsführung und Bereichsleitungen über technische und kaufmännische Schlüsselpositionen bis hin zu spezialisierten Expert*innen in mittelständischen Unternehmen und öffentlichen Betrieben.
How does headhunting differ from "normal" recruiting?
Klassisches Recruiting verlässt sich vor allem auf Stellenanzeigen und eingehende Bewerbungen. Headhunting bedeutet dagegen, dass wir passende Kandidat*innen aktiv identifizieren, direkt ansprechen und über den gesamten Prozess begleiten – auch dann, wenn sie nicht aktiv suchen. So erschließen wir verdeckte Kandidatenpotenziale, die über Standard-Recruiting nicht erreichbar wären.
How long does a headhunting project in the SME sector typically take?
Die Dauer hängt von Position, Markt und Region ab. In der Regel gelingt es uns, innerhalb weniger Wochen erste qualifizierte Profile vorzustellen und im Zeitrahmen von einigen Monaten eine tragfähige Besetzung zu erzielen. Durch strukturiertes Bewerbungsmanagement und klare Auswahlprozesse halten wir den Aufwand für Geschäftsführung und HR möglichst schlank.
Does Kontrast also work in a legally compliant and data protection-compliant manner?
Ja. Unser Vorgehen ist ISO 9001-zertifiziert, wir arbeiten DSGVO-konform und beachten alle relevanten arbeits- und diskriminierungsrechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen (z. B. AGG). Strukturierte Interviews, dokumentierte Auswahlkriterien und psychologisch fundierte Eignungseinschätzungen sorgen für nachvollziehbare und faire Entscheidungen.
What advantages do I have as a medium-sized company with Kontrast as a partner?
Sie profitieren von über 30 Jahren Erfahrung, festangestellten Headhuntern und Personalpsychologinnen, starken Kandidatenpools in Ihren Kernfunktionen sowie einem durchgängigen Prozess von der Rollenklärung über Headhunting und Bewerbungsmanagement bis hin zum Auswahlverfahren. Kurz: weniger Streuverluste, mehr passende Kandidat*innen und eine Besetzung, die fachlich wie menschlich zum Mittelstand passt.