What do the numbers say?
Hiring processes in Germany take significantly longer than most applicants expect. The average time to fill a position has been increasing steadily since 2010 and can run to several weeks depending on the industry and role.
Source: Arbeits-ABC, October 2025
For you as an applicant this means: after sending your application you could realistically wait 2 to 4 weeks before hearing anything at all. Frustrating, yes. But unfortunately quite normal.
What affects the timeline?
Not every process works the same way. A few factors that make a big difference:
- Company size: Large corporations often have multi-stage approval processes. Startups tend to move faster.
- Industry: Tech and IT are generally quicker than public sector or government roles.
- Seniority: The higher the position the longer the process. Leadership roles can take months.
- Number of applicants: High-demand roles attract more applications and take longer to review.
When is it okay to follow up?
This is probably the question everyone asks themselves. Yes, following up is completely fine and totally normal. A good rule of thumb:
Did the company give you a timeline? Wait 3 to 4 days past it. No timeline given? 10 days after applying is a good point to send a friendly check-in.
After an interview: if two weeks pass without a word, following up is not just okay — it is the right move.
How fast is your target company?
That is exactly what Ghosted.Global is for. Before spending hours on an application you can check how long other people waited for feedback from that company. Anonymous, free, 2 minutes.
And if you are currently in a process yourself: leave your experience. It takes you 2 minutes and it could be genuinely useful for the next person in line.