Industry Expertise

We know your industry because we staff it every day

A staffing agency is only as good as its understanding of the environments where employees will be working. Whether it’s welding, order picking, or precast concrete: if you don’t know the job, you send the wrong people. Since 2014, smartjobs has been placing candidates in the fields of industry, skilled trades, logistics, and administration in Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, and the Rhein-Erft district. Here’s what we’ve learned: which qualifications are really valued in each field, what matters when we select candidates, and how a typical placement works.

Industry and Production

Typical positions: Welders (MAG, MIG, TIG), metalworkers, CNC specialists, machine operators, production assistants, assembly line staff, employees in precast concrete and food production, quality inspectors.

What we look for: For welders, up-to-date certification according to DIN EN ISO 9606 for the required method and position; for CNC experts, experience with the specific controls; for production staff, willingness to work shifts and physical stamina; for food production, hygiene training and a valid health certificate. Anyone working a three-shift schedule must be able to commute at night, so before proposing a candidate, we always check their home location, access to a car, or options for carpooling.

A typical assignment: A precast concrete plant needs extra staff for eight weeks to cover a surge in orders, with an early-shift schedule. We propose candidates who have previously worked in heavy production environments, ensure they have safety footwear and receive site-specific safety instructions, and follow up in the first week with a call to the shift supervisor.

Skilled Trades and Construction

Typical positions: Electricians and electronics technicians for plant operations, plumbing/HVAC mechanics, painters and varnishers, painter’s assistants, floor layers, carpenters, excavator operators and earthmoving machine drivers, construction laborers.

What we look for: A completed apprenticeship or recognized qualification, experience on construction sites, a driver’s license, proof of electrical qualification for electricians, and valid operating permits for machine operators. Reliability is crucial on construction sites: if one person is absent, it delays the whole team. That’s why we discuss punctuality with candidates as concretely as technical skills, and check references with previous employers.

A typical assignment: An electrical company is handling the installation on a new building and needs two electricians for three months who can work independently from plans. We verify their qualifications, check which tools are provided by the company, and submit two candidate profiles with references.

Logistics and Warehouse

Typical positions: Order pickers, forklift drivers, loaders, warehouse workers, sorters and cleaners in recycling plants, staff in wholesale floristry and temperature-controlled warehouses.

What we look for: Valid forklift license with current training, experience with scanner and warehouse management systems, safe handling of hazardous or temperature-sensitive goods, willingness to start early as is common in wholesale. Logistics has predictable peak seasons: Christmas, seasonal changeovers, inventory. Tell us your busy periods early and we’ll provide experienced staff rather than newcomers.

A typical assignment: A wholesale flower company needs pickers from 4:00 am to prepare for deliveries. We place staff who are specifically looking for early shifts and can reach the site without public transportation.

Office and Administration

Typical positions: Administrative staff, English-speaking office support, receptionists, assistants, pre-accounting, HR administration, purchasing.

What we look for: Confident use of office software, proficiency in German and, where required, English, and experience with industry-specific systems. For commercial positions, we request a short work sample – such as a customer email or spreadsheet – before putting someone forward.

What industry expertise means in practice

• Faster communication. If you say “MAG welder, up to 10 mm sheet, two-shift rotation,” we know exactly who to call. No need to explain what a welding certificate is.
• Fewer mismatches. Knowing both the workplace and the candidate means better matches. We review early and stay in touch during the first week on the job.
• Realistic timeframes. We know which skilled profiles are in short supply. A production assistant is often available within a day; a specialized electronics technician may take longer. We will tell you up front.
• Contacts who know your business. For long-term assignments, we visit the worksite in person. We see what the job is really like and give candidates an honest preview of what to expect.

Languages and backgrounds of our staff

Many of our candidates come from Poland, Romania, and other EU countries. We conduct interviews in German, Polish, or Romanian, our website is available in eleven languages, and we clarify before each placement what level of German is required on the job: An order picker needs different language skills than a front desk receptionist. For you as an employer, this means clear communication from day one – because we stay available as an intermediary, linguistically as well as professionally.

smartjobs in facts and figures

• Founded in 2014, based in Erftstadt, Am Spürkerkreuz 4
• Member of the German Federal Association of Staffing Agencies (GVP)
• Valid employee leasing license, contracts according to collective bargaining agreements
• Over 100 open positions in trades, production, logistics, and administration – see job listings
• Assignments in the Rhein-Erft district, Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf, plus nationwide for established clients, currently including Aachen, Osnabrück, Hamburg, and Stuttgart

How our process works

1. Initial consultation. We clarify the role, qualifications, number of staff, shift system, location, start date, and assignment duration; if needed, we visit the workplace.
2. Selection. We choose from experienced staff and vetted applicants those who fit your requirements and provide proof of qualification.
3. Candidate profiles. You receive shortlists with verified certificates and, if required, a chance for a short introductory meeting.
4. Supported start. Contract, onboarding, first day and week with proactive check-ins.
5. Adjustments. You can scale up, down, swap or hire permanently as needed.

Let’s talk about your needs

Tell us about your company and the positions you’re looking to fill: +49 2235 98617-0 or use our contact form. We’ll advise which profiles are available and how quickly they can start.