Sebastian Sterniak

When I first came across a position advertised by Blickling Search, what immediately stood out to me was the clarity of the job posting. Whether on their own website or on platforms such as LinkedIn, the descriptions were well structured, transparent, and realistic. It was clear what the company truly required, what would simply be an advantage, and what timeline I could expect for feedback. That may sound simple, but it already creates trust from the very beginning.

I submitted my application on 4 April via LinkedIn and received an invitation for a first conversation on 6 April. This first impression of speed and reliability continued throughout the entire process.

Our first call lasted around 30 minutes, and what I appreciated most was how efficiently and honestly it was handled. Important topics such as salary expectations and relocation to Berlin were addressed directly, which meant there was clarity early on for both sides. As I was living in Amsterdam at the time and already planning a move to Berlin, that part was easy for me to answer. What made the conversation different from many other recruitment calls, however, was that it was not only about my CV. Mr. Blickling also wanted to understand me as a person. We spoke about what motivates me in a role, what might demotivate me, and what kind of working environment suits me best. Those questions made it clear that this was about finding the right match, not simply filling a vacancy.

At the end of the call, I received direct and open feedback on whether he saw a realistic fit. That was something I valued highly. Instead of being left waiting for days or weeks, I knew where I stood. Even where there were questions or possible challenges, these were discussed in a factual and respectful way, never as criticism. For example, my husband would have had to move with me to Berlin without having secured a job yet. Rather than ignoring this, Mr. Blickling recognised early that such a personal factor could strongly influence whether this opportunity would truly be the right next step for me. That level of honesty felt both professional and human.

As the process continued, there was always enough room for my own questions as well. It never felt one-sided. Many questions could be answered immediately, while others were clarified quickly with the employer and communicated back to me without delay. We also agreed to use WhatsApp for smaller updates, which made communication easy, direct, and practical.

When I met the client company for the first time (in my case, that was an online video call), I noticed another advantage of the process: much of the factual groundwork had already been done. This was possible because step 6 of the process had already been thoroughly prepared by Mr. Blickling together with my future employer. Key topics had already been clarified beforehand, so the interview could focus on what really matters: getting to know each other, discussing technical details, and exploring how I would approach real scenarios. There was no need to repeat the same information several times. During these conversations, Mr. Blickling was present in exactly the right way: supportive without dominating, attentive without interrupting. In moments where I needed help expressing a point clearly, he was there. Otherwise, he allowed the conversation to develop naturally. That gave me confidence and helped me stay calm and present.

Later in the process, his role became even more valuable during contract discussions. As someone moving from the Dutch system into the German one, I appreciated having somebody who could explain expectations, challenge points where needed and negotiate professionally on my behalf. At the same time, I never felt pushed into accepting anything. He gave advice, but the final decision always remained mine.

Even after verbal agreement had been reached, his support did not stop. He stayed engaged until the written contract arrived, made sure I had enough time to review everything carefully, and helped clarify the final small questions. I never felt left alone at the final stage.

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Looking back, I would describe the entire experience as efficient, transparent, and personally involved. Honest where needed, supportive where possible, and reliable throughout. Most importantly, I never had the feeling of being treated like a number in a process. I felt treated like a person making an important life decision, and that made all the difference.