Official Expert Answer
22 applications with two answers is normal, not a red flag on its own. What usually moves the numbers:
• Target smaller and rural hospitals first. University clinics get hundreds of applications and answer slowest.
• Call the Chefarzt secretary before applying and ask whether positions are open. A named contact turns a cold application into a warm one and is completely normal here.
• Make your status unambiguous on page one: which stage of the recognition process you are in, whether you already hold a Berufserlaubnis, and the earliest date you can start. HR filters out anything they have to guess about.
• Send a complete German file: Anschreiben, tabular CV without gaps, diploma, language certificate, and current status of the recognition.
If you go past 50 well targeted applications with no interview at all, then it is worth having someone review the documents themselves.
• Target smaller and rural hospitals first. University clinics get hundreds of applications and answer slowest.
• Call the Chefarzt secretary before applying and ask whether positions are open. A named contact turns a cold application into a warm one and is completely normal here.
• Make your status unambiguous on page one: which stage of the recognition process you are in, whether you already hold a Berufserlaubnis, and the earliest date you can start. HR filters out anything they have to guess about.
• Send a complete German file: Anschreiben, tabular CV without gaps, diploma, language certificate, and current status of the recognition.
If you go past 50 well targeted applications with no interview at all, then it is worth having someone review the documents themselves.