> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.join.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.join.com/promoting-jobs/job-boards/stepstone.md). # Stepstone Use JOIN to promote your jobs using premium products and tailored industry-specific campaigns from Stepstone — one of the most popular job platform across the DACH region. Stepstone connects employers with specialised talent in Germany and Austria. It is where active job seekers, professionals who are actively looking for their next role, search, compare, and apply. This sets Stepstone apart from platforms like LinkedIn, where a large share of the audience is passive talent. Stepstone is well suited for professional and specialist roles, mid-level positions, and any role where a visible salary range increases application volume. It performs particularly well in sectors with a strong active-job-seeker culture: finance, engineering, IT, healthcare, and skilled trades. ### Details about Stepstone
TypeSpecialised
RegionGermany, Austria
Target groupProfessionals, Specialists, Industry-specific
Posting typesPaid multiposting
Monthly jobs600.000+ jobs
Reach+67 million monthly visits
{% hint style="warning" %} Stepstone does not currently support organic multiposting. Premium postings are available through the `Store` tab and offer much greater reach and visibility through powerful campaign tools, audience targeting, and branded layouts. {% endhint %} *** ### Before you start Before booking Stepstone via JOIN, check the following: * **Salary range**: A salary range is required for all Stepstone bookings in Austria. If this field is empty, your booking will not proceed past processing until it is filled. For jobs based in Germany, a salary range is not strictly required, but strongly recommended, listings with a visible salary range consistently attract more and better-matched applicants. * **Job introduction text**: Each Stepstone listing needs a short introductory paragraph at the top of the ad. JOIN's AI generates this automatically in most cases. If the field is empty after booking, add a brief sentence manually, something like "Wir suchen eine engagierte Fachkraft für unser Team in \[Ort]." is sufficient. * **Company location**: Stepstone bookings via JOIN are only available for companies based in Germany or Austria. * **Company profile and logo**: Stepstone maintains its own company profile database. When your job is published via JOIN, Stepstone matches the listing to an existing company profile in their system. Your Stepstone company profile, including your logo, company name, and company description, is managed directly by Stepstone and is separate from your JOIN account. Changes made in JOIN do not affect your Stepstone profile. {% hint style="info" %} If you need to update information on your Stepstone company profile, contact Stepstone Support directly. They can make the necessary adjustments on their end. {% endhint %} *** ### Stepstone premium products You can choose from a variety of premium options to meet your specific hiring needs. These can be accessed through the `Store` tab or when you click `Promote` on any job card in JOIN. Explore Stepstone products
Product nameDurationBest for
Campus30 daysInternships, apprenticeships, and working student positions
Pro30 daysProfessional and specialist roles
Pro Plus30 daysCompetitive roles and markets where additional reach matters
Pro Ultimate60 daysHard-to-fill roles and longer hiring cycles
**All products include:** * Prominent placement in Stepstone search results * Email newsletter distribution to matching candidates * Performance marketing across 700+ partner platforms * Algorithm-driven candidate matching * Mobile-optimised display via Stepstone's app **Campus** Campus is Stepstone's dedicated product for early-career placements: internships (Praktika), apprenticeships (Ausbildung), and working student positions (Werkstudent). Listings are placed specifically within Stepstone's student and trainee sections, reaching candidates at the start of their career. Campus is not suited for professional or experienced-hire roles. **Pro** Pro is Stepstone's baseline premium product and the standard choice for most professional and specialist roles. Your listing receives prominent placement in search results for 30 days, distribution through Stepstone's email newsletters to matching candidates, and exposure across Stepstone's partner platform network. **Pro Plus** Pro Plus builds on the standard Pro placement with enhanced priority delivery. Your listing receives a higher position in search results and broader distribution, resulting in greater visibility, particularly in competitive role categories or locations with high listing volume. Pro Plus is a good fit when a standard Pro booking is not delivering sufficient reach or when you are hiring in a high-demand field. **Pro Ultimate** Pro Ultimate is Stepstone's longest and most comprehensive product at 60 days. It includes multiple refresh cycles throughout the runtime, each refresh reactivates the listing's visibility and resets its position in search rankings. This makes it the right choice for hard-to-fill roles, niche positions, or situations where the hiring process is expected to take more than 30 days. **Bundles** Stepstone premium products are also available as bundles combined with other job boards, for example, Stepstone + Indeed or Stepstone + LinkedIn. Bundles are a good option when you want to reach candidates across multiple platforms in a single booking. *** ### How Stepstone reaches candidates Understanding how Stepstone delivers your listing helps set the right expectations. * **Search placement**: Your listing appears in Stepstone's search results for candidates searching by job title, location, or category. Higher-tier products receive priority positioning in results. * **Email newsletters**: Stepstone sends targeted job alert emails to registered candidates whose profile and search preferences match your listing. This is one of the strongest drivers of early applications, most listings see their highest view and application volume in the first days after going live, driven largely by newsletter distribution. * **Partner network**: Stepstone distributes listings across more than 700 partner platforms and aggregators, extending your reach beyond Stepstone's own user base. * **Algorithm-driven matching**: Stepstone's algorithm surfaces your listing to candidates who match on job title, location, experience level, and industry, not just keyword search. * **Mobile app**: Stepstone's mobile app has more than 7.9 million downloads. A significant share of candidates browse and apply via mobile, and your listing is automatically optimised for mobile display. *** ### Performance and what to expect Stepstone performs best when the listing gives candidates the information they need to decide whether to apply. A few factors have the strongest influence on results: * **Salary visibility**: Listings with a visible salary range attract more applicants, and tend to attract better-matched ones. Leaving the salary field empty or listing "negotiable" reduces both the volume and quality of applications. * **Job title clarity**: Use a standard, searchable job title in German. Internal titles, English-only titles, or titles with acronyms reduce discoverability in search results and newsletter matching. * **Location accuracy**: Location is one of the primary filters candidates use. Remote and hybrid roles should state this clearly in the listing. * **Product selection**: Pro covers most use cases well. Pro Plus and Pro Ultimate are worth considering for competitive markets, in-demand roles, or positions that did not fill during a previous run. * **Timing**: Application volume is typically highest in the first week after go-live, driven by the initial newsletter distribution. It decreases naturally over the following weeks, which is why the refresh cycles in Pro Ultimate can extend overall performance. You can track the status and performance of your Stepstone bookings at any time in the `Postings` tab in your JOIN account. *** ### Stepstone AllJobs Stepstone AllJobs is a contingent model rather than a single booking. Instead of purchasing individual placements, you buy a package of postings that can be used over a 12-month period at preferential rates. Each slot is used when a job is published. AllJobs is designed for companies with a consistently high and ongoing hiring volume. It is not a performance-based model, you pay for a fixed number of postings, not per application or click. {% hint style="info" %} This product is normally reserved for larger enterprise customers but is occasionally available to selected JOIN customers through special campaigns. If you are interested in AllJobs, contact your JOIN account manager. {% endhint %} *** ### Processing and go-live After booking, your Stepstone ad goes through a processing phase before appearing live. In most cases this takes a few hours to one business day. Occasionally, a listing may take longer or show a status of "Fehlgeschlagen" (failed) while Stepstone checks the content. This is normal and nothing to worry about. JOIN monitors all active bookings several times a day. If a booking is taking longer than expected, our team is already aware and working on it, including direct contact with Stepstone where needed. In most cases, issues are resolved before you even notice them. If you have any questions about the status of your booking, you're always welcome to reach out to support. We're happy to give you an update. *** ### Updating a live booking Minor changes made to a live job in JOIN, such as correcting a typo, adjusting a sentence, or updating a small detail, are synced to Stepstone automatically within a few hours. No action is needed on your end. For more significant changes, the situation is different. If you fundamentally change the nature of the role after booking, for example, replacing the job title and responsibilities entirely with a different position, Stepstone may not pick up those changes. {% hint style="warning" %} The Closing field is not transmitted to Stepstone. Content added to the Closing section in JOIN will not appear in the Stepstone listing. Move any closing content into the main job description field instead, and the change will be applied and published on Stepstone automatically within a few hours. {% endhint %} *** ### Job quality guidelines To ensure your job postings are published successfully, go live, and stay live, follow these key content rules when writing your ads: * Use common, precise job titles; avoid jargon, abbreviations, or ALL CAPS. Stepstone may deactivate listings with non-standard or promotional titles. * Keep titles gender-neutral (e.g. m/f/d) and consistent in one language. * A short company introduction at the top of your listing is not required, but strongly recommended. According to Stepstone, listings with a brief intro consistently perform better than those without, it gives candidates an immediate sense of who you are before they read the role details. * Avoid language that could be considered discriminatory under the German Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, or AGG). Stepstone actively reviews postings and flags AGG-critical content. If your listing is flagged, correct the text and request reactivation via JOIN support. * No external tracking pixels, QR codes, or application redirects are permitted. All applications must go through Stepstone's native `Apply now` button. * Only allow links in the "Contact" section (career site, email, phone, privacy policy). * Work location cannot be changed after publication. * Listings without a salary range, without a job introduction, or with very thin content are more likely to be flagged in quality review and perform below average. **Reactivation after a Stepstone deactivation** If Stepstone flags your listing due to a content or quality issue, you do not need to monitor this yourself. JOIN receives the notification from Stepstone and will reach out to you directly with details on what needs to be corrected and how to adjust it. 1. JOIN informs you about the issue and provides guidance on what to change. 2. You correct the flagged content in your JOIN job editor. 3. You let JOIN support know once the changes are done. 4. JOIN notifies Stepstone, who will review the updated listing and reactivate it. In rare cases, you may receive feedback directly from Stepstone. This is the exception, in most cases, JOIN handles the communication and keeps you informed throughout. *** ### How the ad looks Once your job is published via JOIN, it goes live on Stepstone automatically, with no additional setup required.
* **Search results**: Candidates see your company logo, job title, location, work model, and a short preview of your job description. Jobs with a quick application process receive a "Schnelle Bewerbung" badge. Salary is only visible to logged-in candidates. * **Job detail page**: The full posting displays your company logo, all key details, and your complete job description. Candidates apply via the "Ich bin interessiert" button using Stepstone's native application flow. {% hint style="warning" %} Always add a salary range in JOIN. If no salary is provided, Stepstone automatically estimates one based on market data, displayed as "geschätzt". An employer-provided salary is always more accurate and builds more trust with candidates. {% endhint %} *** ### FAQs
My Stepstone booking has been in "processing" for longer than expected. Should I be worried? No. JOIN monitors all active bookings multiple times a day, so if something is taking longer than usual, we are already aware and working on it. There is nothing you need to do. If you would like a status update at any point, you are always welcome to contact JOIN support, but rest assured that things are already moving in the background.
My booking is showing "Failed" ("Fehlgeschlagen") in my Postings overview. What does this mean? This status can appear during processing and is nothing to panic about. JOIN monitors all bookings continuously and is typically aware of any issue before you are. If your booking shows "Fehlgeschlagen", our team is already looking into it and working on a resolution. In most cases, your listing will be back online shortly. If there is an underlying issue that requires your input, such as missing information, a content flag, or an incorrect product, JOIN will proactively reach out to you with details and next steps. You do not need to contact us first.
My job is based in Austria and my booking is stuck. What could be the reason? A salary range is required for all Stepstone bookings in Austria. If this field is empty, your booking will remain in processing until it is filled. Add a salary range to your job in JOIN and the booking will proceed automatically. For jobs based in Germany, a salary range is not strictly required, but strongly recommended. Listings with a visible salary consistently attract more and better-matched applicants.
My Closing section text is not showing on Stepstone. Why? The Closing field in JOIN is not transmitted to Stepstone. Move the content into the main job description field. The changes will be automatically applied and published on Stepstone within a few hours.
Stepstone is showing the wrong company logo or name. How do I update it? Your Stepstone company profile is managed independently from JOIN, changes in JOIN do not affect it. To update your logo, company name, or any other profile information, contact Stepstone Support directly. They can make the necessary adjustments on their end.
I updated my job in JOIN but Stepstone still shows the old version. Why? Minor changes, such as correcting a typo or adjusting a sentence, are synced to Stepstone automatically within a few hours. If the update is not showing yet, it is likely still in progress. For more significant changes, such as a completely new job title or an entirely different set of responsibilities, please note that Stepstone does not allow edits that fundamentally change an existing ad into a different position. We therefore cannot guarantee that major changes can be applied after a booking has gone live.
I am based in Switzerland. Can I book Stepstone? No. Stepstone does not operate in Switzerland. Bookings are available for Germany and Austria only. If a booking is accidentally placed, it will be refunded. For Swiss hiring, consider LinkedIn, XING, or Jobs.ch instead.
My Stepstone booking was deactivated. What should I do? If Stepstone deactivates your listing, JOIN will receive the notification and reach out to you directly with details on what needs to be corrected. You do not need to monitor this yourself. Once you have made the necessary changes in JOIN, let us know and we will inform Stepstone so they can review and reactivate your listing.
I seem to have been charged for the same booking twice. What should I do? Contact JOIN support immediately. We will investigate and process a refund for any duplicate charges.
What is the difference between a standard Stepstone booking and Stepstone AllJobs? A standard booking (Pro, Pro Plus, or Pro Ultimate) is a single placement for one specific role. AllJobs is a package, a fixed number of postings over 12 months, designed for companies with consistently high hiring volume. AllJobs is not suited for occasional or one-off hires.
--- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.join.com/promoting-jobs/job-boards/stepstone.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.