In 15 Seconds
- Used for hiring people to fill open job roles.
- Common in business, HR, and news reports about the economy.
- Literally means 'to occupy positions' in a professional context.
Meaning
This phrase is all about the hiring process. It describes the act of finding the right person to take on an open job or role within a company.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a management meeting
Wir müssen diese drei Stellen bis Ende des Monats besetzen.
We need to fill these three positions by the end of the month.
Talking to a friend about work
In meiner Firma sind gerade viele Stellen zu besetzen.
There are currently many positions to be filled in my company.
A formal announcement
Die Position der Geschäftsführung wurde erfolgreich neu besetzt.
The management position has been successfully refilled.
Cultural Background
The phrase is deeply tied to the German 'Mittelstand' (medium-sized businesses) and their struggle with the aging population. Finding qualified staff is seen as a civic duty for economic stability. It reflects the German value of 'Beruf' (vocation) as a specific 'place' one holds in society.
The 'Besetzt' Bathroom Rule
If you see a red sign on a German bathroom door, it says 'besetzt'. This is the same root word! It just means 'occupied'.
Don't say 'Füllen'
While 'fill' works in English, saying 'Stellen füllen' sounds like you are stuffing a turkey. Stick to 'besetzen'.
In 15 Seconds
- Used for hiring people to fill open job roles.
- Common in business, HR, and news reports about the economy.
- Literally means 'to occupy positions' in a professional context.
What It Means
Think of a company like a giant puzzle. When a piece is missing, there is a gap. Stellen besetzen is the process of finding that missing piece. In English, we say 'to fill positions.' In German, Stellen are the jobs or spots. Besetzen means to occupy or fill them. It sounds very official and professional. It is the standard way to talk about recruitment.
How To Use It
You will mostly use this in a work context. You can use it as a full verb phrase. For example, Wir müssen die Stelle besetzen. This means 'We need to fill the position.' You can also use it in the passive voice. Die Stelle wurde besetzt means 'The position has been filled.' It is a very flexible collocation. You can use it for one job or many.
When To Use It
Use this phrase during business meetings or job interviews. It is perfect for discussing company growth. You will see it in newspapers and LinkedIn posts. If you are a manager, you will use it often. If you are a job seeker, you might hear it. It is the 'grown-up' way to talk about hiring. Use it when the focus is on the vacancy itself.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for casual favors. If you need someone to help you move, do not say Stelle besetzen. That sounds like you are starting a moving company! Also, do not use it for physical objects. You do not besetzen a glass with water. For a seat on a bus, you say the seat is besetzt. But you do not 'occupy' it using this specific phrase.
Cultural Background
Germany currently faces a major 'Fachkräftemangel' or shortage of skilled workers. Because of this, Stellen besetzen is a hot topic. You will hear it on the news constantly. Companies are struggling to find people. This makes the phrase feel a bit urgent lately. It is not just HR talk anymore. It is a national conversation about the economy and the future.
Common Variations
You might hear eine Stelle neu besetzen. This means to refill a position after someone left. There is also die Neubesetzung, which is the noun form. If a position is 'unbesetzt', it means it is still vacant. Sometimes people say Vakanzen füllen, but that is much more formal. Stellen besetzen is the perfect middle ground for most professional situations.
Usage Notes
This is a very stable collocation. It is almost always used with 'Stelle' (position) or 'Posten' (post). It fits perfectly in any professional environment from a startup to a government office.
The 'Besetzt' Bathroom Rule
If you see a red sign on a German bathroom door, it says 'besetzt'. This is the same root word! It just means 'occupied'.
Don't say 'Füllen'
While 'fill' works in English, saying 'Stellen füllen' sounds like you are stuffing a turkey. Stick to 'besetzen'.
The 'Fachkräftemangel' Secret
If you want to sound like a local, complain about how hard it is to 'Stellen besetzen' because of the 'Fachkräftemangel' (skilled labor shortage). It's the ultimate German small talk topic!
Examples
6Wir müssen diese drei Stellen bis Ende des Monats besetzen.
We need to fill these three positions by the end of the month.
A standard professional way to set a hiring deadline.
In meiner Firma sind gerade viele Stellen zu besetzen.
There are currently many positions to be filled in my company.
Informal but still using the correct professional terminology.
Die Position der Geschäftsführung wurde erfolgreich neu besetzt.
The management position has been successfully refilled.
Uses 'neu besetzt' to indicate a replacement was found.
Hast du gehört? Die Stelle im Marketing ist endlich besetzt!
Did you hear? The marketing position is finally filled!
Casual excitement about a new team member.
Ich bin so gestresst, ich muss wohl eine zweite Stelle für mich selbst besetzen!
I'm so stressed, I probably need to fill a second position for myself!
A humorous way to say you are doing the work of two people.
Es wird schwer sein, seine Stelle so gut zu besetzen.
It will be hard to fill his position so well.
Expressing that someone was uniquely talented.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence about hiring.
Die Personalabteilung möchte die offene ___ schnell ___.
In a professional context, you 'besetzen' (fill) a 'Stelle' (position).
Complete the sentence to say the position is already taken.
Tut mir leid, die Position ist leider schon ___.
The past participle 'besetzt' is used to describe a position that is no longer vacant.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Stellen besetzen'
Talking to friends about job openings.
Bei uns sind Stellen frei.
Standard office talk or emails.
Wir wollen die Stellen besetzen.
Official company reports or press releases.
Die Neubesetzung der Vakanzen erfolgt zeitnah.
Where to use 'Stellen besetzen'
Job Interview
Wann wird die Stelle besetzt?
News Report
Firmen können Stellen nicht besetzen.
HR Meeting
Wir müssen die IT-Stelle besetzen.
LinkedIn Post
Wir haben eine spannende Stelle zu besetzen!
Practice Bank
2 exercisesDie Personalabteilung möchte die offene ___ schnell ___.
In a professional context, you 'besetzen' (fill) a 'Stelle' (position).
Tut mir leid, die Position ist leider schon ___.
The past participle 'besetzt' is used to describe a position that is no longer vacant.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt literally means 'to occupy positions'. In a work context, it is the standard way to say 'to fill jobs'.
Yes, just change it to singular: eine Stelle besetzen. For example, Ich muss eine Stelle besetzen.
Yes, it is neutral. You can text a friend: Wir besetzen gerade neue Stellen, hast du Interesse?
Besetzen focuses on the empty spot being filled. Einstellen focuses on the person being hired: Ich stelle einen neuen Mitarbeiter ein.
You can say a seat is besetzt (occupied), but you wouldn't usually use the full phrase Stellen besetzen for a chair.
It is neutral to formal. It is perfectly fine for both a casual office chat and a serious business report.
It means 'vacant' or 'unfilled'. If a job is unbesetzt, the company is still looking for someone.
You use the passive voice: Die Stelle wurde besetzt.
This is the noun form meaning 'refilling a position' or 'new appointment' after someone has left a role.
Yes, any 'position' or 'role' can be besetzt, even if it is unpaid, like in a club or NGO.
Very often! It is used when a minister leaves and a new one must be found: Der Posten muss neu besetzt werden.
Avoid using füllen (to fill) for jobs. While it makes sense in English, besetzen is the only natural choice in German.
Related Phrases
jemanden einstellen (to hire someone)
eine Vakanz ausschreiben (to advertise a vacancy)
Personal suchen (to look for staff)
einen Posten übernehmen (to take over a post)
