Employer Branding for Generation Z - An impact analysis of the German-wide influencer campaign on TikTok by the Mercedes-Benz Group AG

The initial situation of this Bachelor's thesis is the so-called "War for Talents" and the shortage of skilled workers in Germany. This leads to a changed situation in the labour market, where Generation Z is currently represented. By growing up under particular conditions, Generation Z is attributed specific characteristics and values. As a result, Generation Z's expectations and requirements of employers are changing. Companies should be aware of these requirements and react to them. Employer branding in companies is responsible for the employer image and the formation of a strong employer brand. Accordingly, the employer branding of a company is of great importance in order to convince young talents. This requires a target group-specific approach. Due to the change in media usage behaviour, this is done via social media. Therefore, the social media platform TikTok gives various opportunities.This offers enormous potential for advertising companies. Influencer marketing developed from social media, which offers numerous possibilities through the reach of the influencer and the trust of his/her community. In cooperation with a company, the influencer acts as the sender of an advertising message. The question: "Is an influencer campaign on TikTok suitable for addressing Generation Z in a target group-specific way for employer branding?" is clarified on the basis of the German-wide influencer campaign on TikTok carried out by Mercedes-Benz Group AG. The aim of the influencer campaign is to draw the attention of pupils to an apprenticeship or dual studies at Mercedes-Benz Group AG and to lead interested candidates to the career website. The impact analysis carried out provided valuable insights: The previously forecasted KPIs of the influencer campaign were exceeded. In addition, there was a significant increase in the number of visitors to the career website. Thus, the TikTok platform is suitable for employer branding to address 18-24 year-olds. Influencer marketing is also valuable for employer branding. This is a very effective and authentic form of marketing