Lange Nacht der Bewerbung Graz

“The Long Night of Applications” is Austria’s leading job speed-dating format. Since its launch in 2017, it has represented a new, highly efficient approach to recruitment.

Each November, the WKO Styria in Graz becomes a central hub for careers, recruitment and professional opportunities. The choice of venue is deliberate. As the economic heart of Styria, Graz provides the ideal setting for a format designed to showcase talent and give employers direct access to motivated candidates. The region’s strong economy, its concentration of innovative flagship companies and its dense network of universities and research institutions create excellent conditions for effective talent matching. The event also forms part of a nationwide series, taking place not only in Graz but also in Vienna and in online editions across Austria—clear evidence of its broad relevance.

The event was founded and is organised by Doria Pfob, a career and business coach, author, university lecturer and keynote speaker. For many years, she has developed job application strategies from a marketing perspective, helping individuals refine their personal brand and position their professional value with clarity and impact. With “The Long Night of Applications”, she has established a recruitment format that streamlines hiring processes and delivers measurable efficiency for both employers and candidates.

At the heart of the event are structured job speed-dating sessions, where candidates meet hiring managers in focused, twelve-minute “future dates”. Each conversation centres on specific vacancies, significantly increasing the likelihood of follow-up interviews or even immediate job offers. The programme is complemented by practical career workshops: participants learn how to craft a compelling professional pitch, sharpen their positioning, and benefit from CV reviews, templates, video resources and personalised expert feedback.

The event showcases tangible career opportunities across a wide range of fields, including current vacancies, trainee programmes, IT roles, technical specialist positions and commercial functions, as well as advisory and support services relating to applications, career planning and recruitment. Participating organisations represent diverse sectors such as IT, engineering, retail, industry, professional services and consulting, alongside both start-ups and established regional market leaders.

The primary audience comprises jobseekers of all ages—from students and graduates to skilled professionals and experienced specialists seeking a new direction. At the same time, HR professionals, recruiters and business owners attend to meet qualified talent in person. This direct matching process accelerates recruitment and creates meaningful connections and genuine opportunities in a short space of time.

Distinctive features include the focused atmosphere of the compact interview sessions, immediate feedback from employers and specialised editions—such as those dedicated to IT careers—tailored to high-demand target groups.

As a venue, WKO Styria offers modern infrastructure, a central location in Graz and a professional setting that facilitates conversations on equal footing. With excellent public transport links, it is easily accessible. All of this makes the Graz edition of “The Long Night of Applications” an efficient platform for taking the next step in one’s career.

The Lange Nacht der Bewerbung will take place on Monday, 30. November 2026 in Graz.