Application Guide
How to Apply for HR Manager
at Kurzgesagt
🏢 About Kurzgesagt
Kurzgesagt is a globally recognized animation studio famous for its beautifully animated, science-focused educational videos that simplify complex topics. Working here means contributing to a mission of making learning accessible and engaging for millions worldwide, within a creative and collaborative environment that values visual storytelling and intellectual curiosity.
About This Role
As HR Manager at Kurzgesagt, you would oversee all people operations for a creative, international team of animators, writers, and researchers, ensuring the studio attracts, retains, and develops talent aligned with its educational mission. This role is impactful because you'd directly shape the culture and processes that enable a unique team to produce world-class content, balancing creative freedom with operational structure.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with reviewing HR metrics and coordinating with team leads on staffing needs for upcoming animation projects, followed by facilitating a workshop on creative collaboration or feedback culture. You'd spend afternoons handling recruitment outreach for specialized roles like science writers or animators, and end the day updating policies to align with German regulations while supporting remote team members across time zones.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Kurzgesagt Is Looking For
- Experience in HR within creative industries (animation, media, gaming, or tech startups), understanding the nuances of managing artistic and technical talent.
- Proficiency in German employment law and experience supporting international teams, given the studio's German base and global audience.
- A genuine passion for Kurzgesagt's content and mission, with the ability to translate that into employer branding and talent strategies.
- Strong skills in change management and scaling HR processes, as the company likely continues to grow its team and content output.
📝 Tips for Applying to Kurzgesagt
Explicitly reference specific Kurzgesagt videos or series you admire in your application to demonstrate authentic interest in their work.
Highlight any experience with remote or hybrid team management, as they likely have a distributed creative workflow.
Showcase how you've supported diversity and inclusion in past roles, particularly in creative fields where diverse perspectives fuel innovation.
Tailor your resume to emphasize HR initiatives that improved employee engagement or culture in fast-paced, mission-driven environments.
If you have a portfolio or examples (e.g., HR policies, training programs), link them to show tangible impact, as Kurzgesagt values visual and practical outputs.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain how your HR philosophy aligns with Kurzgesagt's mission of education and creativity, not just generic HR best practices.", "Detail a specific challenge you've solved in a creative or scaling organization, such as implementing a performance review system for animators or improving onboarding.", "Express your understanding of the German work culture and legal landscape, and how you'd navigate it for an international team.", "Mention how you'd contribute to employer branding to attract top talent in competitive fields like animation and science communication."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Watch several Kurzgesagt videos to understand their tone, topics, and production quality—note favorites to discuss.
- → Research the company's history, team size, and any public mentions of their culture or growth (e.g., interviews, behind-the-scenes content).
- → Look into the German animation and educational media industry to understand competitive talent landscapes and trends.
- → Explore their careers page or social media for insights into current team structure and values, even if the HR role isn't listed.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning Kurzgesagt's specific content or mission—this shows lack of genuine interest.
- Overemphasizing traditional corporate HR experience without adapting it to a creative, non-hierarchical studio environment.
- Failing to address international or German-specific HR considerations, which are crucial for a company based in Germany with a global team.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!