Have you ever clicked a link to a company’s career page only to be greeted by the frustrating German error message Keine Karriere-Subdomain gefunden (No career subdomain found) or a similar “page not found” error? This common technical hiccup can stop job seekers in their tracks and signal a problem a company needs to fix.
Understanding the Error: A Technical Breakdown
The message “Keine Karriere-Subdomain gefunden” is a clear sign of a website configuration issue. Many companies host their career or jobs page on a dedicated subdomain, such as:
karriere.firmenname.dejobs.firmenname.decareers.companyname.com
This error occurs when a web browser cannot find this specific address because the necessary technical directions (DNS records) are missing, incorrect, or not yet active. For the user, this typically manifests as a “DNS error” or a “404 Not Found” page.
Primary Technical Causes (For Website Admins)
The issue almost always lies with the company’s website configuration, not the visitor’s device. Here are the most common causes:
- Missing or Incorrect DNS Record: For a subdomain like
karriere.firmenname.deto work, a specific CNAME or A record must exist in the domain’s DNS settings, pointing to the correct server. If this record is missing or contains a typo, the subdomain is unreachable. - Server or Hosting Issues: The DNS record might be correct, but the server it points to could be down, overloaded, or misconfigured.
- DNS Propagation Delay: If the career subdomain was recently created or changed, it can take 24 to 48 hours for the new address to update globally across the internet.
- Content Management System (CMS) Misconfiguration: In systems like WordPress Multisite, the subdomain must be correctly created and activated within the CMS admin panel, or it will not resolve even with correct DNS settings.
- Caching Problems: Outdated data cached by the user’s browser, their internet service provider (ISP), or a content delivery network (CDN) can show an old, incorrect version of the site.
Step-by-Step Solutions for Job Seekers
Before giving up, try these practical troubleshooting steps:
| Step | Action | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check the Main Website | Navigate to the company’s main homepage (e.g., www.companyname.com). Look for navigation links to “Careers,” “Jobs,” or “About Us / Work With Us.” The career page is often linked from there. |
| 2 | Verify the URL | Look for typos in the web address. Companies may use different subdomains like careers., jobs., or talents.. The page may have also moved to a new location. |
| 3 | Clear Your Browser Cache | Clear your browser’s cached files and cookies. Stored old data can sometimes cause conflicts. |
| 4 | Try a Different Network | Attempt to access the page using a different network (e.g., switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data). This can bypass a local caching issue with your ISP. |
| 5 | Find Alternative Contact | Call the company’s main office or find a general contact email. Politely inform them their career page link appears broken—this shows initiative. You can also search for company recruiters on LinkedIn as a direct point of contact. |
| 6 | Use Major Job Boards | Search for the company on large job platforms like LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, or StepStone. Open positions are often advertised there in parallel. |
Fixes for Companies and Webmasters
If you manage the website, here is how to diagnose and resolve the issue:
- Verify DNS Configuration: Log into your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider. Ensure a CNAME or A record exists for your career subdomain (e.g.,
karriere) and that it points to the correct server IP address or hostname. - Check Server and Hosting: Confirm that the web server for the subdomain is running and that the correct website files are in the root directory for that subdomain.
- Review CMS Settings: If using a CMS like WordPress (especially Multisite), ensure the subdomain site is properly created and enabled within the CMS admin area.
- Implement a Redirect: A robust, user-friendly solution is to set up a permanent (301) redirect from the main domain. For example, redirect
www.companyname.com/careersto the functional career subdomain. This provides a backup pathway for users. - Clear Caches: Purge the cache on your CDN (like Cloudflare), hosting platform, and any website caching plugins to ensure the latest configuration is live.
Key Takeaway
For job seekers, the error “Keine Karriere-Subdomain gefunden” is a solvable obstacle. Methodically checking the main site and seeking alternative contact methods will usually get you to the right place.