Curriculum vitae

How to apply

Whether for an internship, a student trainee position, or an entry-level position after graduation or a doctoral degree – the first contact with a company is usually made via written application documents before an interview takes place.

The application documents consist of a cover letter, a CV, and relevant certificates. While a few years ago written applications in the form of an application portfolio sent by mail were the norm, today employers mostly prefer online applications submitted via an application portal or by email. The type of application expected is usually specified in the job advertisement; otherwise, you can also phone the company to check. It is important to prepare your application documents with the utmost care and tailor them to the respective company – after all, the saying goes: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Cover letter

The cover letter is an important part of any written application. It serves to spark the employer’s interest in your application documents and to showcase your motivation and qualifications for a position at the company. The cover letter should be easy to read, informative, and authentic, and should be tailored to the company and the position.

Applications should include a letterhead stating the applicant’s address, email address, and telephone number, as well as the employer’s address. You should also include the current date and a subject line. The greeting and signature at the end of the cover letter are equally important. When applying online, the signature can be scanned and inserted into the document.

The cover letter can be logically divided into three sections: introduction, main section, and conclusion. It should be no more than one page in length. The cover letter should explain your motivation, professional qualifications, and experience in concrete terms and with examples. If requested, you should also state your salary expectations and earliest possible start date, preferably after the main section and before the closing sentence. It is advisable to avoid standard phrases and overly complex sentences, and to take care to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.

Curriculum vitae (CV)

A CV should be well structured and informative in terms of content, reflecting the applicant’s key experiences and skills. The CV is divided into a header with personal details and a main section focusing on your career to date (school education, university studies, part-time jobs, etc.). This is followed by additional information such as volunteer work, further training, language, and IT skills. It is important to sign and date the CV at the end.

The individual sections of your CV should contain important information about your knowledge and skills. For example, you should list your main tasks during your internship and the focus of your studies or your doctoral degree, as well as the topic of your final thesis.

Not only the content, but also the format of your CV is an important criterion when evaluating your application documents. It is therefore advisable to take time to write it carefully and to observe a few basic rules.

• The CV should be easy to read, i.e., clearly structured and uniformly organized.
• You should avoid too much continuous text. Tasks, experiences, or skills can also be described in bullet points.
• Particularly relevant information can be emphasized through the targeted use of highlights, such as bold text.
• It is essential to ensure error-free spelling, especially when it comes to proper names of companies or institutions.
• Although a CV should generally be limited to one page, a length of up to two pages is acceptable and common for doctoral candidates or graduates.
• Finally, the document should be dated and signed.

Certificates

You are also required to include copies of certificates and references in your application. Of particular importance to employers are references from previous employers; for doctoral candidates and graduates, these are usually internship references or references for part-time/student trainee jobs. You should also include a copy of your degree certificate. Optionally, you can also attach your school leaving certificate and proof of further education, language courses, etc. When selecting references and certificates, you should consider whether the qualification you have acquired is also relevant to the employer. A certificate for a basic MS Word course taken in 2005 is unlikely to be relevant anymore.

After submitting your application, you will usually receive confirmation from the company. If you do not receive a response after about two weeks, it is advisable to contact the company to inquire whether your application documents have been received and what the status of your application is.

Advice and support

If you need help preparing your application documents or have questions about the application process, the Career Service is happy to help. Further information on the services on offer can be found on the Career Service website.

Categories: Graduiertenzentrum