Your application documents – an important start
The application
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In Germany, application documents are usually sent as a PDF or by email. Companies often indicate in their vacancy notices which application documents are required. Regardless of whether you apply online or by post, the information and documents you should submit are as a rule similar.
A cover letter and the curriculum vitae (CV) are mandatory.
The CV is a document submitted with an application that gives an overview of the applicant’s professional career. It usually contains information such as name, contact details, education, professional experience, skills and knowledge, and other relevant information. A well-designed CV gives the employer an impression of the applicant’s skills, experience and suitability for the advertised post. The CV is an important part of the application and should be prepared carefully.
The cover letter for the application
The cover letter is an important part of an application. It is a formal letter intended to give the potential employer a first impression of the applicant. In the cover letter the reasons for applying for the post are explained, one’s own strengths and experience are highlighted, and interest in a job interview is expressed. It therefore serves to give the employer an overview of the applicant and his or her motivation for the post and to reinforce interest in the post.
The curriculum vitae
The CV is a document submitted with an application that gives an overview of the applicant’s professional career. It usually contains information such as name, contact details, education, professional experience, skills and knowledge, and other relevant information. A well-designed CV gives the employer an impression of the applicant’s skills, experience and suitability for the advertised post.
The CV is an important part of the application and should be prepared carefully.
In Germany the CV is not normally arranged in a strictly chronological order.
Professional experience is, however, usually listed at the beginning. In between, qualifications are put into a suitable order:
Personal details: name, address, contact details
Professional experience: For which companies have you worked? What tasks did you take on there? This information should be listed in chronological order. Professional experience begins with the start of the professional career.
Education: Which schools and universities have you attended and what qualification did you obtain there? How good were your grades? Which subjects did you study? Have you completed vocational training or further training? Arrange the information one after another, beginning with your most recent qualification and ending with your school education.
Language skills: Which languages do you speak and at what level? To describe language level, Europe usually draws on terms such as “native language”, “negotiating level”, “fluent” and “basic knowledge” (beginner). It is advisable, however, to refer to the standards of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR / CEFR).
Special skills and interests: Do you have exceptional skills and interests that are relevant to your work? What are your hobbies?
Certificates: Now add the most important certificates from your training and your school and university qualifications to your application documents. If you hold a foreign professional qualification, you can find out more here about “recognition of professional qualifications”.
It can also be helpful to enclose references from previous employers. Send only copies, however, and not original documents, as these are not normally returned. As a rule, simple copies are sufficient unless the company requires officially certified copies.
Tip: Ideally you should have your certificates translated into German or English so that the company can understand your documents.