Tips on applying for jobs

Organising the application process

Properly looking for work is a full-time job. Get yourself organised from the start - make to-do lists, checklists, an overview of the applications you have sent and that are still open etc.

Active job search
Networking, online job portals, vacancies on company websites, in newspapers etc. – use all of these channels to help you find a job. Talk to friends, acquaintances (even from a long time ago) and tell them what sort of job you are looking for. A large number of vacancies are filled in this way. Your personal contacts can also be very helpful when looking for work.

Internet
With its online job portals, the Internet is an extremely important tool in finding work - make good use of the wide variety of options and opportunities it has to offer! On an ongoing basis, find out online about any newly advertised vacancies and if possible, subscribe to the relevant notifications of new positions.

Unsolicited and telephone applications
Not easy, but efficient. Prepare carefully!

Personnel consultants
Personnel consultants and/or headhunters have a lot of useful contacts with employers and can provide you with individual advice and assistance.

Following up on applications
If you haven’t had a response to an application for some time, get in touch with the company and calmly and politely ask them about the status of your application. This shows the potential employer that you are interested and makes them aware of you!

Letters of application

Your letters of application and motivation are not merely a summary of your CV. Your written application is your personal business card. You already have to stand out from your fellow applications at this stage. Take the time to express yourself properly in writing, and clearly and specifically highlight your qualifications, experience and strengths. Be original where you can - but not at any cost! - Does the company have a website? This will provide an indication of how the company presents itself. Don’t use a standard letter, but instead tailor your application to the company/requirements profile from the job advertisement.

Cover page
First impressions most definitely count here.

CV
The recipient of your application dossier will mostly be interested in your CV, but can only spend a limited amount of time reading it. It also worth ensuring it is clearly and carefully presented. Look at a few examples on the Internet beforehand or those of your friends and acquaintances for inspiration.

References
It is important to put together a list of your professional work that is documented with references and does not contain any gaps. You should therefore always request your references from employers in good time!

Last but not least
Carefully read through your application and be sure to avoid any spelling errors or careless mistakes. Send your documents unfolded in a C4 envelope. Make sure that the envelope has the correct postage and address.

Job interview

Preparing for the interview
Practice job interviews with friends. Tips in this regard include maintaining a good posture, looking the person in the eyes, giving a firm handshake, and not folding your hands on your lap if possible.

One day before the interview
Travel to where you’re going (either in real life or online) and factor in enough time including looking for a parking space or train delays. Choose suitable clothes to wear - appropriate for the position and no leisurewear. Make sure your shoes are clean! Remember the name of the person who will be interviewing you.

Interview questions
Properly prepare yourself for a wide variety of questions. You should have a clear answer for all the standard questions. There are numerous books and websites containing examples of these. Our brochure also provides assistance in this regard. Get actively involved in the interview. Beforehand you should also think about which questions you want to ask yourself. Note these down and bring them to the interview with you - this shows that you are interested in and have been thinking about the company. Make sure you are well informed about the company: e.g. its size, important upcoming dates/events.

How should I present myself?
Be sure to “sell yourself”, but don’t go over the top. Stay calm, friendly and objective in all situations. If it is important to you, speak up when necessary, but not too often! Listen attentively to the person interviewing you and answer questions in a targeted, concise manner.

Salary negotiations
Salary negotiations can often prove to be a difficult and unfamiliar situation. Prepare yourself for these accordingly and set out your salary expectations. If you don’t know exactly where you stand as regards salary, ask the corresponding professional association for salary guidelines.

Personal situation and targets

Take the time to assess your personal situation. You can only plan your professional future in a targeted manner by first asking yourself questions such as “who am I?”, “what can I do?” or “what do I want?”. Be clear about your strengths and weaknesses, and question your own employability. What do I bring with me? What do I still need? - “Soft” factors, such as social skills and emotional intelligence, are becoming ever more important. This also includes thinking about your work-life balance: how do I balance my private, family and professional lives? It is essential to also define your personal purpose and targets.

Training

During a training course, you often receive not only functional knowledge, but you also gain new motivation to put your ideas into practice or target a professional change. You also make new contacts, which helps expand your network. Anybody completing an educational/training course...

stays up-to-date professionally and/or acquires new skills
shows a willingness to learn and an openness to new ideas

Completing a training course or a changing your profession
You need to spend time preparing for a longer training course or changing your profession. You have to check out a variety of courses, go through the application process or make applications. Compare the various training options and career opportunities. There is often more than one way to reach your destination. Pay attention to the following points when completing your course:

Training costs money: Not only the course costs and learning material, but you must also take into account the lost salary. Budget for these costs early on so you can put money aside to cover them.
Training takes up time: Whether opting for a full-time or part-time course, both will have an impact on your ability and availability for work. Will you have to cut down your working hours for a longer period of time? Include this in your planning.
Are the course documents clear and understandable? (For example: Are the learning objectives defined? Are the conditions for admission clearly formulated? Is a maximum class size specified? Are the terms and conditions and costs transparent?)
Be aware that for certain courses, there is an acceptance process to follow, which also takes time.

On the job
Completing on-the-job training can also be a good idea; this allows you to gain important practical skills. An engineer who has overseen the construction of a dam is likely to impress a future employer more than an applicant who has attended a theoretical dam-building seminar.

Attending training courses is always an important option, as this helps you stay “professionally fit”, which improves your chances on the labour market.

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