How to Write a Job Application

Sell yourself thanks to cover & motivation letter instead of only applying online & offline, conduct interviews with perfect resume, use templates

Simone Janson, Simone Janson, Simone Janson

• Publisher: Best of HR – Berufebilder.de®
• Year: 2024
• ISBN:
  9783965962392
• Edition: 4
• Topic: Economics
• Subtopic: Economic Theory
• Index: Economics

Apply, but do it right: applicant lexicon A-Z
// By Diana Bridde

Apply - but right? In fact, things are often done wrong when applying, which should be clear to everyone. That is why we give our small applicant lexicon an overview of the most important application basics.

Apply correctly from A-Z - that's what matters

Your application is the first that your potential new employer sees you. It is all the more astonishing how many mistakes are still made in applications, especially with the basics that everyone has actually heard 100 times.

Even if we think we know everything about the application process, because we are literally bombarded with tips and information: Many applicants are still rejected because of completely unnecessary mistakes. That's what matters.

A as final grade

The final grade of school or study is particularly important for career advancement. If you were particularly good at studying or at school, write the final grade in your CV.

B like picture

Actually, you are not obligated to apply for a picture, but you can improve your chances with a suitable picture. You should never take a picture out of the machine.

Go for a successful picture to a professional photographer. Dress appropriately to the photo date and fit your outfit to suit your profession. Kindergartens dress differently from bank employees.

C how chronological is out

Arrange the points in your resume sensibly. Form blocks of topics such as “training” and “work experience”. The timing should be anti-chronological, so start with the most current.

D as illustration

Be as natural as possible during the interview. They should neither be too modest nor too arrogant. It is also important to consider the position you are applying to. Apply for a leadership position.

If, on the other hand, you were looking for a teamplayer in the job description, you will emphasize in the interview that you have achieved your success with your team.

E like invitation

For an invitation to the interview, you should definitely thank. With it you can earn points.

F as formulations

Read the requirements profile carefully and follow them when formulating your cover letter. It is best to formulate as if you would fit into the place.

Example - The display shows:

• Successfully completed commercial training
• First job experience in the office environment
• Service orientation, communication strength and organization

You write:

I would like to briefly introduce myself: I have commercial training and have been working for the XY company in the sales department for 3 years.

I take care of customers, take phone calls and do the scheduling. I also arrange correspondence and conduct consultations.

G as salaries

Salary expectations should only be stated if they are expressly requested in the job advertisement. Find out what's common in your industry. It is also advisable to specify a range from ... to.

H like hobbies

It is better if you call your hobbies "personal interests". Only state your hobbies if you fit the job. Applying to an editorial office can be very relevant if you have a blog.

Sport is usually good, as long as it is not too extreme. Sports such as skiing, soccer or climbing have a high risk of injury and this has a detrimental effect on potential employers. Go jogging or swimming, even if that is not quite true.

I as an initiative

The unsolicited application offers many opportunities as well as pitfalls. The clear advantage of the unsolicited application lies in the lack of competition. Hundreds of competitors usually apply to a job advertisement, while competitors can hardly be expected to submit an unsolicited application.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to research which positions in a company will soon be filled. Unsolicited applications are therefore often vague and inaccurate. But here is the crux of the matter: Unsolicited applications must not be too general. Find out in advance about the company structure. In the application you should at least state the department in which you would like to work.

J like Jobbörsen

There are many job exchanges. With the large number of offers, it is important to get to know what you are looking for and choose the right job. in the selection helps eg the Crosspro-Research-User Survey, in which jobseekers in a long-term test evaluate job exchanges and job search machines according to different criteria.

In most job markets, you can not only search for jobs, but also job searches, create a profile, upload documents, or create search jobs.

K as competencies

State your personal skills in the cover letter. But don't write lists: I am a team player, order-loving, friendly and reliable. No one believes that. It is important to demonstrate skills. Instead of "I'm able to work in a team", you should rather write: "I am currently working in a team of seven people."

L like gaps in the CV

Do not leave any gaps in your CV. Everything is better than a gap. If you have looked after your young children, write it quietly in your CV and name it family management. Even languageCourses or other training courses can fill gaps.

If you have not worked for a long time, then you should be prepared to be asked about it in the interview. In creative industries there is also the possibility of attracting attention through a particularly creative curriculum vitae.

M like portfolio

A written application belongs in a suitable folder. But beware, read the job ad exactly! Mostly the ad describes how to apply. Authorities usually want a classic portfolio, while the private sector offers a job application eMail prefers.

From time to time you can also find job advertisements that do not specifically wish to have a folder, but only stapled sheets or explicit online applications. Whatever the wishes, the employer, you should stick to it.

O how outfit or what do I prefer to talk about?

Here, as with the photo term, you attract what is common in the industry. As an educator, you do not wear a business costume. As a banker, you do not appear in jeans.

P like internships

If you have done internships during your studies, write this as your starting point in your CV. If, however, you are already an 20 professional, you should omit internships. The CV should not be too long or too confusing.

Q as qualifications

If you have completed additional qualifications or training, then write this in CV. If your qualification is relevant for the job, attach the proof as a copy or scan it for eMailApplications.

R like role play

Discussions with authorities and authorities may sometimes take bizarre forms. Here everything is possible from numbers to antiquated flipchart presentations up to the Rollenspiel. Much of this has little to do with the reality in the job and is solely for testing how you behave in a stressful situation. So do not let it happen and play with you!

Practice writing freely on a flip chart, because that's not so easy because in everyday life we're just used to pressing buttons. Most presentation tasks mean that she has to present herself. The role plays, however, always have to do with the institution. For example, you need to imagine working on a network or managing conflict situations with clients.

S as a position indicator

You should thoroughly disassemble the job ad. Basically, the job ad contains all the items that are part of your cover letter.

If the requirement profile says “Safe handling of the standard Microsoft Office applications (Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook)”, then write in your cover letter: “For my current job, I work with the Microsoft Office applications every day. The correct wording is important here.

U as signature

Do not forget to sign the application letter. The CV should also be signed with place and date.

V like talking talk

You can prepare well for standard questions. Questions like "What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses" occur in almost every interview.

W like continuing education

Training is always well received and is supported by the employment agency and the job center in the event of unemployment. You can also fill gaps in your CV with advanced training. If you are surprisingly unemployed, an online course is also recommended.

Z like certificates

Your job references and your graduation certificate (e.g. from the university) definitely belong to a successful application.

Motivation letter in the application: Customize in 5 steps
// By Sonja Bayer

While applications for a job often do not include a letter of motivation, these are usually the norm when applying for a job. They can also be very helpful for applicants.

Letter of motivation - an underrated instrument

Motivational writing is not only an annoying part of your application, but can be a decisive factor in the selection process. But this is unfortunately underestimated by many contenders.

When the letter of motivation is used exactly and how you can differentiate yourself from other applicants successfully, I will show you in the following five steps:

1. Reasons for motivation

With the letter of motivation, which is also known as “the third party” and thus follows the cover letter and the CV, the applicant has another chance to emphasize his qualities. But be careful: Only use the creative cover letter if it is explicitly requested or if you believe that you can achieve a decisive advantage for yourself. Because some HR personnel see in the cover letter only the repetition of information already given on the previous pages, so that no attention is paid to them and your work was in vain love efforts.

Instead, take plenty of time to write a well-thought-out motivation letter tailored to the application, instead of enclosing a slightly modified version with each application. Especially in the creative industry, such as journalism, in which a good style of writing is part of good tone, more and more attention is paid to the motivation letter. But companies that receive tons of applications also use the letter to make a preliminary selection.

2. Why is individuality so important?

The motivation letter carries your personal touch and, depending on the content request, either includes your central skills or your direct motivation for the job you are writing. Often, the two points can be combined so that you can put your skills directly into the workplace.

Based on your motivation letter, it can be deduced how intensively you dealt with the job. Do you go into detail and show active interest or are you merely scratching the surface of the content and thus getting lost in the crowd? How to write a letter of motivation that demonstrates true commitment is illustrated in the next section.

3. How should a motivation letter be built up?

In principle, a DinA4 page is perfectly adequate for motivation writing. Finally, only the most striking points are included in such a letter. Writing is, in principle, written in the I-form.

The letterhead includes your name, address, telephone number as well as the usual cover letter eMail-Address. In order to emphasize the individuality of your motivation letter, you should also use a direct contact instead of a general address. However, you have to be absolutely sure, as wrong addressing is a criterion for an immediate application exclusion. In addition, with the help of your motivation letter you can demonstrate your fluency and good writing style. A well-chosen formulation can therefore be...