If you fail during your application phase, there is still salvation in sight. Guest author Thomas Bähren is your lighthouse in the storm and in the darkness:
You are in the final stages of your studies, the final exams are waiting, the thesis is almost finished - a stressful time, but the goal of "graduation" is within reach. Maybe you've already completed the graduation ceremony or the entire exam procedure still lies ahead of you - either way, the next challenges await you: starting your career and with it the entire job search and application process.
From my everyday consulting work, I know the worries and needs of many students and graduates in this situation, but also the mistakes that are often made when looking for a job and applying . I would like to go into this in more detail below.
Job search
The job search:
Your most important task in this phase is a thorough and intensive search for suitable positions and companies. It is important to take a close look at what requirements a company has. If “several years of professional experience” or “sound project experience” is required, the applicant must carefully consider whether an application has a chance. On the one hand, you should keep in mind that job offers primarily express the company's wishes, but on the other hand, the requirements mentioned are not placed there without consideration. On the one hand, don't let the requirements put you off, but on the other hand, assess realistically whether you really meet the most important requirements. You can also read about what HR managers hope from applicants here.
The graduate positions:
Therefore, focus primarily on positions that are specifically aimed at graduates. The same applies here: first compare your requirements and your own qualifications to see whether an application is worth it. For each requirement, especially the “hard skills”, the facts, make notes about the extent to which you actually correspond to the ideas stated there. With these notes you will also develop the most important arguments that you need for the written application.
The company choice:
Many would like to get into a big position, at VW, Daimler or Bayer - large international corporations with the best prospects. The number of applicants is correspondingly large, and the requirements of the companies are correspondingly high. Therefore, consider which alternatives are still possible. For example, if you would like to enter the automotive industry, joining a somewhat smaller supplier might be an alternative.
The application time:
The timing of the application also plays a role. In general, the sooner the better. It's not for nothing that large companies in particular write that you should apply six months before your desired internship or trainee program. That's why you should start your research in good time, because the job search can sometimes take longer than you would like.
letter of application
There are many pitfalls when preparing written application documents. This topic is so comprehensive that I will only address the most important points here:
The beginning:
Don't bore the HR manager with sentences that say that you are very interested in applying or that you have read the job advertisement somewhere. Get straight to the point, because the HR manager has little time and wants to get the essential information about you as quickly as possible. Therefore, mention your (future) degree in the first paragraph, ideally supplemented by a reference to a good final grade, relevant areas of study and significant practical experience that is important for the position.
Be specific:
You can then delve deeper into this brief information, which will serve to arouse the HR manager's interest in reading further. It is best to first describe your relevant practical experiences. Be specific about your tasks, as well as any work results that may have been achieved. If you have had little practical experience, try to highlight practical projects and practice-oriented exercises from your studies. Here too, it is important to specifically describe the associated tasks and results of your work.
Study knowledge and additional qualifications:
You can also briefly describe important knowledge from your studies, individual subjects, procedures and methods learned. If additional qualifications are required, such as language or IT skills or stays abroad, you should also address these. However, avoid lengthy presentations of your thesis. If this is relevant to the advertised position, it is advisable to describe key points and findings briefly and concisely.
Personal strengths:
Ideally, personal strengths can be derived from the professional experience described. But avoid meaningless lists that you read over and over again ("I am a team player, communicative and flexible"). For example, anyone who is good at organizing should make this clear in the context of their practical experience (what did I organize?, what result did I achieve?). It is also possible to present two to three strong strengths as feedback from superiors or professors. If you can score points with volunteer work, this is another possible aspect that can be included in the cover letter.
The company:
Is there a particular reason why you are applying to a particular company? Try to explain briefly and succinctly what particularly impressed you about the company, its products, technologies, services or business areas. In order for this to be successful, it is necessary to take a close look at the company and the desired task in advance.
Of course, it always depends on the individual case what you can offer a future employer. The aspects mentioned above can also merge into one another and should not be processed point by point. It is important that the entire letter appears “rounded” and does not get too long. As a rule, you can do this with around 20 lines of text.
initiative application
Some companies seem interesting to you, but there are no suitable job offers advertised? Then it’s time to submit an unsolicited application! If you don't want to reinvent the wheel, you can find many document templates online on how to properly initiate an unsolicited application.
CV
The significance:
The CV is often treated very neglected by many applicants. However, a few data and numbers that say what you did when and where are not enough. In addition to this basic information, the CV also contains important information in order to achieve the highest possible level of information. You can also use your CV to take the burden off the cover letter. This means that the CV offers space to list a few bullet points about studies and practical activities that provide information about tasks, priorities, projects, grades or other achievements worth mentioning. Please also read our tips for a good application .
The structure:
The order and arrangement of the individual components is also important. Think about which information is most important for the reader and place it in a prominent position on the CV. If you can also summarize other blocks of your CV, such as vocational and school training, this also helps with clarity and a structured structure.
The additional qualifications:
Also mention other qualifications, such as language and IT skills, with a realistic assessment of your level of knowledge. Information about volunteer positions or other university or non-university commitments should also be included in the CV. Providing a driver's license is also important for many jobs.
by guest author Thomas Bähren
About the author
Thomas Bähren has been working in application consulting since 1999. He has been the owner of an application service since 2006. Bähren creates professional application documents for its customers - individual and meaningful. During the course of his work, he has successfully looked after around 3,000 customers (professionals and managers, students, graduates and pupils).
You can also benefit from Thomas Bähren's application service .
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