Please note: The information provided here applies to applications for jobs in Germany. In other countries, the conventions of applying for jobs may differ substantially.

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Assessment Centers

Many companies use assessment centers to get a better idea of who their future employees are. Job candidates are tested in group activities and role play situations. You can prepare for assessment centers by reading the relevant literature and participating in workshops for this purpose. You can also find some basic information on assessment centers on the following websites:

• karriere.de – the job search information portal of the Handelsblatt newspaper and the Wirtschaftswoche magazine
• Career website of the Staufenbiel recruitment agency
• Career website of the gaetan data GmbH

Application Strategy

Before starting to write cover letters, you should think thoroughly about which companies or organizations you are excited about and in which area you would like to work. It is not uncommon for first jobs to have a major impact on future career moves. It may thus be useful to enter a trainee program or to do an internship first. Find out about different work areas and companies, do research on the internet and on the job advertisement pages of newspapers and look out for employers that you find interesting. At the same time, define what your skills are and what goals you want to reach. The more you clearly define your goals are, the easier it will be for you to take the right steps to find a (new) job.

Application Documents

In Germany, complete application documents comprise an individualized cover letter, a curriculum vitae, degree certificates and transcripts as well as documents from previous employers that describe and evaluate your job performance. Application documents need to be informative, concise and error-free. Always send the documents that your potential future employer asks for. Sometimes, this might only be an brief online application. In such a situation, you do not need to submit degree certificates or other documentation. Unless otherwise stated, a good photo – if possible one taken by a professional photographer for this purpose – should also be part of your application documents so that your potential future employer can get a first impression of you. Please note, however, that other countries have different conventions, and that in some countries your application will not be considered if you include a photo. Find further information about application documents as well as sample applications on the following web pages.

The Language Center of RheinMain University has a store of in-depth information about  international job applications. Further information about English curriculum vitaes can be found on the hobsons.de website of the personnel marketing and recruiting agency Staufenbiel

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Career

The word career means "road" and refers to people's individual professional path.

Career Networking Fairs

Career networking fairs allow you to establish a first contact with the employer of your choice. RheinMain University annually hosts the meet@hochschule-rheinmain career networking fair. The fair is a great opportunity to get to know businesses that are looking for students or graduates and to approach their representatives for information about work areas and ways of entering their firms.

Certificates and Documentation

In Germany, job certificates that document your work experience and performance play an important role in the world of employment. You should therefore try to obtain a job certificate (German: "Arbeitszeugnis") for any work experience you have. These certificates will make it easier for you to demonstrate which specific work experience you have had. However, you should not include each and every certificate or documentary proof to in your application packet. Choose the most important and relevant certificates and mention in your cover letter that you can supply further documents if necessary.

Coaching

If you feel that you are still lacking some of the decisive skills you need to meet the requirements of your future employers, attend one of our seminars on communication and professional skills. We also offer personal coaching to help you over come exam nerves or job-interview-related nervousness.

Communication Skills

In Germany, communication skills, additional personal qualifications and interpersonal skills are frequently defined as key competences key competences. These comprise a range of personal skills beyond specialized knowledge in a subject area that employers expect from applicants irrespective of business area or profession. Key competences include communication skills, the ability to work well in teams, assertiveness and problem-solving skills as well as a strong motivation, stress resistance, structured and analytical thinking as well as conceptual and organizational competences. Key competences are important prerequisites for successfully embarking on a career. RheinMain University's Center for Communication and Professional Skills offers workshops that will help you acquire and practice these important skills.

Continuing Education

Everyone needs to engage in lifelong learning, but you should carefully consider whether it is advisable to enter any continuing education programs right after graduation. If you have little actual work experience, further continuing education will not usually help you find a job. If you want go gain more specialized training in your field, you will most likely still be able to do this once you have a job while working.

Cover Letter

In the German context, a classic set of application materials comprises the cover letter, a curriculum vitae and degree certificates and/or transcripts as well as documents from previous employers that describe and evaluate your job performance ("Arbeitszeugnisse" or job certificates). The cover letter states the motivations and reasons for your application and refers to the skills and qualifications that will help you meet the requirements of the position advertised.

You should communicate clearly why you apply at the particular company or organization in question. Your cover letter should directly address the person mentioned in the job advertisement. Even if you apply online, you will usually need a cover letter unless the employer provides a special online form for this purpose.

Cover Page

A well-structured cover page with your address and the name of the relevant contact person in the company as well as the address of the business or organization in question should serve as the point of entry for your application and convey a first positive impression.

Curriculum Vitae

Your curriculum vitae or resume forms the centerpiece of your application. It should present the most important way stations of your career path in a well arranged and concise manner. It should be your goal to provide the personnel manager in charge with convincing information that he or she will be able to take in quickly. Thus, creating an attractive layout is an absolute must, whereas longwindedness and unnecessary details should be avoided.

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Detours

Frequently detours eventually lead to a dream job. If you can not find the right job at the first go, find a task or position that allows you to prove yourself and show what you can do. As long as you do not lose sight of your goal, you will eventually find the right job. Another strategy is to visit conferences and fairs in your field to keep up-to-date with developments in your field and to network.

Doctorate

Universities of applied sciences also offer the opportunity to obtain a doctorate. Examine closely, however, whether it is worthwhile for you to embark on getting a doctorate. Is a doctorate an important requirement to get a job in your field? What financial benefits do you expect the doctorate to yield in your future area of work? Starting with the time-consuming undertaking of obtaining a doctorate should be well considered. This online guide to doctorates online guide to doctorates provides information about regulations for doctoral programs and includes doctorate-related in-depth statistics, press clippings, internet resources and financial aid opportunities.

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Experience

What experience do you have? What skills and competences do you have? Make a list with your skills and your experience from specific work assignments or volunteer work. You will notice that you have already done a lot and that, next to your academic qualifications, you can also refer to various types of personal experience and skills that have value at the workplace. Use your list of types of experience and skills to prepare your job interviews. You will then quickly be able to refer to specific examples in order to prove that you possess the required skills successfully to carry out the desired tasks.

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Initiative

Without some initiative of your own, you will not manage to get a job or internship. Use the job search information and support offerings of your faculty and of the university, visit recruitment and other business-related events to get in touch with company representatives, do some research about different areas of work and attend an job application training workshop. If you have done all this, you should be well equipped to master your career entry successfully.

Internships

Acquiring some practical experience during your studies is a must. Job candidates who have already worked at a university, in an office or in a laboratory have a much better idea of what their future job will look like, and their work experience allows them to better assess their own strengths. And while it is not desirable to move precariously from one internship to the next after graduation, it still makes sense to add practical experience if the dream job is not coming along right away. In such a situation, working for a temporary employment agency can also be a good interim solution.

Internships Abroad

An increasing number of institutions and organizations offers assistance with finding internships abroad, for example:www.praktikumsanzeigen.info oder www.studentsgoabroad.com.

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Job Interviews

Once you are invited to a job interview, you have cleared the first, most essential hurdle. The challenge now is to convince the company or organization in person of your skills and abilities. Do some thorough research about the company or organziation, know the requirements of the advertised position well and be prepared to answer the most common questions asked in job interviews. You should be able to confidently answer the following questions: Why are you interested in the advertised position and our company or organization? What do you have to offer? Why should we hire you of all people?

Job Search Websites

The internet offers countless job search websites that publish current job advertisements of businesses and other organizations. In addition to the well-known job search websites such aswww.monster.de, www.stellenanzeigen.de, www.stepstone.de oder www.jobscout24.de there are also so-called job robots (specialized search engines) that sift through several job search websites for you for example on the www.zeit.de website. If you are in the process of applying for jobs, it makes sense to register on such a website and have job advertisements that interest you sent to your e-mail address, based on personal criteria defined by you. Posting your application profile on thematically appropriate job search websites and other career-related portals can be useful. Applicants with interesting profiles are often contacted by temporary employment and personnel consulting agencies. Talking to these companies can be beneficial even if you are not interested in working for a temporary employment agency. Personnel specialists know what qualification profiles are in demand and what the current job market situation in your area is like.

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Motivation

If you have prepared your application well, you will surely also be able to come upon the necessary motivation for your cover letter. Presenting a persuasive motivation is essential. After all, you need to stand out from other applicants. Think positive and look at the entire application process as an important experience. Get advice at your university or from your friends and acquaintances if you feel that you are receiving too many rejection letters.

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Networking

Unsolicited applications as well as applications responding to job advertisements are frequently successful; however, nowadays hiring is increasingly based on personal contacts and networking Who knows someone who knows someone who could take on this job? Offer yourself as the solution to the problem. Tell people that you are looking for a job and what you can do.  Start networking during your studies, and forget about any reservations you might have about being well connected.  By the way, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences has established a mentoring network for women. Find more information under Mentoring Network

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Obstacles

When looking for a job that fits you and your qualifications, you will surely encounter some obstacles: Your employer of choice may decide to hire someone else, an advertised position may suddenly not be filled at all, or there may not be any suitable jobs in your region. Keep your calm – and keep looking. You might be able to bridge any gaps by doing an internship or working freelance. This could be a chance to add further qualifications by taking continuing education courses or workshops.

Online and Electronic Applications

Increasingly, businesses and organizations prefer their applicants to apply electronically via e-mail. Electronic applications should be created with the same care as traditional printed applications. Send one or two attached files with an error-free e-mail as cover letter that communicates the reason for your application. Your e-mail can serve the function of the cover letter. Make sure that the files are not too large and that the recipient can read the file format you have chosen and can open your files. Only apply via e-mail when the job ad asks for electronic applications. If an employer offers an online application form on their website, you should use it in any case.

Originality

Your application should be as original as possible and as conventional as necessary. A funny cover letter with an attached cartoon can open the door to a job interview at an advertising agency, but at one of Handelsblatt's top 100 employers, it might cause your application to end up in file 13. The better your skills and qualifications as well as their presentation fit the position advertised, the better your chance to be invited to a job interview. Remember that it is important to communicate clearly why you want to work for this particular employer. It is thus definitely not advisable not to send out standardized cover letters.

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Photograph

Cameras are getting better all the time, but for a good photograph you should still use the services of a professional photographer. A photographer will take many different photos, and you will be able to select the one that you think presents you most effectively. When choosing a picture, you may want to ask your friends for advice. Getting someone else's view often helps to make a better decision which photo is best.

Professional Associations

Professional and industry associations in your field provide a host of information in your professional field. Websites of professional or industry organizations are a good starting point for researching their members as well as job openings.

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Recherche

Because of the expansive, ever-increasing offerings on the interet, searching for appropriate jobs has become much easier. All the same, it is frequently not sufficient to simply do a search on the most well-known job search websites. One useful strategy is to systematically look for companies in the region that would be a good fit and to send them an unsolicited application. Applicants who are interested in embarking on an international career should search for trainee positions with large international companies. For instance, under www.deutschlands100.de, you can find the most popular employers in the areas of business and engineering.

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Salary

How much are you looking to earn? You definitely should have a answer to this question should it arise during your job interview. Search the internet to find out what the pay range for recent graduates in your field is. Ask friends and acquaintances, read the free careers-related journals that are distributed at universities and be prepared to name a range when asked during a job interview: "I would like to be paid an annual salary between xx,000 and xx,000 euros." In your cover letter you should only mention what you expect to earn if the job advertisement explicitly asked for it. At some point during your job interview, ask about the exact terms of employment for the advertised job.

You can find further information on salaries on the website www.gehaltsvergleich.com or www.personalmarkt.de. Die meisten großen Medien (Focus magazine, Spiegel mazagine) offer gross-net calculators on their careers pages, which can be an important tool for preparing your salary negotiation. In addition, the brutto-netto-rechner web page can also help you find out what is left of your potential salary after taxes and other dues are deducted.

Skills and Qualifications

What skills and qualifications applicants possess is an essential selection criterion for employers. Equally important are the applicants' personality and their motivation to work hard and to learn new things. In your cover letter, all three aspects should be included. Avoid copying from job application self-help books and base your cover letter on your personal list of why you want to work with the company or organization in question, what qualifications and skills you can offer them and what motivates you. You are not sure what qualifications and skill the employer is looking for? Call their human resources department to find out.

Success

What does success mean for you? Getting a well-paid job? Working in a job that fits your interests? What do you want to achieve in the next five years? These are not just popular job interview questions – answering them before starting the application process will also be of personal benefit to you.

Strengths

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? The latter question, too, is a standard question in job interviews. Most of the time, the person who asks you wants to find out whether you know what your skills are and what your work style is like and how you will approach tasks. Before applying for jobs and before job interviews, you should thoroughly prepare how to answer questions like this. Of course, you are aware of your weaknesses as well. Make sure that you are prepared to come up with a good answer to the question about your weaknesses while not necessarily highlighting your weaknesses in a disadvantageous manner.

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Telephones

Even though communication via e-mail is fast becoming standard in many companies and organizations, nothing beats the personal contact by phone. This also applies to job applications. That is why it is advisable to contact the person mentioned in the job advertisement direct by phone before sending in your application documents.

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Unsolicited Applications

If you know where you would like to work, sending unsolicited applications to the company or organization of your choice might be a suitable strategy. However, before formulating a persuasive motivation for your application in your cover letter, spend a moment to call the company and ask the human resources department which area might be hiring in the near future. Use the conversation to create interest for yourself and use some good arguments to show that you are a good fit for the business or organization in question.

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Walk in Their Shoes

Job applicants should always try to see things from the perspective of their potential employers. The department head or the personnel manager usually want to know what the applicant can offer the company as a whole or the department both in terms of their skills and qualifications as well as in terms of their personality. Of particular importance is further some degree of mutual sympathy as you will eventually want to fit into the organization as well as the team at your future workplace. At times, the decisive element in favor of hiring an applicant is her or his flexibility in terms of time or region. What you should always keep in mind: Human resources and other department at your potential future workplace are usually quite busy. Thus, your phone calls should communicate in a concise and target-oriented way why the company should be interested in getting in touch with you.

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Xing & Co.

Social networks are up and coming, and since facebook and well-known professional networks such as xing oder LinkedIn have attracted a huge membership, having a profile on a social-networking site seems to become a must. Profiles on social-networking sites are in any case useful as they allow you to showcase professionally what you have to offer as long as you update your pages on a regular basis. Many jobs that are offered on xing can not be found on the popular job search websites, and personnel consultants frequently search for qualified applicants by doing keyword searches on the network's website. As in a curriculum vitae, focusing on essential information and using the right keywords in a targeted way together with a personable photograph will achieve more than listing all your hobbies and personal preferences.

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Yo-yo Effect

Everyone who has sent out applications quite a few times will now the application yo-yo effect. The enthusiasm and the high motivation on putting together a professional application is followed by intense frustration when the desired employers sends a rejection lettter. Thus, applicants' personal mood swings, depending on whether the dream job appears to be within reach or at an unattainable distance. In any case, don't be discouraged. No employer rejects you personally. If you can, ask why you did not get the job and learn from your experiences.

© Career Services RheinMain University