Tips for Applying

Tips for Applying

When you’re making plans for the future, it’s very important that you proceed in a deliberate, systematic way and that you have the support of a competent, reliable partner.

The most important steps to your dream job

 

1. Self analysis / personal location selection

You should be fully aware of where your strengths lie, the areas you need to develop and where you find yourself with respect to your career. Important questions to ask yourself are, for example:

  • Which activities are satisfying for me?
  • What skills did I need to accomplish these?
  • Which tasks seem to make time fly?
  • Which tasks do I like to take on voluntarily?
  • Are there things that, although I can do them well, I don’t like performing?
  • Which tasks aren’t aren’t any fun at all?

Based on this analysis, you can deduce your career goals and desires and thus base your application strategy accordingly.

2. The written application

A large number of applicants still fail due to a lack of professionalism in the documents they submit. Think about the fact that in this you're dealing with more than just a mere formality: You are delivering your first “work sample” which will communicate important information about you to human resources professionals.

The following components should be included in your application documentation:

  • an individually formulated cover letter
  • a professional application photo
  • a current, descriptive CV (with keywords covering the duties and responsibilities at the individual stages of your career)
  • references (employment and training references)
  • additional relevant information

3. The telephone interview

These days, many HR decision makers have begun to make their first selection on the basis of a telephone interview. This generally lasts approx. 15-30 minutes and should serve primarily in order to clarify questions of expertise as well as general requirements in more detail. That’s why it’s particularly important that you make you sure to have a comfortable and disruption-free environment for the interview and that you are well prepared on the important aspects of your application. Speak to your interviewer by name and smile here and there; that can also be recognised over the telephone!

4. The interview

You have cleared the first hurdles and have received an invitation for a personal interview. The interview allows for both sides to get to know one another: important for your selection is therefore comprehensive preparation for the interview as well as a follow-up!


Preparing for an interview

  • Prepare a convincing presentation of your person
  • Collect information about the company
  • Prepare for questions about the company, the vacancy, coworkers, etc.

The phases of an interview

Phase 1: Beginning of the interview

Warm-up phase / small talk

Phase 2: Getting to know the applicant

  • Self-presentation of the applicant
  • Questions about open issues / objections based on the documents as well as weaknesses
  • Questions about the applicant, education, special skills and previous work experience

Phase 3: Information for the applicant

  • Information about the company, the position, future assignments, expectations of the future employee, coworkers
  • Attention: Information about the pay scale / starting salary, additional duties, further education and development opportunities are often reserved for a second interview. .

Phase 4: End of the interview

Agreements on how to proceed

Following up on the interview

Use the opportunity directly after the interview to jot down your impressions; this will make it easier for you to make a decision. Also, in the event of further applications, it is important to be able to rethink the interviews you’ve already had. Consider what you can improve about your documents / your appearance and what could have been the reason why a meeting didn’t go over as well as you would have liked.

5. Hiring / employment contract

Congratulations on your new position! Try to be actively involved in the structuring of your employment contract and forward your wishes. You can find more information on the subject of applying for jobs as  www.arbeitszeugnis-info.de