This guideline presents general rules for a job application and provides pratical help for composing a successful application.

2. Job Application
A Guideline

3. Different steps to a
successful application
I. Curriculum vitae
II. Covering letter
III. Job interview

4. I. Curriculum Vitae
The five sections

5. 1. Personal Information
• full name: first name / family name
• actual address / telephone and e-mail
• date of birth / place of birth
• nationality

6. 2. Education and Training
• school education
• apprenticeships
• university degrees
• all qualifications
Start with the actual education and work backwards

7. 3. Working Experiences
Employment history:
• all jobs
• all professional experiences
• JOB, COMPANY, CITY (COUNTRY)
Start with your last job and work backwards again

8. 4. Personal Skills and
Competences
• language skills
• computer skills
• organisational skills
• special activities
• other experiences like licences etc.
• special achievements like internships,
stays abroad

9. 5. Hobbies and Interests
• sports / reading /music / art work / acting
• photographing / hiking / nature / animals
• travelling / languages / volunteer work
• social activities / coaching or training a
team
• competitions / memberships / internships

10. At the end
• date
• place
• signature
Uetze, May 6th 2015 Marie Mustermann

11. II. Covering Letter
1. Front page
2. Letter of application
3. Photograph
4. Enclosures

12. 1. Front page
• address of the company
• address of the applicant
• photograph

13. 2. Letter of application
• addresses and date
• introduction
• purpose of the letter
• qualifications and strengths
• polite ending
• signature

14. 3. Photograph
• Position: front page – any position
covering letter – top right
• Portrait: eye contact
smile
smart clothes

15. 4. Enclosures
• curriculum vitae
• school certificates
• university degrees
• special certificates
• references

16. III. Job Interview
You never get a second
chance for the first
impression

17. III. Job Interview
1. Welcome: small talk / seating
2. Presentation of the candidate
3. Information about the company
4. Conditions of the job

18. III. Job Interview
5. Additional questions of the candidate
6. Talk about the next steps
7. Thank you
8. Goodbye

19. III. Job Interview
Important to prepare:
• typical questions
• strengths and weaknesses
• body language
• appropriate behaviour
• adequate clothes

20. Typical Questions
1. Personality:
• Tell us about yourself
2. Motivation:
• Why do you apply for this job?
3. Competence:
• Why should we hire you?

21. Realschule Uetze
Erasmus Workshop
2015