You’ve found a suitable job advertisement using one of the many tools available to you? Congratulations! That means you’re already one step closer to your dream job. Now, what you need to do is put together an application package that is tailored to the position.
You’ll usually submit your written application by email or the company’s careers portal. Some companies still accept paper applications via the post as well. If you take the following content formalities into account in your application, you’ll have a good chance of making it a step further in the application process.
Your curriculum vitae – or CV – lists the previous positions you’ve held in your career thus far. In it, you lay out your career milestones as well as your contact details, educational history, and other skills.
In the cover letter, you outline your skills and strengths. You make it clear to your potential new employer why you are the perfect match for the job. The cover letter shouldn’t be longer than a single A4 page.
With your application, you should also include copies of your school certificates, academic transcripts, degree or training certificates, and reference letters from previous employers. Notarized copies are only necessary if the job advertisement explicitly asks for them.
Add proof of other qualifications as well, such as language certificates or professional development certificates. Usually it’s sufficient to just include certificates for those skills that are the most relevant for the job.
Points of contact
In Rhineland-Palatinate, there are numerous points of contact to support you during the job application process. Find a suitable contact near you.
Overview of the application process
From the written application to the initial interview: Here you’ll find out what the job application process typically looks like at a German company and what you need to watch out for during the individual steps.
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Frequently asked questions about applications
From content to scope: Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions about written job applications.
Your cover letter gives the company an initial impression of yourself. You explain why you’re interested in the position advertised and why you’re the right person for the job. Make your strengths clear and try to convince your potential employer of yourself and your qualifications. To do that, you can name a few particularly important positions and capabilities in your career thus far. You should also mention your language skills and other qualifications if they’re important to the new job. Your potential employer will probably also be interested to know why you’ve come to Germany and/or want to work in this country. If you have a residence permit already, you should include this information in your application documents. Overall, though, your cover letter shouldn’t be longer than a single A4 page.
In your CV, you put together the most important details about your professional career thus far. Many businesses in Germany prefer a CV structured in a table-style format, starting with the most recent information about your career history and working back.
Your CV should include the following information:
- Contact details with address, telephone number, and email
- Date of birth and nationality
- Professional portrait photograph
- Previous professional experience with dates, the employer’s name and location, and the title of your role
- Education and training from secondary school onward, including grades (relative to your home country’s grading system)
- For university degrees: university/college name and location, major, and grades
- Internships and placements with a brief description of the duties
- Language skills
- IT skills
- Volunteer work
Your CV shouldn’t be too long. Ideally, it will be two A4 pages at most. Limit it to the most relevant details for the position you’re applying for. You should also take care not to overload the pages so that they stay nice and clear.
Your most important certificates and reference letters belong in your application as well. These include, for example, your education and training certificates and reference letters from former employers. You can also add evidence of your language or IT skills. Usually it’s sufficient to include only the most important supporting documents.
Your application documents don’t normally get returned, so you should only ever send copies of your documents and never the originals. Notarized copies are only necessary where explicitly requested. If you have documents such as training certificates or academic transcripts that aren’t in German or English, include a translation so that the company can understand and assess your achievements correctly.
Application process in Germany
From the written application to the interview, the Make it in Germany information portal has everything you need to know about applying for a job in Germany.