Various sizes, similar demands

As a rule, international students with German degrees have the same job chances as German applicants. In general, it’s worth using projects and college and university groups during your studies to establish contacts with companies for which you might be later interested in working. Personal contacts can be very helpful when you’re starting out on the job market.

SMEs: Here, too, be prepared!

When you apply for a job at an SME, you should also take a careful look at how that company presents itself. Who founded it? Who is at the helm now? What values does it represent? The answers to those questions will help you have a convincing job interview. On the one hand, you will show that you take the company seriously, and on the other, you’ll better be able to argue why you want to work for it.

Application materials: First impressions are decisive

You’ve found an interesting job opening and want to apply? Your application is the first impression you will make with the company, and it should be as positive as possible. Regardless of whether it’s in digital or conventional written form, a job application in Germany consists of:

• 1. A cover letter,
• 2. A resumé and
• 3. Copies of leaving certificates.

Most job announcements tell you what specific application documents are required. Pay attention as well to the desired format.

Your resumé

Your resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) lays out your training and education, qualifications and skills. German resumés . Instead, German CVs are written in the form of table with categories like personal data, language skills and individual interests.

Make sure you don’t include too much information on your CV. Your last vacation in the Maldives is probably not of much interest. The interaction portal “Europass” offers a good introduction into how to .

Leaving certificates

Part of your application should be your leaving certificates from school and university. If you have certificates from internships, include them as well. It’s important that you send copies and not originals. Many companies don’t return applications.

It may also be useful to have your leaving certificates from your university abroad assessed, if you have any. This can also be mandatory for some employers. However, it is best to ask your potential employer about this. The best way to have your certificates assessed is with the so-called .

Ideally, have your certifications translated into German or English so that your achievements have their full impact.

Your application photo

German companies don’t insist on application photos, but they are customary. Choose a neutral but expressive portrait photo that shows your head, neck and upper body and nothing else. It’s worth investing a bit of money in professional photos. Vacation snaps, selfies and private pictures are taboo.

Usually, application photos go at the top right of your resumé or on a cover sheet.

Grammar and spelling

German may be a complicated language, but applications are manageable. If you feel uncertain, ask friends who are native German speakers to check what you have written. Grammar and spelling mistakes cast your application in a negative light.

Formalities

Make sure everything is laid out neatly in a unified form: white paper without smudges, the same font size and type for all texts and legible scans and copies.

Most job announcements indicate how applications should be filed: by mail, email or online. You must abide by these requirements. For example, if a company requests applications in the form of a pdf, you should not send yours as a Word document or worse still by mail. If you are uncertain, contact the company and ask in what form you should send your application.