You eat with your eyes!” This sentence applies not only in a good restaurant, but also when it comes to the topic of applications. The documents with which you introduce yourself to a potential new employer should ultimately be convincing both in terms of content and appearance. What is important is shown by our partner, on the topic of job hunting.
Five steps to the perfect application
An application always consists of several components, all of which must fit together and with the company you are applying to: application photo, cover letter, curriculum vitae and attachments create a complete picture of the ideal applicant in the best case. In order for this to succeed, you should follow these five steps so that the application is the door opener for the interview:
#1: Five steps to the perfect application
Before you start looking for suitable vacancies, you should think for yourself: Where should I go professionally? The aim is to realize your own wishes for a new job!
Do I want a managerial job? What job title is appropriate for what I am looking for? Am I looking for a change? Do you prefer a large or a small company? Do I stay here or am I willing to relocate?
Only when these questions have been clarified can you start your search with the results. Today, in most cases, this takes place online, since almost all companies advertise in well-known job platforms and thus fill their vacancies. Once a selection of possible positions has been found, the next step is on!
#2: Have an application photo taken
A professional application photo is essential for an optimal visual presentation - you should seek advice from an experienced photographer, but you should also bring your own suggestions. The following question should therefore be asked before visiting the photo studio:
In which outfit do I want to present myself?
This is particularly important as you should inform the photographer in advance of possible outfit changes. In general, the following rule applies to the clothes on the application photo: You should appear in the photo the way you would dress for an interview – and that in turn is based on what the work clothes look like. Applicants from professions in which a suit is mandatory should also appear in this way in the picture. Everyone else, craftsmen or, for example, applicants for nursing jobs, are welcome to dress a little more casually, but should also make sure that they present themselves neatly and a little smarter. The photographer is also happy to give tips and help in a preliminary talk if you have questions about the right outfit.
#3: Create the letter of application
The cover letter is the biggest challenge for most applicants. A professional letter of application impresses with its common thread: In the introduction, a brief reference is made to the company and the position. The applicant shows that he has dealt with the company and that this is not his mass letter - because HR managers do not like to see that at all! Here the main question is: Why am I applying here?
In the main part you go into the job requirements from the advertisement and describe what you bring with you. You don't have to simply repeat your CV, but present the highlights that are related to the advertised position. People say: I'm doing this at the moment, I've already done it and that's why the requirements are not a problem for me or a new challenge that I will overcome.
In the final sentence of the application, the reader should be encouraged to react. After all, the applicant wants to receive positive feedback. The choice of words matters!
#4: The curriculum vitae and the attachments
The CV is the heart of the application - and more than just a list of companies where you have worked in the past. It should not only be complete and have no gaps, but also show the reader exactly what you have already done! This is only possible with meaningful job descriptions – for every position that you have held. If you then correctly state school and training as well as IT and language skills, you have taken the first step towards a good CV.
The attachments follow the CV in the application. In this appendix, you attach copies of the most important (usually the last three) job references so that the potential employer can get a more detailed picture if this is desired. Here you should be careful not to attach too many documents.
#5: The finishing touch: Design and optics
Many applicants make the mistake and want to shine with an elaborate layout. However, this is usually not necessary at all: HR managers and bosses often read several dozen applications a day. Of course, you want applicants to make an effort, but the focus is always on professional competence - and above all on optimal legibility of the documents. The design of a good application template impresses with the fact that its structure supports the content, not outshines it. Less is often more here!
A tip: Place the application photo on a separate cover sheet. So it catches the reader's eye at the beginning and he directly connects a face with the data and facts in the picture.
Many thanks to correctly good beneficiaries. de for this guest contribution.
