Application

The CV contains the facts about you. It should be up-to-date, truthful and well-structured. It should also match the job - again, pay attention to the job advertisement and sort out if something is not relevant to the job. For example, if you had a part-time job during your studies that fits well with the advertised position, this should definitely appear on your CV and you should refer to it in your letter of application. A two-week school internship, on the other hand, should be omitted if it is not relevant to the position.

The information about you should be easy to grasp. The basic structure is usually: dates on the left and text on the right. The career is usually divided into groups:

• Education (studies, school)
• Practical experience (internships, jobs, voluntary work, etc.)
• Other qualifications (language and IT skills, further training, scholarships, etc.).

If necessary, private interests can also be included or the categories can be adapted depending on the job advertisement. If, for example, "experience abroad" is important for the position and you have spent time abroad, you should also include this as a category. Of course, your contact details should also be included in your CV. There are different opinions on the length - but as a rule, the CV should not be longer than two pages. Nothing should be mentioned twice. There are also different opinions on whether a CV should include a picture or no picture. There is a discussion on this, for example, in the  article from fluter. Some job advertisements now explicitly state that there should be no picture on the CV - so you should stick to this.

The letter of application should usually be one page long and should express your motivation for the position, describe your skills and experience, back them up with practical examples and present your personality. It should be clear why you want the job and why you are suitable for it. Again, it is important to pay attention to the requirements profile in the job advertisement and to address the tasks and requirements as well as any key terms from the job advertisement. The letter should not be a formulation of the CV. It should also not mention any points that do not also appear in the CV. A structure could look like this, for example:

• Introduction: The beginning should be particularly strong. Summarize in one or two sentences why you are applying for the job and why you are particularly suitable for the position. The reader should want to read on. Introductory phrases are not necessary - it is clear that you want to apply for the job.

• Main section: After the introduction, your most important qualifications and experience should be explained. Always make reference to the tasks and requirements in the job advertisement and explain what you cover and how, and how and where you acquired your knowledge and skills. Your enthusiasm and motivation should also be reflected in your words - use expressive words.

• Conclusion: In the last paragraph, you can go into formalities (e.g. salary expectations, number of hours, starting date). End your letter with a polite closing sentence. The letter of application is usually signed (by hand or with a digital signature).

The attachments include certificates, etc. that are relevant to the position. You do not have to send everything you have, but select what is particularly relevant for the position and what you have referred to in your letter of application. However, a degree certificate should usually be included (as a Bachelor's student the Abitur certificate, as a Master's student the Bachelor's certificate). Do not send anything that is not on your CV and make sure that the scan quality is good and the documents are easy to read.