Anyone who dreams of a career in Germany is faced with preparing a resume in German. This applies to both students and experienced professionals. In general, the process is simple, but first you need to familiarize yourself with some examples.
Lebenslauf, Anschreiben and others
It is very important for German HR managers that the documents are written correctly and comply with all standard norms. Remember that the chance to be invited to a telephone or face-to-face interview comes after the documents have made a favorable impression. Thus, the first step in trying to get a job should be familiarization with the rules for writing a resume in German.
First, let's define the terminology. When preparing a package of documents, the applicant is faced with at least three concepts: Bewerbung, Lebenslauf and Anschreiben.
Often in Russian-language resources, the term Bewerbung is mistakenly translated as a "letter of motivation", but it means either the process of sending a resume, or a folder of documents, which traditionally consists of:
- Anschreiben (cover letter);
- Lebenslauf (autobiography);
- characteristics from previous jobs (if any);
- portfolio of works (for example, a list of publications or examples of completed projects).
Everything is simple and logical, as the Germans are used to: first, what a person thinks about himself, then what objective facts and other people say about him.
How to write a cover letter and how it differs from a resume
Anschreiben's job is to form the first idea of a person's personality, so do not retell the entire track record in it. It is customary to describe the professional path of an applicant with a listing of companies and positions in Lebenslauf.
It is imperative to pay attention to grammar and try to avoid mistakes or typos. There are cases when directly at the interview the applicant had to blush for banal grammatical errors, which were noticed by the HR manager.
It is advisable to write a cover letter within one page, and the structure should correspond to something like this standard:
- Contacting a potential employer.
- Introductory paragraph (“I was interested in a vacancy opened in your company and, taking into account my professional knowledge and interests, I would like to suggest considering my candidacy for this position”).
- Education, scientific degree and name of the educational institution.
- Motivation is the hardest part, and it needs to be convincing about why you are the perfect fit for the job. Mention relevant experience, successful implementation of similar projects, knowledge that helped to cope with similar tasks. It is okay to briefly describe the professional skills that have helped in similar work in the past.
- Other personal qualities and additional experience applicable to this position.
- At the end of the letter, thank you for your attention and express our hope for the continuation of the interview at a personal meeting.
Use an example of such text.
What to write about in a resume in German
Having dealt with the letter of motivation, we turn to the second part of the documents required to find a job.
Lebenslauf contains a description of the skills, a listing of career highlights, jobs and positions.
For the student, this is an opportunity to mention internships and internships during the last years of study. In other words, what is usually meant by a classic resume.
Digressions are not appropriate here, it is important to adhere to clear rules regarding both content and design. Most employers expect a resume to have a photograph.
Sample resume in German.
Remember, your resume should be informative but concise. The HR manager has neither the time nor the inclination to read a novel about the professional achievements of job seekers. First of all, it is important to interest you in your own candidacy, knowledge, and it is more convenient to answer additional questions in detail at a personal interview.
In addition, carefully read the requirements for the file format: some employers are used to viewing pdf, while others prefer an archive of text documents in the doc extension.
What to avoid when looking for a job
Avoid significant temporary breaks in your resume. If, for any reason, there was a pause in career development - an attempt to start your own business, maternity leave, health problems, or just a desire to take a break - it is better to describe this period as entrepreneurial activity or self-education.
In 2021, it is not at all uncommon to spend a lot of time on professional development, training in additional courses, so such a break will be more likely to be perceived as a useful investment in self-development.
In Germany, there is an unspoken rule: you should not call, especially repeatedly, the HR manager or the head of the company and specify at what stage the candidate is being considered. Unlike Russia, such tactics are perceived not as interest, but as obsession, which will not be beneficial.
Please be patient as the response from the company may take weeks and sometimes months.
When planning your personal interview, please bring a folder with your printed Anschreiben, Lebenslauf and a copy of your diploma translated into German.
Special folders for the Bewerbung set of documents can be easily found on sale.
Finally
Knowing and following the above guidelines, you can easily cope with writing a resume in German and take the first steps in your search for a dream job. That being said, remember: there are no universal tips and templates. While adhering to the general rules, also show individuality and adapt the documents to the requirements of a particular potential employer.
