How to IMPROVE your job application for Germany
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Jen and Ivon from simple gy.com discuss common pitfalls international job seekers encounter in Germany. They highlight three main errors: using a non-German style CV, neglecting to tailor applications to job ads, and not customizing CVs for specific positions. The hosts stress the importance of understanding German CV standards, showing attention to detail, and aligning one's profile with company values to increase the chances of securing a job interview.
Takeaways
- 📄 The first common mistake international job seekers make in Germany is using a non-German style CV, which can be too crowded and not aligned with German expectations.
- 🔍 German CVs prioritize a clear layout where information is easily scannable, which is crucial as recruiters often have only 60 seconds to review each CV.
- 🌐 Understanding and reflecting German culture in your CV is important as it shows your adaptability and potential fit within the company.
- 🎯 The second mistake is not tailoring the CV and cover letter to the specific job ad, which can demonstrate a lack of attention to detail and interest in the role.
- 📧 It's important to follow the application instructions in the job ad, such as addressing the correct person or using a specific email address provided.
- 🔑 Tailoring your CV to the job ad involves emphasizing relevant skills and experiences that align with the company's values and requirements.
- 🚫 Sending a cover letter when the job ad explicitly states not to, or failing to send one when it's required, can be a deal-breaker for German recruiters.
- 💡 The profile statement in your CV should be adapted to reflect the job ad's requirements, showcasing your understanding of the company's needs.
- ✅ A targeted application strategy, where you adjust your CV for each job ad, is more effective than a blanket approach.
- 🔄 The video emphasizes the importance of effort in job applications, suggesting that more targeted and tailored applications can lead to better results.
Q & A
What are the three most common mistakes internationals make when applying for jobs in Germany?
-The three most common mistakes are: 1) Not using a German-style CV, 2) Not analyzing the job ad before applying, and 3) Not adapting their CV to the specific job they are applying to.
Why is it important to use a German-style CV when applying for jobs in Germany?
-A German-style CV is important because it is less crowded with text, follows a layout that recruiters and hiring managers are familiar with, and shows an understanding of German culture and expectations.
What should be the first step when preparing a CV for a job application in Germany?
-The first step should be to adapt your CV to a German style, ensuring it is not crowded with text and follows the expected layout.
How does a German-style CV make it easier for recruiters to scan and understand crucial information?
-A German-style CV allows information to 'breathe', making it easier for recruiters to quickly identify key details such as skills and experience, as it follows a familiar and expected format.
Why is it a mistake to send a generic CV without tailoring it to the job ad?
-Sending a generic CV is a mistake because it shows a lack of effort and attention to detail. It also fails to demonstrate an understanding of the company culture and specific requirements mentioned in the job ad.
What should job seekers do after adapting their CV to a German style?
-After adapting their CV to a German style, job seekers should analyze the job ad and tailor their CV to emphasize how they meet the specific requirements and values of the company.
How can job seekers show they have read and understood the job ad in their application?
-Job seekers can show they have read and understood the job ad by using specific details from the ad in their cover letter, such as addressing the correct person or department, and highlighting how their skills align with the company's values.
What is the significance of the profile statement in a CV when applying for jobs in Germany?
-The profile statement is significant because it provides an opportunity to showcase an understanding of the company's values and requirements, and to tailor the introduction to align with the specific job being applied for.
Why is it crucial to adjust the CV to the specific job, even after adapting it to a German style?
-Adjusting the CV to the specific job ensures that the application is targeted and relevant, increasing the chances of standing out among other applicants and demonstrating a genuine interest in the position.
What is the 'AAA+' framework mentioned in the script, and how can it help internationals applying for jobs in Germany?
-The 'AAA+' framework is a method created by Simple Gy.com to enhance job applications of internationals in Germany. It guides applicants through the process of creating a tailored and effective CV and cover letter, increasing their chances of success in the job market.
Outlines
📄 Understanding Common Job Application Mistakes in Germany
The first paragraph introduces a video discussing common mistakes international job seekers make in Germany. The hosts, Jen from Guatemala and Ivon from Germany, emphasize the importance of using a German-style CV. They explain that foreign CVs often contain too much information and are not laid out in a way that German recruiters are accustomed to. The German style is preferred because it is less crowded and allows for easier scanning of crucial information within a short time frame. The hosts also touch on the cultural aspect, suggesting that a non-German CV might indicate a lack of understanding of German work culture, which could affect the candidate's chances of fitting into a team.
🎯 Tailoring Applications to Job Ads in Germany
The second paragraph delves into the second common mistake made by international applicants: not analyzing job ads before applying. The hosts stress the importance of reading job ads carefully, as they contain specific instructions and details that can guide applicants in crafting targeted cover letters. They provide examples of how failing to personalize applications can lead to immediate rejection. The paragraph also discusses the need to align one's CV with the job ad, emphasizing relevant experiences and values that match the company's culture and requirements. The hosts suggest that adjusting applications to be more targeted can significantly improve an applicant's chances of success.
🚀 Fast-Tracking Your Job Search in Germany
The third paragraph offers a brief call to action for viewers to check out a course that can help fast-track their job search in Germany. While it is shorter and less detailed than the previous paragraphs, it serves as a reminder of the resources available to job seekers and encourages them to take advantage of the information provided in the video and the linked course.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡German style CV
💡Internationals
💡Job ad analysis
💡CV content
💡Recruiters and hiring managers
💡Company culture
💡Profile statement
💡Application adaptation
💡Get hired in Germany
💡Effort and output
Highlights
International job seekers in Germany often make common mistakes that lead to rejection.
The first mistake is not using a German-style CV, which should be less text-heavy and follow a specific layout.
German CVs are expected to have a clear layout with information in predictable areas.
Recruiters and hiring managers scan CVs quickly, often within 60 seconds, to decide if they should proceed.
Understanding German culture and how it reflects in a CV is crucial for job applications.
A German-style CV not only follows a specific format but also helps convey an understanding of German work culture.
The content of a CV is as important as its style for getting considered for a job.
Many applicants send generic CVs without tailoring them to specific job ads.
Job ads in Germany are detailed and provide crucial information for directing applications.
Tailoring a CV to a specific job ad shows attention to detail and understanding of the company culture.
Not adapting a CV to the job requirements is a common mistake that leads to rejection.
The profile statement in a CV should be adjusted to reflect the company's values and requirements.
Laziness in not adjusting a CV to a specific job can lead to missed opportunities.
The effort put into a job application correlates with the success and results achieved.
The video provides insights from interviews with in-house recruiters, hiring managers, and CTOs in Germany.
The 'Get Hired in Germany' course offers a framework to enhance job applications for Internationals.
The course includes examples and videos showing how to create a CV that meets German standards.
Transcripts
have you been applying to jobs in
Germany that match your skills but
you're still getting rejected you might
be making one of the three most common
mistakes Internationals make when
searching for a job in Germany in this
video we're going to talk about the
three most common mistakes and how you
can avoid them hey my name is Jen and
I'm from Guatemala and mine is Ivon and
I'm German and together we're from
simple gy.com where we create English
content to empower Internationals to
settle into life in Germany more
[Music]
smoothly while doing the rese search for
our online course get hired in Germany
we spoke to various Specialists such as
in-house recruiters hiring managers and
CTO of companies in Germany we wanted to
understand firsthand what it takes for a
candidate to stand out and actually get
considered to join the company yes and
in this interviews three recurring
themes kept on happening and these are
the three most common mistakes
Internationals do when searching for a
job in Germany number one is that
candidates do not use a German style CV
to apply for jobs now what is the big
deal about this Ivon I'd say there's two
big deals about this one it's usually
foreign CVS are just jam-packed with
information and they're too crowded I
mean I have seen so many foreign CVS
that it's just I feel like I'm like
getting a wall in my face of text that
is the number one because German cves
are not crowded with text second is the
layout recruiters hiring managers it
doesn't matter who scan your CV at first
before actually deciding whether they
should read it or not and during that
scanning process we as Germans are used
to seeing certain information in certain
areas if you follow a German style of a
format you fulfill those expectations if
it is some other format for example even
the europ pass don't use the europ pass
that is not applicable for Germany I
have no idea where to look to find
information that I want to know to
decide will I continue with you or not
yes and also everyone agreed that they
have a limited amount of time to scan
the CV because let's face it people
reading the CV they also have a
full-time job and their full-time job is
not reading CVS so they have to like
it's finding candidates right but they
have so many applications that everyone
says look I have a maximum of 60 seconds
to scan the CV to even try to think do I
consider this candidate for the next
round or not and if your CV is not
matching the standard it's not making
easy for them to understand the crucial
information about your skills then most
likely you're going to be sent in the
denied or disqualified pile I would even
add like a third layer to that to be
honest not that I think back of the
conversations that we had because what
you just said I agree with a hiring
manager it's not their full-time job to
look at CVS however an an HR or
recruiter it is their full-time job to
look at CVS and they might be getting
hundreds of CVS per day so in this case
really the scan happens and with the
scan another aspect gets conscious or
subconsciously ticked and that is
whether you have an understanding of the
German culture and how Germany taks
because if you already cannot convey
that you have this understanding in your
CV most likely you will not have it in
your um work ethic and in your attitude
either and then you don't match the team
and then you're already out yeah
definitely and I would say German style
CV is not just because of the style the
style is definitely um a big part of it
but creating it in a German style CV it
forces you in a way to this kind of like
framework of what is expected from your
CV right like you said the information
can breathe people can actually read
because there's CVS like you already
mentioned that either have too much
information or have too many colors and
icons which are not relevant and don't
show any information right and even a
big mistake a lot of people also do is
that because they want it to look very
designery and nice they put all their
skills with these like bubbles and then
how do you know what that actually means
right like you need brain power to try
to understand what things so it doesn't
make it easy for the person reading it
right but anyway we have we're ranting
about the German CCV because it's super
important very passionate about it yes
yes and we emphasize that the German
style CV is important however just using
the style is not enough content the
content that your CV has is at the end
of the day what's also going to get you
considered to be invited for a first get
to know you call to even see if you
would go to the next round of interviews
or not couldn't agree more in all of the
CV reviews we've done over the past
month and years this is probably one of
the biggest stripping wires because
people just take our format put their
content in there that they have previous
viously and think that's going to work
but whenever we review those there are
so many areas of improvement which we
touch in detail and also give examples
and over the shoulder videos in the
course get hired in Germany yes now
let's go to number two and the mistake
second mistake that a lot of
Internationals make is that they don't
analyze the job ad before applying so
also in CV reviews that we've done we
see how an applicant has pretty much
done a general C and then they start
like like shooting everywhere and
sending it wherever they see a job ad
that might probably fulfill their that
they think that they fulfill their
requirements or not no bueno big mistake
I am guilty of this because in the past
I think in a video I said apply apply
apply apply apply which is true but
apply apply apply apply targeted yes I
should have said targeted apply targeted
apply targeted apply which is a
different strategy right just to give
you two examples of what we mean by this
the job ads are very very detailed by
most companies I would say at least 80%
of the ones that we've looked at and we
have look at hundreds of job ads and
what I mean with detail is that a very
typical error is that at the bottom at
the end of the job ad it usually states
where to direct your application it
sometimes says an exact name it
sometimes gives even an email address if
you have questions or it's sometimes
links to even the About Us website on
the homepage where you can find more
information
and this is crucial information that the
company's giving you here so when you
craft your cover letter this is the time
to shine and show that you have read the
job ad take the name from the job ad and
say dear close dear Stefan Dear Mister
so and so depending on again what the
job at is portraying is the company
culture we have seen again so many
applications in our reviews where this
is clearly stated in the job B and then
the cover letter starts with to whom
main concern no and you know what my
first reaction when I have to call with
the applicant is like
seriously like really because this is it
doesn't matter how skilled you are
doesn't matter how experienced you are
this is a no immediately like absolutely
immediately me as a German I would not
continue whatsoever because you don't
put in the effort you don't care you
don't have attention to detail yes or
even worse maybe the whole application
says do not send a cover letter and what
is attached in the application cover
letter so it is important to actually
take the time to read the job ad I had
another example where I was reviewing a
CV and this person had actually they had
founded a company so they had a Founders
mentality and one of the values in the
job ad was like we're looking for people
with Founders mentality and I asked like
why haven't you linked your for example
experience to that oh I never realized
that that was one of the values of the
company and it was right there in the
job ad without clicking more of the
about us and stuff like that so
definitely take the time to read the job
ad and analyze it to see what
requirements you have and most
importantly this step will help you with
the third mistake that actually is most
common for Internationals when applying
to jobs and that is that they do not
adapt their CV to the job that they're
applying to correct our approach is to
First adapt your CV to a German style as
we mentioned before second approach
after you have read the job ad is to
still adjust that CV again to the
specific position by emphasizing that
you understand the company culture you
understand the company Mission you know
who to direct the application to etc etc
etc definitely one of the places where
it's actually key even to adjust your
application to the job ad is the profile
statement because there you have room to
play right so what are the values what
are the requirements the company is
looking from you add that in your in
your like introduction paragraph another
example of this is that once we reviewed
a CV where the person had a lot of
experience as a devops actually that was
their current role and they were
applying for a web developer job which
is amazing I mean yeah Kudos and when I
evaluate evaluated their survey or I
read through it I'm like but I don't see
any experience as a web developer so I
asked them do you have any experience as
a web developer oh yeah I have plenty of
experience as a web developer and we
talked about it a little bit and at the
end of the day I asked like why didn't
you add that experience cuz you're
applying to a web developer job Rule and
to be honest I think the last the very
honest answer is that they were being
lazy you know like not adjusting the CV
is simply being lazy and not targeting
your application just thinking that by
creating a general CV and just applying
applying applying you're going to get
the dream job that you want knock on
your door again input equals output so
the more effort you put in hopefully
ideally the more output you can expect
right like better uh success and uh
results that you can expect from your
applications these three common mistakes
are the ones that Internationals
constantly make when finding a job in
Germany if you've been facing rejection
reject rejection evaluate whether you've
been doing any one of these mistakes and
adjust your either attitude or
application to fix these mistakes and
I'm pretty sure you will succeed we dive
deep into these three topics and a lot
more in our course get hired in Germany
we also show you with examples and over
the over the shoulder videos we actually
create a CV for myself that I can
successfully apply for jobs in Germany
by using our AA A+ framework which is a
framework that we have created which we
totally have the confidence will enhance
job applications of Internationals in
Germany if you would like to FastTrack
your job search in Germany then make
sure to check the link in the
description below until next time cheers
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