Hints & tips

What should applicants in your industry be aware of?

In the IT world, an electronic application is now more welcome than a written one. I always encourage applicants to select whichever format they feel most comfortable with. It is advisable to send all relevant education certificates and work references with the application – whereas a whole collection of seminar certificates is normally more of a hindrance than a help. Place yourself in the reader’s shoes and then give careful consideration to which supporting documents you send. The CV must be complete, but it is not necessary to provide an explanation for each and every gap in training/education or your career in the cover letter. However, it is absolutely essential to be prepared for questions regarding such gaps in your job interview.

What is the first thing you notice in a written application?

Does the application convey a genuine, discernible interest in the job? Ultimately, this is a question of authenticity: for one person, this may mean a "Hello, here I am"; for someone else, it may mean an objective, down-to-earth description of the state of affairs. The requirements regarding the applicant’s photo are equally varied, ranging from a photo of the applicant in a suit and tie to a more artistic, black-and-white photo of the applicant wearing a polo-neck – just as long as the applicant does not look unkempt or scruffy.

What annoys you most in a written application?

Spelling mistakes are naturally taboo, and if someone addresses me with "Dear Mr Kreß", he or she is at a disadvantage right from the start. Avoid all risks in this regard.

What have you always wanted to say to applicants and university graduates who are now seeking employment?

Do not try to deal slavishly with every single aspect of the job advertisement. It is better if the applicant conveys, through more subtle means, that he has understood what the job advertisement is looking for and how he could be the ideal person for this. Sentences such as “I am a team worker” are meaningless – instead, you should give a concrete example or demonstrate it in some other way.

How can an applicant score brownie points? What can impress you?

Naturally, applicants do not have to study a company’s entire Internet site. However, it is very easy to discern whether the applicant has given any thought to the sort of employees which the company is looking for. In my eyes, the best application is one which gives me a clear, authentic impression of the applicant and which shows that the applicant has really looked into the company and the job in question.