SEARCHING &

APPLYING

INDEX
1. Why you choose the company you want to work for
2. Searching for a job: what you should and shouldnt do!
3. Dont get demotivated!
4. International CVs: differences and pitfalls!
5. Fun or money? Choose wisely!

WHY <<YOU>> CHOOSE THE COMPANY

YOU WANT TO WORK FOR
When you apply for a new career opportunity you have to
break it down and come to a manageable number of
potential employers. But what are the forces behind your
choice? Could it be that you are subconsciously
influenced by activities from companies or by the opinion
of friends and family? Lets shed light on this mystery.
Written by Roman Nagiller
What names come to your mind
when you ask yourself for which
company you want to work for?
1) Is it the big brand names
of which you are using
products every day?
2) Or is it a company that
was recommended by
friends and family?
3) Or could it be a Start-up
that you just discovered?
According to Harvard Business
Review the big brand names like
Google, Apple or Facebook are still
leading the ranking of the
companies young people want to
work for.
But why are the big players with
their strong brand names still so

top of mind among talented

candidates? There is a reasonable
explanation.
Because they are also known
among people around you, like
family and friends and not only
within a niche target group of
experts and proud geeks. And you
want to of course work for a
company that people around you
consider cool (be honest, at least
for a small amount)!
Companies are starting to
recognize the importance of their
status symbol appeal towards
talented candidates. Besides
sending their best hires to oncampus events they are
increasing their media activities
throughout the year across

different audiences to get their

story out. This helps to convince
not only you, but also your inner
circle, who may then recommend
you a company or career
opportunity.
Smaller companies which are less
recognized or B2B enterprises
whose products never really get
used directly by end users can
benefit from this development by
showing off their organizational
culture. They can send a simple
but powerful message to the
world:

If you come work for us, you will

get to work with awesome people
like these.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

A popular way of doing that is to
showcase the work of interns,
young alums or others to
highlight responsibilities they
have been given. Those
ambassadors can tell you what to
expect from a potential employer
and give you valuable insights in
the every-day life within a
company.
Why should you consider a startup as an attractive employer?
They try to score with

nonfinancial qualities, like cool

office locations, a strong focus on
highlighting the impact a new
talent can have on the success of
the company, and great lifestyle
perks (free food, yoga classes or
bring-your-dog-to-work policies).
Lets summarize:
As a hedonistic candidate, you
might be influenced by things like
a cool office location and the
opportunity to utilize your job as
status symbol. In that case, brand

References:
https://hbr.org/2014/03/how-companies-can-attract-the-best-college-talent?utm_source=feedburner
https://hbr.org/2015/05/ceos-need-to-pay-attention-to-employer-branding
https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-makes-a-start-up-an-employer-of-choice

names of the big players might

pop-up for you when thinking of
your next career opportunity.
If you are more self-directed you
might be attracted by an
innovative start-up where you
may have the ability to make an
impact faster, when considering
your next potential employer.

SEARCHING FOR A JOB:

WHAT YOU SHOULD AND
SHOULDNT NOT DO
Social media such as Facebook and Twitter can be
advantageous tools when searching for a job. However,
research has showed that it can work in both ways and even
damage your chances of finding good job opportunities. For
this reason, it is urgent to understand what you should do
and shouldnt do when your goal is searching for a new job.
Written by Manuela Lima
The easy nature of using these
sites and the possibility of
connecting to a larger audience
has made Social Media the perfect
channel to get involved with
potential employers and discover
new job opportunities. Although,
Social Media is only
advantageous when used in a
clever way. Check out the
following tips.
What you should do:

Create a consistent online

presence
People often have many social
media profiles. Even though an
online presence today is almost a
requirement, it is necessary to
maintain a consistent image of
yourself. You shouldnt have
different information from site to
site and you should match your
online information with the CV you
hand in.

Google your name

Internet is the place to find all
kinds of information. Since a lot of
personal information is easily
found through all sorts of
platforms such as Facebook,
Twitter, blogs, etc. it is not
surprising that employers end up
knowing more than you would like
to. In order to prevent an
unprofessional impression to your
potential employer, google your
name before applying for new
positions and then carefully check
all the information that pops up.

Change your Facebook privacy

settings
This important tip is connected to
the previous one. Personal
information is now easily shared
through Internet, and particularly
Facebook. Your pictures, friends
and thoughts are thus a target for
many employers eager to find

extra information that might

reveal your unpolished self. To
avoid unpleasant surprises in the
recruitment process, make sure
your accounts are private.

Start your networking before you

really need it
Everyone knows that having the
right contacts can help in many
ways. A good network can
increase your chances of finding
really good job opportunities.
However, networking takes time.
Start building up yours whenever
you have time for it, meaning the
sooner the better. You will make
your life much easier when you
realize you want a new job.

SEARCHING FOR A JOB

What you shouldn't do:

Dont tweet about things you may

regret
We all know that besides being
entertaining, tweets can also be a
great source of information.
However, Twitter is often used as a
tool to share momentary thoughts
and this might be a bit too risky.
Why? It wouldn't be a problem to
share how bad your lunch was, but
please, do not let the public know
how awful your boss is, or how
much you hate your current job.
You never know who will end up
reading your posts and you will
most likely regret it.

Dont connect with every single

person
As mentioned before, you should
definitely work on your network.
However, quantity is not quality. In
other words, do not connect with
every single person just to
increase the number of your
connections or friends. In the end,
a high number of useless

connections won't affect your job

search positively. Keep in mind
that employers might even check
the type of connections that you
have and make conclusions from
that.

Dont get fired

This might be a weird tip, but in
fact its kind of obvious there is
nothing positive about being fired,
especially when it is your fault.
Make sure you dont do anything
that might put you in trouble. Keep
it confidential and dont violate the
companys policies.

Dont expect to find a new job in

one day
Searching for jobs can almost be a
full time job. It requires a lot of
commitment, long hours of search
and a lot of determination. That
said, dont put your expectations
high and be realistic: it might take
some time and patience to find the
job you wish. So be persistent and
dont give up.

References:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/onlinecareernetworking/tp/socialmediajobsearch.htm
https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/dosdonts

However, revise your application

strategies if you feel that your jobhunting is taking more than several
months.
In sum, it is clear that searching for
a job is not always easy. Although,
when the mind is set and you are
ready to go, the tips above should
be taken in consideration. It is a
challenging process, but can also
be very rewarding.
Go for it!

DONT GET DEMOTIVATED

Finally, graduation day has arrived. After years of lectures,
assignments, presentations and exams you are ready to
show your friends and (especially) your parents what you are
worth on the job market. The only thing that stands between
you and your glorious career is your job search. Dont get
demotivated get organized! These tips will help you to
organize your job search.
Written by Elise van den Berg
Then reality kicks in. Where should
you start your job search? What
do you want to do, what makes
you stand out from your fellow
college graduates? To increase
your chances on landing a fast
career, you start applying for
different positions at the same
time. Something that is definitely
not uncommon in todays
competitive job market.
This approach however, involves a
lot of time and many things to
keep track of. The risk is losing
sight of the specific positions you
applied for, missing deadlines or
mixing up interview dates. What
you thought would be an exciting
start of your career, can easily

become a stressful period if you

dont organize yourself.
Create an application spreadsheet
Start your career search by
creating a spreadsheet in Excel, or
a similar program. By doing this,
you can keep a general overview
of the positions you applied for.
The key is to keep it simple. You
can create the following columns
in your spreadsheet:
1. Company name
2. Career website URL: This will
save you time when looking
for more information.
3. Position: Name of the
position you applied for.

4. Application date: Date you

submitted your application.
5. Summary: Documents you
submitted, such as CV, cover
letter, letter of reference, etc.
6. Contact: Name and contact
details of your connection at
the company.
7. Status: Feedback on your
application, a rejection, or
interview invitation, etc.
8. Interview date: Date of your
interview.

GET ORGANIZED
Save vacancies

Whenever, wherever

When an application period is

closed, often companies remove
the original vacancy from their
website. In order to not forget
which position you applied for
exactly, its important to save the
vacancy locally on your computer.
The details and requirements
described in the vacancy are
extremely valuable when
preparing your interview.

In the library, your favorite coffee

place, on the bus, applying for jobs
is not limited to your desk at
home. You can apply whenever
and wherever you want. At least,
when you have access to all the
documents necessary to submit
your application. If you have a
Gmail account, Google Drive is a
great tool to create, save and
export files, like your cover letter
or resume. As long as you have
access to the Internet, you can
access Google Drive.

10 jobs, 10 CVs
Each job, graduate program or
internship requires you to
highlight or leave out different
skills, qualities or experiences.
This means updating your CV over
and over again. You can save a lot
of time by saving the different
versions of your CV under a short,
descriptive name, like: CV Leadership skills, CV - Research
skills, CV - Volunteer work, etc.
Important: dont forget to change
the name of your CV before
submitting it!

Make a schedule
Despite the ease of being able to
apply whenever or wherever, there
is a big risk of getting lost. People
often say that searching for
careers is a full time job. It's
important to stay realistic. You
cant search and apply for jobs
eight hours a day. Writing a
stunning cover letter requires a
fresh mind and inspiration. Dont
punish yourself with the idea that
you have to find a job since you
are jobless. Organize your day:
make a schedule including coffee
breaks, visiting friends and a walk

Reference:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/findajob/ss/How-To-Organize-Your-Job-Search.htm#step2

in the park. You will soon see: a

fresh mind will pay off.
Quality versus Quantity
As you can see there are many
ways to organize your job search.
But, maybe the most important
advice is to focus on quality
instead of quantity. Apply for
positions you are qualified for. The
correct job search is not about
the number of applications you
send out. Its about finding out
what type of position,
environment, or company fits you
best.
Applying randomly will cost you a
lot of time and recruiters will
notice immediately if you didnt
put any effort into your
application. Plus, it might only
demotivate you when you receive
rejections on these random
applications.
Personalize each application, get
organized and make each
application count! Good luck!

INTERNATIONAL CVS
DIFFERENCES & PITFALLS
Should the education section go before work experience?
Extracurricular activities after personal information? Writing
or updating your CV can be a time consuming and confusing
task - especially if you are applying for an internship or job
outside your home country. This article will give you a quick
overview about international differences and what to keep in
mind when writing the perfect CV.
Written by Teresa Harbeck
Germany - Structure is everything
All the stereotypes are true - at
least when it comes to
"Applying for a job".
German recruiters love
structure and formality. Instead
of going too deep into each and
every task they want to see that
you are good in summarizing
your strengths.

The most common pitfall

The length of your CV should
not exceed two pages, unless
you are a senior executive with
25 years of work experience.
Try to keep your facts up to
date. It's rather uncommon to
include student jobs like
"Barista at Starbucks".

It's not that they are irrelevant, but

they are rather anecdotes to bring
up during the interview instead of
a section in your CV. If they relate
to the work you're applying for
however, you should consider
including it.

Where can I apply those tips

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The
Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark,
Norway.
UK - The devil is in the detail
The British CV is in its purpose
similar to other CVs in Europe,
usually only slightly longer. It
really is an in-depth-document
showcasing your entire career
development from internships to
full-time employment, courses and
education.

The most common pitfall

If you are not a native English
speaker you might not really think
about it in the first place. Make
sure to use British English! Like in
many other countries, German,
Swiss, Austrian, Italian and French
students learn American English
at school, leaving them without
any clue about the minor but
important linguistic differences.
As with pretty much everything in
life, Google is your friend!

Where can I apply those tips

UK, New Zealand, Australia,
Ireland.

DIFFERENCES & PITFALLS

US - a different kind of document
The CV in the US is not the same
as in Germany or the UK. The CV is
usually a document used for
academic positions. It is very
detailed and can be over 10 pages
long listing all your achievements
from awards and prizes to
research projects and jobs. If you
are asked for a more brief
introduction, the document you
should use is your "rsum".

The most common pitfall

The mix-up. Applicants from
Europe and Asia tend not to be
aware of the "CV versus rsum"
difference. Americans only use
their lengthy CVs if they are
applying for research related
positions or jobs in academia.
Generally when you apply it will be
specified whether to use a resum

or a CV. Otherwise, go for a onepage rsum, without photo or

unnecessary details.

Where can I apply those tips

US, Canada.

The most common pitfall

Even as a foreign applicant, you
need to send your CV in French,
unless otherwise stated. That
can be very challenging, so let
someone proofread your CV to
make sure it's flawless.

France - Education is key

Where can I apply those tips

The difference between French

and German CVs is marginal.
There is however one difference
remaining - the education section.
Education is very important in
France and since university is a
full time commitment, French
students barely have time to
manage their exams and private
life. Not to mention a job or
internship on the side. Make sure
to highlight your university
achievements and also mention
your grades or thesis work.

France, Belgium, Italy.

No matter where you are applying,
make sure to let your personality
shine through. You might miss
sticking to a few formalities with
your application, but if you seem
likable, professional and authentic,
recruiters will get you noticed.

FUN OR MONEY?
CHOOSE WISELY
If you get four job offers: one pays more, one gives you the
better title, one lets you learn the most, and one promises to
be more fun, which one do you take? Between all these
options, I cant make the choice for you. But I can tell you a
secret they dont mention in the job interviews: fun is often a
key to the other three. So dont underestimate it.
Written by Julian Ziesing
Probably you have heard of some
people that left their well-paid,
prestigious job to do what they
had always dreamt of. Now on
the other hand, how many do you
know that did it the other way
around and left a job that was
really fun?
Whats fun for us is often also
what were good at: we get
positive feedback from others, we
see results more quickly, our brain
works better, and we develop a
passion for what we are doing.
Now, more often than not, people
make a career in something thats
fun for them and that they are
good at. Rarely does it work the
other way around, does fun follow

a job that you pick for its

objective factors.
Why? Because improvements in
terms of money and prestige will
more likely be a short pleasure,
like cigarettes: when you had one,
you soon need another one. You
get addicted. On the other hand,
when you have fun, your brain
works dierently. Youre more
focused, you learn faster, your
memory works better, you get
worn out a lot less, you live in the
moment, in the flow, and forget
about time in the best case it
wont even feel like work. Good
prerequisites to be successful,
recognized and promoted.

Good evidence of this is the

following fact: you can discuss
with a friend if their job pays
enough or not, but you can hardly
tell someone that their job is not
fun. Fun is personal, only you can
decide whats fun and whats not,
for you.
Surely the choice is normally not
black or white. Jobs promise a
mixture of advantages.
However, at school, university, on
career sites, in job ads and
interviews, fun is not the term that
you read and hear a lot.

CHOOSE WISELY
The buzz words that we all know
are learning, perspective,
career, benefits or attractive.
There is almost a negative sound
to it if you look for a job thats
fun. As if you dont take work
and your career seriously. These
days, we too often tend to overrationalize, and dismiss emotions
as weakness.

I think its the other way around: if

you don't look for fun, you don't
look to make the best out of your
job and your life.
The job that is fun today but less
prestigious or has a lower
paycheck, might just convert
faster into a higher position or
more money, because youre
bound to excel more when you

enjoy what you are doing.

Therefore, I encourage you to
move fun higher up on the
priority list for your next
internship, trainee program, or
entry position. You will see that it
can unlock a whole new world of
rewards.