Welcome Center

Sabine Berger-Eckle
Todays topics

The CV
Application letter
Job interview
Assessment Center
Application

How to apply:
By post in a folder
By email (pdf)
Online (pdf)
Job advert / unsolicited

Which documents:
Application letter/ Cover letter
CV / resume
Certificates (Zeugnis of school, university)
References (Zeugnis of former employer)
Application

Steps of an application process

Activity analysis
Strengths and weaknesses
Analyse job advertisement
Identify match (should be 70 %)
Self-representation
Write application
Write CV
Put together all documents needed for
application
Send the application
Prepare for interview
Application

Activity analysis
o Complete list of professional positions from past to
present
o List includes different departments
o List of daily routines and taks
o Departments where you helped out or worked
together with
o Special tasks
o List of projects
o Journals you read regularly
o Further/additional training (organized by yourself or
company)
o Skills and knowledge you acquired by yourself.
o List of conferences and exhibitions you attended
o List of free-time activities
Application
Strengths
o What do you like doing?
o In which areas are you considered to be an expert
o Easy tasks
o Why do colleagues appreciate you?
o When is your advice needed?
o What are you praised for?
o What are your favourite tasks?
o In which areas have you tried to get further
training/knowledge?
o Favourite tasks when having professional discussion with
colleagues
o Which tasks do you delegate only reluctantly?
o Where does your boss think that only you could do the
job?
o Projects and task you wanted to do voluntarely?
Job Interview

Strengths

What are your strengths?

Ability to work in a team

I like solving problems in teams. At my
current job I work in a team with team
members of different departments to
improve quality. The results we achieved
were considerably important for the
reduction of bad work at our production
lines.
Application

Weaknesses
o Which tasks do you not like doing?
o What do you not like at your current workplace?
o Where do you have knowledge gaps?
o Which tasks do you find difficult to do?
o When do you procrastinate?
o What have been your greatest failures?
o Where do you give up fast?
o Which aims couldnt you achieve so far?
o What disappointed you about your professional
development so far?
o Which further training should you do?
o Where do colleagues/bosses criticize you?
Job Interview

Weaknesses

What are your weaknesses

Directness
Sometimes I have the feeling that I
communicate too directly. With this
behaviour I have made the experience that
colleagues get offended. Now I know
better how to communicate and I can
decide when its better to communicate
more directly or more indirectly.
Application - CV
Europass
Application CV

Europass/Traditional

Europass CV Example English

Europass CV Example German

CV - traditional
CV - traditional

Well-structured and nice layout (font: between 10 12)

Take great care
Adapt your CV to the position you apply
Maximum of two pages
With these points included)
Photo
Personal Data
Work experience (incl. internship) (the latest event first)
Education (school + university)
Special skills / Interests / Activities
Computer Skills
Languages
Activities/Hobbies
Place and Date
Signature
Sample
CV - traditional

Photo
CV - traditional

Photo negative Examples

CV - traditional

Photo positive Examples

CV - traditional

The perfect photo

o With a friendly smile

o Use a professional photo
o Eye contact
o Select clothes fitting with your desired position
o Stick it on your CV with glue or print it with
high-resolution
Application Cover sheet

Sample
Application Cover letter
Formalities:
Your name and address
Correct company name
Correct name of contact person
Place and date
Correct subject/Reference
Formal salutation
Reader-friendly structure / paragraphs
Type and size of font
Write clear and not too long sentences
Proof-read thoroughly
Application Cover letter
Structure

1. Salutation -> Dear Sir or Madam,

-> Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

2. Starting sentence -> I read with great interest your job advert
on Stepstone on September 15, 2015 for
for a project engineer in Ulm. As I will
finish my studies in . I would like to apply
for this position.

3. Qualifications -> As I will be graduating in two months from

the University with a degree in
computer Science, .
-> I graduated from the University of . With
a degree in ..
Application Cover letter
Structure

4. Experience -> In addition I have practical experience in ..

I was responsible for .
I have taken an active role in.

5. Motivation -> I have followed the developments in your

your company for several years, in particular
because of your innovative approach to
product development. This strong interest
along with my strong qualifications have
prompted me to apply for this position.
Application Cover letter
Structure

6. Soft Skills -> I have strong communication and

intercultural skills which I need every day
when communicationgwith colleagues
and customers.
-> I like working independently as well as
a member of a team.

7. Availability -> I will be available from December 1,2015.

8. Final sentence -> I greatly appreciate your interest and hope

to hear from you soo.
I would welcome the opportunity to meet
with you in person.

9. Closing -> Mit freundlichen Gren

Yours sincerely
 Application Cover letter
Content:
Connection between you and position

You are unique

Give examples for soft skills

Describe and do not evaluate

Give examples of successful projects

Use key words of the industry/job advertisement

 Job Interview
The steps of a job interview
o Welcoming
o Small talk
o Short description of the company and position
o Possibility for self-representation
o Interview with questions about personality and
professional skills
o Possibility to ask questions
o End of interview
 Job Interview
What personnal managers are interested in
o Your motivation for the application
o Your career so far
o Your professional development
o You as a person
o Your private life
 Job Interview
Typical questions
Why are you searching a new position?
Extend existing qualifications
Get the opportunity for new tasks
What do you expect from working for us?
Being able to use qualifications
Getting closer to desired position
Why have you applied at our company?
Make clear that you have heard from the company
before (Internet, exhibitions, publications, products
Refer also to job advertisement
 Job Interview
Typical questions
How would you describe yourself?
Have a look at your strengths and weaknesses
Why would you like to work for us?
Mention your knowledge about the industry sector
Mention skills demanded in the job advert
Do you have any questions?
Ask 2 to 3 questions
Who will I work together with?
Who will be my future boss?
 Job Interview

Self-representation
The typical question can be:
Tell us a bit about yourself.

Do not repeat what can be read on your CV

Describe the most important steps of your career
Mention decisive moments/projects
Name examples with regard to the new job
 Job Interview

Stress questions
Intention:
To make you feel uncertain
To put you under pressure
To see how you react under stress
Examples:
You dont seem to like working?
You seem to have difficulties with routines.
You seem to lack motivation.
 Job Interview

Stress questions
How to react
Think: on the contrary, I
Dont react emotionally (.try to)
Stay positive
Give an example
Use your self-representation for arguments
Job Interview

Body language

There is no second chance for a first

impression.

Its not only important what you say but also

how you say it.

If you feel tense, your interview partner can

see that you feel stressed and your brain is
stressed as well.
Job Interview

Body language

1 Welcoming

o Check that your clothes are ok

o Wait to shake hand until your counterpart

invites you to.

o Dont shake hand like a dead fish, a firm hand-

shake is appreciated.

o Keep eye contact

Job Interview

Body language

2 Sitting

o Wait until you are offered a chair before

sitting. Sit upright and always look alert
and interested.
o Look in a friendly way.
o Maintain eye contact.
o Dont cross your arms behind your head
Job Interview

Body language

3 Gestures

o Dont move your hands hectically

o Try to avoid playing with rings, picking your nose.
o Put your hands in your lap with the palms to the
top, that signalises openess.
o Dont cross your arms in front of you.
Job Interview

Assessment-Center typical situations

o Self-representation
o Group discussions
o Interviews
o Role plays
o Case studies
o Management game
o Lecture
o Essay
o Tests
o Self-assessment /
o Secret exercises (during breaks)
Job Interview

Assessment-Center What do they test

o Test flexibility
o Working under time pressure
o Foreign languages
o Communicative skills and behaviour
o Working in a team
o How you deal with conflicts
o Leadership qualities
o Conflict management
o Professional knowledge
Assessment Center

The most common tasks

1. Presentation / Self-presentation
2. Group discussions
3. Role play
4. Case study
5. Interview
6. Postbox
Assessment Center

1. Presentation

o Use of media
o Flipchart
o Board
o Whiteboard

o Preparation Time

o Task
o Summary of results of previous group
discussion or case study
o Self-presentation
Assessment Center

1. Presentation

o What they test

o Souvereignity
o Ability to convice
o Language
o Structure
o Creativity
o Able to use media
Assessment Center

2. Group discussion

o Between 4 8 people
o Between 20 mins and 2 hrs
o Simulation of meeting/discussion
o With role / without role
o With chair / without chair
o Most common: without chair without role
o What they test
o Result oriented
o Able to communicate
o Able to find compromises
o Creativity
o Able to solve problems
o Abel to convince
Assessment Center

3. Role Play

o Simulations
o Conversation with employee
o Negotation
o Complaint

o Written taks
o 10 30 minutes + preparation time
o Partner from company or actor
Assessment Center

3. Role Play

o Sequence
o 1. phase opening create pos. Atmosphere
o 2. phase analysing the current situation
o 3. phase partners interests/needs
o 4. phase evaulation of the situation
o 5. phase parties suggest solutions
o 6. phase end
Assessment Center

3. Role Play

o What they test

o Result oriented
o Able to communicate
o Able to find a compromise
o Able to convince
o Empathy
o Customer orientationg
o Able to solve problems
o Able to motivate
Assessment Center

4. Structured interview

o Personality test
o People skills
o Techncial competence
o Methodolgy

o Types of questions
o Direct open questions
o Situative questions
o Hypothectical questions
o Alternative questions
Assessment Center

4. Structured interview

o What they test

o Very much depending on requirements
o Self-reflection
o Souvereignity
o Emotional stability
Assessment Center

5. Case Study

o Written task
o Recognize/analyze the problem
o Work out solution
o Presentation

o Popular tasks (strategic planning/long-term basis)

o Personnel planning
o Restructuring
o Investment
Assessment Center

6. Postbox

o Written task
o In your postbox short message
o Recognize the problem
o Operative business
o Coordinate appointments
o Organise something

o They test
o Ability to solve problems
o Organisational talent
o Entrepeneurial thinking
Application

How to find a job:

Newspaper (Sdwest Presse)
www.jobs.swp.de
http://www.jobs-ulm.de/
www.stepstone.de
www.monster.de
www.stellenanzeigen.de
www.jobscout24.de
www.arbeitsagentur.de
www.jobrapido.de
www.kimenata.de
German courses

www.vh-ulm.de (Volkshochschule Ulm)

http://www.berlitz.de/de/ulm/ (Berlitz)
http://www.inlingua-ulm.de/sprachschule-
fuer-englisch-und-deutsch-
sprachkurse.html (Inlingua)
http://didactica-ulm.de/ (Didactica)
http://www.ulm.ihk24.de/ (IHK Ulm)

To be able to work in Germany you need at

least the level B2.
Links
www.profile-ulm.de: overview of employers in the area
www.jobs-ulm.de: search engine for jobs in the area
www.ulm.ihk24.de: chamber of industry and commerce
www.innovationsregion-ulm.de: an association promoting the
innovation region Ulm
www.make-it-in-germany.com: living and working in Germany when
you are from abroad
http://www.europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/home: instructions and
templates how to write a CV
http://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/de/index.php
http://www.fachkraeftemonitoring-bw.de/index.html
http://www.ulm.ihk24.de/aus_und_weiterbildung/Welcome_Center
Further questions

For further questions/information:

Welcome Center
Olgastrae 95-101 - 89073 Ulm
Postfach 24 60 - 89014 Ulm
Telefon : 0731 / 173-304
Telefax : 0731 / 173-5304
E-Mail : schilder@ulm.ihk.de W
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Thank you