A cover letter or resume summarizes your educational and career history. It is necessary for almost all job applications, along with your cover letter. A well-written CV that portrays your background efficiently and is related to the job you are applying for increases your chances of being invited to  an interview.

Most hiring managers check the applicants’ CVs first. Here are some easy steps to create a first impression that will make them consider you for the position.

The content - What should you include in your CV?

Your CV should be one or a maximum of two pages, and usually in Germany, CVs do not include a summary part or paragraphs but bullet points. If your German level is up to it, and especially if the position requires German knowledge, it is a good idea to write your CV in German. It generally includes your personal information, educational background, previous work experience, internships, and additional related skills. 

However, if you have had periods in which you did not or could not work, you should also include those gaps. As a migrant or a refugee, it is possible that you have some gaps in between your active working periods. It is not something you should hide or lie about. Instead, consider including a brief explanation like “During this period, I relocated internationally, which necessitated a temporary break from full-time employment. While focusing on this transition, I engaged in independent study and professional development to stay knowledgeable of industry trends and advancements.” Gaps due to a health problem, or need to take care of a family member might be other examples for this. Usually, a few weeks or a couple of months do not need to be justified, however any period longer than that, is likely to be questioned by the hiring personnel.
And don't forget: Everything in the CV should be in reverse-chronological order, meaning you should list your experiences from the latest to the earliest. Let’s dive into each section a little bit further!

1. Personal Information

This section should have your full name and communication details (e-mail and phone number are the standard, postal address is optional). There are conflicting opinions about whether you should include a photo in the CV, but it is still the common standard in Germany to include one. In case you decide to include a photo, it should be passport-style, recent, and professional. However, some companies state that they are only considering CVs without photos to prevent discrimination; in that case, skip this part.

2. Education

Usually, your latest school degree is the most relevant. However, it is not uncommon to list your schools going back to your high school degree. It is also appreciated if you include your CGPA for Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees or your average grade for high school.

3. Work experience

This is the main section that the hiring managers will focus on. You should keep in mind which position and sector you are applying to and try to eliminate any experience that is entirely unrelated. However, note that having various soft skills (leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, etc.) can help in case you do not have relevant experience. Try to list all the tasks you were responsible for while working in a position and list the soft or technical skills you obtained. Emphasize any quantifiable success indicator, such as reaching a high turnover, or getting rewards.

4. Internships and Volunteer Work

This section is optional, but remember that it is useful, especially if you do not have much paid experience. These can also be listed under the “working experience” section if they are highly relevant to the job you are applying for and, again, if that section is already short. 

You should state your responsibilities and gains out of the position in this section. These portray transferable or soft skills and your adaptability to different roles. Recruiters value voluntary work because it shows that you are a socially engaged and committed person, who is willing to do more than what is strictly necessary. 

5. Skills and certifications

If your job requires a specific skill set eg. construction or food service, it is always good to include your certifications listed in your CV. Your knowledge of coding, languages, and machine operation are also technical or hard skills that should be included. Soft skills like teamwork, time management, and communication belong in this section too.

6. Hobbies or Interests 

As a rule, you should only list your hobbies as long as they add value to your CV. Community awards and memberships in professional associations, hobbies showing your leadership or communication skills can go a long way in having a positive first impression. 

On the other hand, passive hobbies like reading and watching TV, or too general hobbies like traveling or socializing with friends would not be beneficial to have in a CV. Additionally, you might want to avoid activities that are too personal or highly affiliated with a religious or political group. Remember that it is not mandatory to include a hobbies or interests section in Germany.

Maximizing the impact of your CV - Design and Keywords

Remember to keep your CV design simple. Times New Roman 12, Arial 11, and Calibri are popular fonts, and headings are usually underlined or bold. And don’t forget: You should match the font with your cover letter!

Because many companies use application management software, it is useful to include some keywords to increase your chances of being evaluated by a hiring manager after the software eliminates some talents. Consider locating the keywords listed in a job posting in relevant places in your experiences. 

For example, let's say there is a job description like “Company is hiring a remote Marketing Coordinator to support campaign execution, content creation, and initiatives. Candidates with a bachelor's degree, 2+ years of marketing experience, and proficiency in communication are encouraged to apply.” Keywords you can consider are campaign execution, content creation, marketing experience, communication for this example.

Applying with Workeer, on the other hand, does not usually require a CV or a cover letter. When you see a job advertisement that you like on the job portal, all you need to do is to submit your application with just one click and the company will reach out to you after screening your application.

Before Turning Your CV In 

A common mistake the talents may fall into is not tailoring their CV for the position they are applying for. Even if you are applying for jobs in the same industry, it is always important to make small changes like adding the keywords or eliminating irrelevant experiences to make your CV fit better to the position.

Remember to always proofread for grammatical errors or formatting inconsistencies. Also, make sure that you didn't include excessive or irrelevant information. Following these, you have a better chance to present yourself in a brighter light and make the hiring manager think you are the best candidate!

Before completing your application, do not forget to check Workeer´s recommendations on how to write a successful cover letter!

In our blog posts, we do not use gender-inclusive language to make them easier to read for non-native German speaking readers. Of course, all genders are included, as diversity and inclusion are important to us.