Career & job searchStand out as a candidate

Your successful way to a new start

In order for your application to stand out and attract your potential employer's attention, follow these simple guidelines:

Follow these five tips and you will succeed in getting the job

1. Write fewer, but better applications

For some unemployed people, sending out applications becomes such a routine that effectiveness suffers. When applying, it is important not to simply apply to all the jobs you can find. Choosing the right job offer and applying for it with a suitable letter of application is better than sending the same standard application to zillions of job offers – remember: quality over quantity.

2. Motivation letters are rare, but welcome

Because applying online is becoming ever more popular, motivation letters are getting shorter and becoming a thing of the past. Often people send them as a simple email together with their CV attached.

If you want to stand out, you can write a proper motivation letter and send it by post. A letter, being such a rare thing, will stand out and catch the recruiter's attention. It’s a great way to stand out from the crowd.

3. Keep a good record of your applications

When a recruiter calls and you cannot remember their name or the name of the company they work for or even what position you applied for, it demonstrates that you are not organised, and this does not go down well with the recruiter. To avoid such a faux pas, it is enough to make yourself an Excel table in which you enter date of application, name of company, job description and contact person. This way, nothing can go wrong.

4. Follow up your application

If you do not receive an answer to your written application, you should generally call the company after two weeks at the latest. A quick phone call is enough to make sure that your application has been received. Your follow-up also stresses your motivation for the job and is often the trigger for an invitation to an interview.

5. Say thank you for the interview

After the job interview, it is a good idea to send a short email to the recruiter thanking them for their time and for the opportunity to get to know each other personally and learn more about the job. In the email, you should also emphasise your interest in the position once again. This short message helps to make a good impression and to score in a simple, subtle way.