Infocenter

Discover explanatory videos, tutorials, interviews and podcasts to help you get started in your career. Whether you want to find your career path, need tips for your first job application or want to take the first step into self-employment - you'll find the right resources here. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for additional short formats!
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Lighthouse careers Rhein-Main

Immerse yourself in the career paths of successful graduates with an international profile or migration history.

  • Authentic insights: challenges and hurdles that our graduates have overcome along the way.
  • Practical advice: Skills and additional qualifications that really count in your desired career field and a realistic view of the job market.
  • Global networking: Discover how you can use your cultural and academic diversity to innovate in companies and build bridges to global markets.
Tips for your application
Tips for your CV

Your CV provides an overview of your personal and professional career. It is a bullet-point list of your education, training and career stages as well as your skills and knowledge.

The resume should

  • comprise a maximum of 2 DIN A4 pages
  • be up-to-date, error-free, meaningful and without gaps
  • be in tabular form (this is the standard in Germany)
  • be written anti-chronologically (start with the most recent activity)
  • be a perfect fit for the position in question. Above all, choose the qualifications, knowledge and professional experience that are relevant to the position.
  • be divided into thematic blocks by means of headings
  • Include information on language skills and other skills (IT, IT, driving license or soft skills).
    Rate your language skills with the levels "basic knowledge", "good", "fluent", "business fluent" and "native speaker" and your IT/programming skills with the levels "basic knowledge", "good", "very good" and "constantly in use".

Avoid exaggeration: only include competencies and skills where you have at least advanced beginner or intermediate level.

To the complete application guide (German)
To the complete application guide
(Engl.)

Formal criteria of a CV

Formal criteria (recommendation):

Font sizes:
Title & Name: 20Pt
Headings: 13Pt
Text: 11Pt
Date: 10Pt

Margins & line spacing
L Page margin: 2 to 2.5 cm
R margin: 1.5 to 2 cm
Top and bottom: 2 - 2.5 cm

EXTRAS:

  • Stays abroad (intercultural experience) as well as publications, references, scholarships or awards can be relevant for the position and should be listed.
  • Optionally, hobbies, personal interests or voluntary work can be listed. It is important that these activities are specified and include (social) skills that are relevant to the position. E.g. traveling to francophone countries to learn the language or volleyball with a coaching function in club xy.
How to deal with gaps in your CV
  • Longer gaps should be avoided, but they are generally unproblematic for a period of up to six months.
  • Longer breaks should be used sensibly, for example by acquiring specialist knowledge, taking language courses, volunteering or completing internships. Longer trips where you get to know the language and culture of a country can also serve as a "gap filler".
  • Longer periods of unemployment should be phrased positively, such as "vocational reorientation," "seeking work," or "educational travel"
  • If there is a longer gap in your CV due to a flight to Germany, this period can be stated in years, for example as "Flight from (name of country) & asylum procedure" including the integration or German courses attended during this time.
Tips for your cover letter

The cover letter is your chance
✓ to make a successful first impression
✓ to stand out from other applicants
✓ to make a convincing case for yourself if your starting conditions are not ideal (e.g. lateral entry)
✓ to look ahead and open up perspectives (in contrast to the CV)
✓ for an initial work sample

Procedure:

1) Compare the advertised position with your personal profile. Focus on keywords such as activities and skills.

2) Clarify the following questions for yourself:

  • What excites you most? #Motivation
  • Which of the tasks outlined above have your previous jobs with other employers, during your studies or as a volunteer prepared you for?
  • Which of the requirements do you meet?
  • If you do not fulfill a requirement: What can you do instead?
  • Now find examples: In which situations have you applied the desired knowledge or demonstrated soft skills?
Writing tips & structure of your cover letter
  • Keep it simple.
  • Use short sentences (maximum 2 statements per sentence).
  • Formulate actively using strong verbs ("showing" instead of "telling").
  • Formulate positively (avoid negations).

Structure:

  1.  Your contact details (name, address, e-mail, telephone)
  2. Employer's address (preferably with the name of the contact person)
  3. Subject: "Application as ..."
  4. Salutation: "Dear Mrs. / Mr. ..."
  5. Introduction: Your first sentence must arouse curiosity so that people read on!
  6. Main part: Show how your qualifications meet all the mandatory requirements.
  7. Motivation: Why do you want the job and to work in the company?
  8. Formalities & conclusion: possible start date, desired salary (if requested)
  9. Greeting: "Yours sincerely" + signature
Online course: "Application is like cinema" (Self Service, German)

This online course from Goethe University compares the application process with the announcement of a blockbuster: your cover letter teases the offer you are making to your desired employer. Your CV works like a trailer and conveys information about the setting and story in 2-3 minutes. Once interest has been aroused, it's time for the blogbuster moment - the interview.

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