Little professional experience: 5 tips for the first IT application

Career AdviceApplication

Once is always the first time: This also applies to the first written application, the first job interview, the first real job. What mistakes do job starters in particular make and what do you write on your CV if you don't have any professional experience yet? Five application tips for graduates and young professionals - at the end of the article you will find a checklist with the most important facts about your first application.

This is how your IT CV will also impress

Your CV is somehow only half a page long and you have the feeling that you have nothing to offer your future employer? Go into yourself - what additional qualifications do you have, which internships or IT projects can you show? Do you have hobbies that go well with your desired job or have you worked voluntarily in a project in the past that touches on similar topics? If so, don't be afraid to say so! As long as you're good at justifying your qualifications, don't worry about coming off as "showy". That doesn't mean, however, that you should write every summer job and "August 2017: Newspaper delivery" on your resume if you're applying for a position in an IT company or software development. Make sure you only mention additional qualifications that you can use in the job you are looking for! Document the aforementioned internships and training with job references, which can also be issued to you later.

If you don't find anything suitable in your CV – own up to it. You've just spent the last few years with your education, what can be wrong with that? However, if the application is unsuccessful, you should look for an internship or a software project that will prepare you for your dream job!

What can you do for the company?

The same applies to the first application as to the hundredth: Be clear about what you want and find out what your potential employer wants. "I want to work for you, no matter what!" may convey your eagerness, willingness to learn and enthusiasm - but that alone is unlikely to convince anyone in the IT department. So think about what your future employer or the dev team would be interested in. A little tip: The reader of your application actually only wants to know two things:

• What can the applicant do for my company?
• Does he or she fit into our team?

Read through the self-descriptions on "DEVJOBS", the information on corporate values ​​and culture and - very important - the requirements profile of the job advertisement. In your cover letter, try to work through every point of the requirement profile. Describe whether and if so how you meet these requirements. It is of course legitimate to recycle one or the other apt formulation from other applications - after all, you will probably apply for five similar positions at different companies. Nevertheless, you should take great care to answer the specific questions of the recruiter in a way that is easy to understand and individual.

Class instead of mass!

"I've already sent out a hundred applications, but nobody wants to hire me!" This sentence is heard alarmingly often from young professionals. The assumption is that the failure is due to the fact that the applications consist largely of copy/paste. It is therefore better to only send five applications, which are tailored precisely to the employer of your choice. It's just as wrong the other way around, to spend hours working on a single application, sending it in a gold-framed envelope - and then being devastated when it's rejected. The awareness of having several irons in the fire has a very calming effect and gives you the necessary self-confidence when it comes to the next rounds. If you still have an opportunity up your sleeve, negotiating in the job interview is much more relaxed and confident. Because one thing is clear: Out of pity, because you so desperately need a job, very few people hire you.

Call or not?

Many believe it is a myth that you should definitely make contact by phone before sending your application. Is that correct? The answer is: Yes! One thing is absolutely clear: you should avoid calling to just say “hello!” or finding out the name of the contact person. Only call if you really have a question - and if you have to sit down for 10 minutes to think of one, then do it! In any case, it makes sense to ask whether the position you want to apply for is currently vacant. Many trainee vacancies, for example, are advertised regularly and the advertisements often do not disappear from the website at all. In the worst case, a quick phone call will save you a lot of work. Before you call, write down all the questions you have and that you need to write your application - nothing is worse than the feeling of having forgotten something after you hung up.

Avoid standard phrases

Well, easier said than done! Like most things, writing resumes takes practice. In the beginning, everyone will probably download a template from the Internet and work through it point by point. HR professionals then read sentences such as "I'm very happy to apply for the advertised position as XY" or "I'm creative, a team player, resilient and uh... creative?". Yes, well. Rather avoid flourishes and instead describe specifically what you have already done and, above all, how you did it. In your cover letter, refer to the attached CV and highlight positions and achievements that are particularly worth mentioning. You should provide this with further information, numbers, data and facts in the cover letter. If you were able to boost certain soft skills that are important for your new job through one of these stations, say so! You did a 4-month internship at a digital agency – great! But what were you able to contribute there and how did the company benefit from you? Nevertheless: Don't overdo it and stay yourself. If you can't do something (yet), then admit it.

Points for your first application

• Many large companies have clear ideas of what an application should look like and state this in detail. stick to it
• Check whether the application should be sent by post or email. If there is a special email address for applications, be sure to use it!
• "Complete application documents" means: cover letter, curriculum vitae (possibly with a passport photo), most recent training certificate, relevant certificates from internships and further training. File the documents in this order - this also applies to the electronic version.
• If you send the application by email: Attach all documents as PDF files, including the cover letter. Make the e-mail cover letter short and friendly, possibly refer to previous phone calls. Include your last name and the name of the document in the filename of the attachments. If you are very tidy, number them consecutively, e.g. B. "01-Cover-Mayer".
• The cover letter is exactly one page long and ends with information about your earliest possible starting date.
• If you are applying to a conservative company: Get a reputable email address!
• Before submitting: Have the application proofread for spelling mistakes and style.