Hi all.
Yet another job-related question. Sorry if I'm beating this topic to death. I probably am.
The background:
Canadian boy (that's me) meets Austrian girl (that's her). Falls for Austrian girl. Austrian girl probably can't find work in Canada (no one knows what a Magister is!) Hence we decided to compromise and settle 1/2 way. Yep, half the distance between Toronto and Bregenz is somewhere in Germany. Two months ago, after I completed my MBA, I took the bold move of crossing the Atlantic and coming to Austria (tiny vacation). So...I've been here in Austria for the past 2 months...and boy, it's not as easy to secure a job in Germany as I thought.
The question:
What exactly do they mean by 'application'? I thought my package of information was enough. This is what I've been sending:
- formal cover letter
- formal CV (EU style w/ photo) ~2 years of experience with multinational pharmaceutical companies
- MBA transcript (unofficial as I just finished in December 07)
- HonBSc completion (a screen-shot of 'completion' from the university's online student repository system)
- Transcript from academic exchange semester abroad
- List of professional references (list of 3 previous employers w/ full contact information)
- 1 letter of recommendation from previous employer
Is this enough or do they want more? I'm returning to Canada this week so I'll get the official transcripts, and 1 more letter of recommendation. But otherwise, is there anything else I need? I've been inquiring about this with some Austrians but they are not too sure about the process in Germany.
Can anyone clarify this up a little for me? It would be greatly appreciated. When I land a job, I'll buy you a few pitchers of delicious, delicious Germany beer.
Thanks!
Forgot to add. I'm 24; Bachelor & Master degrees; fluent in English, Mandarin, and beginner French & German. Hopefully someone else can shed a little advice on some employment finding tactics!
Oops. Another thing. I can get a 1 year work permit in Germany upon finding a job.
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What to submit as part of a job application
Which qualifications and documents etc.
A German company usually expects:
Covering letter for both a specifically advertised job, and if you're applying "on-spec" a general covering letter known as an "Initiativwerbung". The latter are not very productive though.
CV - in German this comprises your "Lebenlauf", i.e. your private details, education, training, qualifications, and your "Betrieblicher Werdegang" i.e. your Employment History. German employers do not like gaps in the employment history.
Copies of all qualifications referred to.
Copies of all testimonials. German employers expect a testimonial for all previous employment or a damn good reason for its absence.
In your case they will probably also want some evidence of your right to live and work in the country, which will probably be a vicious circle for you, i.e. no job without residency permit, no residency permit without job.
The German employment process is long-winded and it can take months to receive a refusal because the periods of notice are long and many employers won't send out rejections until the cat is in the bag.
Sorry, if this is a negative picture, but for square pegs in round holes here it is a negative picture.
Covering letter for both a specifically advertised job, and if you're applying "on-spec" a general covering letter known as an "Initiativwerbung". The latter are not very productive though.
CV - in German this comprises your "Lebenlauf", i.e. your private details, education, training, qualifications, and your "Betrieblicher Werdegang" i.e. your Employment History. German employers do not like gaps in the employment history.
Copies of all qualifications referred to.
Copies of all testimonials. German employers expect a testimonial for all previous employment or a damn good reason for its absence.
In your case they will probably also want some evidence of your right to live and work in the country, which will probably be a vicious circle for you, i.e. no job without residency permit, no residency permit without job.
The German employment process is long-winded and it can take months to receive a refusal because the periods of notice are long and many employers won't send out rejections until the cat is in the bag.
Sorry, if this is a negative picture, but for square pegs in round holes here it is a negative picture.
All your girlfriend has to say is that she has a Masters in ... AOTBE, it is probably harder for you to find work here without German than it is for her to find work in Canada if her English is excellent. Fluent Mandarin might just bail you out though- are you willing to go on assignment to China?
Good luck. Try to have your Zeugnisse and LOR written using similar wording to that used by German employers. Try to find firms that are exporting a lot to China.
Good luck. Try to have your Zeugnisse and LOR written using similar wording to that used by German employers. Try to find firms that are exporting a lot to China.
you will need to send your future german employer a stool sample along with your CV
Look up the EuroPass CV template and go from there. Make sure you have all of the paperwork for any degrees or training you are claiming. Unofficial transcript is fine, but make sure you tell them you just graduated and that you can have your official transcript showing you graduated and give them the time period. You will likely be in a probation period anyway.
How are your german skills ? If you have none then I highly suggest your first step if you are planning on making a life here is that you enroll in some language courses otherwise you haven't got a chance and you will be just like the other clueless bunnies on here asking questions like "can I get a work visa if I'm a stripper ?" etc...
Look up the EuroPass CV template and go from there. Make sure you have all of the paperwork for any degrees or training you are claiming. Unofficial transcript is fine, but make sure you tell them you just graduated and that you can have your official transcript showing you graduated and give them the time period. You will likely be in a probation period anyway.
How are your german skills ? If you have none then I highly suggest your first step if you are planning on making a life here is that you enroll in some language courses otherwise you haven't got a chance and you will be just like the other clueless bunnies on here asking questions like "can I get a work visa if I'm a stripper ?" etc...
QUOTE (darwiniandemon @ Feb 17 2008, 4:14 pm) 
Hence we decided to compromise and settle 1/2 way. Yep, half the distance between Toronto and Bregenz is somewhere in Germany.
What map were you looking at...please tell!
Here it is called a "Lebenslauf".
Totally different to US / UK / Canada.
Try "Muster Lebenslauf" in Google.de and you'll see.
If you are in an "in demand" area potential employers
will not be over bothered if you are not conforming to the German rules.
Otherwise - do it the German way! It certainly paid for me.
Totally different to US / UK / Canada.
Try "Muster Lebenslauf" in Google.de and you'll see.
If you are in an "in demand" area potential employers
will not be over bothered if you are not conforming to the German rules.
Otherwise - do it the German way! It certainly paid for me.
Here it is called a "Lebenslauf".
Totally different to US / UK / Canada.
Try "Muster Lebenslauf" in Google.de and you'll see.
If you are in an "in demand" area potential employers
will not be over bothered if you are not conforming to the German rules.
Otherwise - do it the German way! It certainly paid for me.
Totally different to US / UK / Canada.
Try "Muster Lebenslauf" in Google.de and you'll see.
If you are in an "in demand" area potential employers
will not be over bothered if you are not conforming to the German rules.
Otherwise - do it the German way! It certainly paid for me.
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