Translation of job application documents - Germany

I plan to very soon start applying for work (oh the horror!) so I'm in the process of getting my application documents together. Unfortunately, my documents are not all in one language - specifically, I have some Arbeitszeugnisse in German and some other stuff in English, and will probably need to translate these things into both English and German.

Does anyone have any personal experience in this matter? My question is: should I translate the documents myself, or should I get some sort of certified service to do it for me? Or should I just apply with documents in a mix of languages and tell my prospective employers that they should learn German?

While I've never bothered to translate the English stuff into German, I have had the German stuff translated as a precaution. Yes my German is of a level to have been able to self-translate, but I chose the certified route as should I ever need them for another purpose (e.g. professional certification, visa or residency applications and the like), I would need them certified anyway.

Evelyn Frey-Royston did a great job on mine, I'd happily recommend her and can pass on contact details upon request.

Depends on who's supposed to read the application. If the job has nothing to do with Germany, and the company is not based in Germany either, then I'd say English translations of all relevant German documents are called for.

Thanks Katrina. I might get back to you on that.

Tom_a: I'm planning on applying for stuff here in Germany, but many employers in my field don't do German. I'm mainly wondering what the reaction to self-translated application docs would be.

Can you tell us more about the kind of job you're looking for?
Let me be honest, no typical German will hire you anyhow. Don't translate.

@Jonathan: Thank you for your post. I'm looking for a skilled job, the kind one has to apply for; I won't get more specific than that. Not too sure why you think no typical German will hire me, though. Also not sure why you think I shouldn't translate German stuff into English if no typical German will hire me.

I think references are the one thing I would never translate myself. Too much potential for manipulation -- or for looking like you might have manipulated something. Some people distrust everyone until they've proved themselves, some trust everyone until given a reason not to trust someone. I actually count myself in the latter group but a self-translated reference would just wave too many warning flags.

You're definitely safe with a certified translation. Applying for a job in Germany, they should take friggin' German documents. (Or do their application procedures specify things have to be in English? That'd be weird.)

Well a skilled job where there are language skills needed should be aware that you may have references in a foreign language.
My comment "regular Germans" aimed at a regular 9 to 5 office clerk job.