Applying in the US

Special features Even though everything seems more international today, there are still different requirements for applications, especially resumes, in different countries. In the US, for example, the resume has a completely different meaning than it has in Germany. In the US, the applicant has to mention his career goals in the resume. The places of training and education are also a lot more important in the US. When you are applying in the US, you will not say anything about your age or your parents to prevent discrimination. This is also important for European applicants. Your resume should not be more than one page. You will usually not submit copies of your diplomas. Other than that, the cover letter is quite similar to the German one. Organization and orthography is just as important.

Cover letter The cover letter is the most individual part of an application. This has to attract the attention of the US managers. Consider that fact that they will receive very many applications every day. What would you be looking for? You would of course notice those that are different from the rest, in the form that they seem especially appealing. What should be the contents of the application? Your address and the phone number where you can be reached. The address of the company you are applying to. If there is a person you can directly address, do so. The date. If you already know the contact person from the job ad, use the full title. Things you should include about yourself are description of your job, and then your special skills and knowledge. Compare your qualifications and interests to the company's requirements and tell them why you want to work for THEM especially. Of course, you also need to know a few things about the company for that, so use the information from the job ad and all other knowledge you have acquired about the company. References and a careful idea of your wage are just as important as stating your earliest possible employment start date. And if necessary, mention that your application should be treated confidentially. In the closing paragraph, please mention that you would be happy to be invited for an interview and then sign your full name, as clearly as possible.

Do not include photo! Under no circumstances include a photo in the application. That is not customary in the US and might immediately disqualify you.

Resume This includes the most important information about yourself. You will give a full overview of your education, training, work experience and other skills. After the cover letter, it is the second basis on which you will be evaluated and the test for whether or not you are the right person for the company and the position. By the way, you can find examples for US resumes in our book "Der Amerikanische Traum" (in German). What do you have to consider while writing your resume? The resume should be in tabular form, well organized, and complete. With just one glance, the addressee has to be able to take in the most important facts. An essay in prose is not very helpful here. Don't leave any time gaps, be honest, and don't try to cover up anything. If you have done additional training that is important for the position or have other special qualifications, include them. You can list them as a extra point. If you are an entrant, please list your hobbies and other things you have done (leading youth groups, training people), this is very important for choosing employees in the US. Volunteer work is very important for evaluating applicants in the US. There is a British company that offers to proof-read English applications: www.traducv.com. Unfortunately, they are not yet offering German-English translations.

Diplomas / References Don't include diplomas or references in the initial application, that is not customary. Just write "references upon request" in your resume, indicating that you do indeed have some. Let the US employer ask you for them in case he really wants to see them. That way, you may also save a money for unnecessary translations. Please also inform the people you are giving as references that you are doing so, in case the US employer contacts them directly.

ATTENTION! Please note that reference comes from "refer somebody to somebody." Unfortunately, most references in the German-speaking world are not very meaningful, since the employers have rather strict legal requirements to observe where the wording is concerned. It would be a good idea to ask your past and present employers to make the references a little more colorful stylistically. The reference should make it clear that the former employer emphatically advises the US employer to hire you. From employer to employer, if you will. That has a whole different quality to it than the simple statement that you have been a reliable and (very) good employee. You have to keep in mind that the US employer will not know what the bureaucratic terminology in the standard German references really expresses and will not evaluate them as highly as those of US applicants.

Mailing the application Put your application in a large and strong envelope. Your application should not be folded. Make sure to pay for postage.

Literature As mentioned above, you will find more information in our handbook "Der Amerikanische Traum," available in German on our website.