Workshop: Leibniz Universität, Hannover

IntrVu WorkshopCareer track

Understanding the job application process in Germany

Presenters:

R.V. Thulasinath, Mithun Sridharan

©INTRVU CONSULTING 2

Agenda

• Introduction to IntrVu Consulting•Recruitment process & hiring funnel•Empirical data & analysis• Common application mistakes

•Areas to focus on•Profiling to overcome rejections•Our services & how we could help• How can your contribute?


Introduction to IntrVu Consulting

•Advisory based in Germany• Registered legal entity in Eschborn (Hessen)• Operating from Heidelberg• Teams in Frankfurt, Chemnitz, Stuttgart & Berlin

•Focus:• International students & professionals

•Services• Career coaching• Interview preparation• Admissions coaching


Target audience (European focus)

• Individuals• International students• International professionals• International Managers & Expats• Free-lancers• Entrepreneurs in transition

• Institutions• Corporates• Non-profits• (Non-) Governmental organizations• Universities & research institutions


Our services

• Admissions consulting• University selection• Application document reviews• Admission analytics• and, related services

• Career coaching• Application strategy coaching• Application document (CV & Cover letter

reviews)• Network referral• LinkedIn audits• Interview coaching

• Consulting case preparation


Why engage us?

• International professionals with distinct European pedigree• 1st hand experience with admissions, interviews & careers• Experience in the ‘challenges’ that International candidates face in Europe• Successful track record in coaching candidates to success• Comprehensive technical & managerial tool sets, frameworks & best practices


Success factors

• Solid & dynamic team• Niche market with uncapped potential• 1st hand experience in admissions & career coaching• Differential advantage• Based in Europe with global operations• Highly scalable• High quality at fair prices• Perennial market (admissions & job seekers)


IntrVu workshops

• Presence workshops led by IntrVu Consultants• Theory & practical advice delivered• Duration:1 hr – 1 day (based on requirements)• Flexible pricing schemes for institutions• Free for non-profits, governmental organizations & social entities• Topics covered based on requirements


Job applicationsPerspectives from Germany


Focus areas in this workshop

• The job application process

• Application strategy

• Curriculum Vitae

• Cover letter


Recruitment in Germany (and elsewhere) follows several stages

Offer

Face-to-face interviews

Case interview*

Assessment*

Telephone interview

Application

• Process subject to a company’s discretion

• Candidates eliminated at each stage

• Time span: few weeks to months

• It’s a marathon, not a sprint!

• Preparation is key!


The hiring funnel is a significant challenge in getting hired

1000 view the job posting

200 start the application process

100 finish the application

75 eliminated by ATS

25 reviewed by HR

4 – 6 invited to 1st round of interviews

1-3 invited to 2nd round1

hired

•Hiring funnelWatch our recorded webinar on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=vs4zPZ07Wp4

•Employment laws•Personality & fit•Know-how•For International applicants• Linguistic barriers• Cultural barriers• Visa issues• And, many more challenges!


The hiring funnel varies across the globe

60

12.7

5

1.4

Review

Screening

Interviews

Offers

25

8.5

4.5

1.6

34

14.1

7.5

2

AMERICAS8% interviewed

EUROPE13% interviewed

APAC22% interviewed

Courtesy: LinkedIn statisticsSample space: 1000 candidates


Applications follow a Gaussian distribution


Candidates send out over 200 applications to land 1 job


Interesting takeaways

•Candidates start applying 6 months before graduation•Average 3.843 applications / day•Applications peak to 7.27 applications / day• Intense application period: +/- 3 weeks around graduation


Recruiters shortlist candidates within 10 days of the job posting


Our analysis confirms the hiring funnel in action


Where could things go wrong?

Application strategy

Cover letter

Curriculum Vitae / Resume

Transcripts

Interviews

Negotiation


A job application is NOT a numbers game!

Item What candidates doApplication strategy No application strategy (what is it,

anyway?)Cover letter Ignore cover lettersCV / Resume Standard template (Europass)Transcripts All or nothingInterviews No framework or structureNegotiation Under- / over-sell


Application strategy - make waves

• Application in phases a.k.a. waves

• Better performance & conversion tracking

• Structured approach to job applications

• Avoid ’carpet bombing’

• Document all application activity

• Leverage analytics and derive insights

Plan

Apply

MeasureReview

Revise


Tool in action (Identifying bottlenecks)


Pivoting data to derive actionable insights


Takeaways

• Structure your approach to job applications

• Measure your applications’ performance

• Do NOT carpet bomb

• Use tools & document your activities

• Get professional help if required


Curriculum Vitae / Resume is the MOST important document!

• CV should be the meat of your application• Could be longer• Only include relevant information• Do NOT use standard templates• 95% of candidates use Europass CV

format

• But• CV is a backward-looking document• Include a cover letter (forward-looking)


Your CV helps you progress through the various stages

• It is important to profile your CV

• Does your CV match the criteria mentioned in the job description?• Else, your CV will not be picked by the ATS


Your CV should be designed for the ‘long haul’

• CV should be picked by the ATS• Use automated CV parsing software• Histograms, Machine learning

Algorithms, etc. (Analytics software)

Machines

• CVs should appear professional to the human reader

• Audit for aesthetics, grammar, brevity, rhetoric, flow, etc.

Humans


For sales / management jobs, my CV profiles as follows

We profile & audit your CVs for a fee. Get in touch!


But, overcoming the machine is NOT sufficient

• Your documents should be well formatted• Should showcase you as a professional

• Content should match the job requirements• Be attractive to machines AND humans!

• Subscribe to our YouTube! Channel• Number of videos on CV formatting!• All for free!• More content (coming soon)


Why should you include a Cover letter?

• Your formal introduction

• The first read, it can make or break your entry

• A ‘must’ with your CV

• Should be brief and interesting

• Should not be a carbon copy of your CV

• Should highlight what you’ll bring to the job

• Should be job specific

The goal is to get an interview!


What are employers looking for?

• COMMITMENT• Show & reconfirm: your specific interest &

knowledge (industry+company),• High degree of certainty of your plans

• MATURITY & CONFIDENCE• No wishy-washy language, no “maybe”, no “if

you like me” messages: no hesitation!• However, no bragging, no declarations

• PROFESSIONALISM• Prep work: write down your “advantages” (why

are YOU different from others?)• State about quality of your education (schools),

achievements, background (with a link to the needs/nature of business of the company)

• ADAPTABILITY & GROWTH• Are you are a fast learner? A hard-worker?• Can you be entrusted with responsibility?

Quality of your letter is a part of your Professionalism

Moot point: Research your prospective employer

• Learn about the opportunity & company

• Get contact information

• Proof read your Cover letter

• Every tiny detail matters

• Follow up with a telephone call

• Never give up until you hear NO from the company!

• Continue to work with other alternatives meanwhile

32

• Read your cover letter from the employer’s perspective• Would you hire yourself?• If NO, then seek advice• Re-make your Cover Letter & CV• Proof-read it


Types of cover letter

Letter of Interest• Targeted for a specific position

• Outline skills to meet company’s needs

• Helpful to use position announcement’s terms, lingo

Letter of InquiryA marketing tool to…

• Obtain an informational interview

• Correspond with a networking contact

• Conduct company/industry research

Components of a Cover letter


Include action verbs• Achieved

• Administered

• Attained

• Built

• Coached

• Completed

• Coordinated

• Delivered

• Demonstrated

• Developed

• Effected

• Established

• Expedited

• Formulated

• Generated

• Headed

• Implemented

• Improved

• Invented

• Launched

• Led

• Maintained

• Managed

• Motivated

• Negotiated

• Organized

• Originated

• Planned

• Presented

• Proposed

• Reinforced

• Reorganized

• Researched

• Set up

• Simplified

• Solved

• Tackled

• Taught

• Updated


And, self-descriptive words• Adaptable

• Analytical

• Assertive

• Confident

• Conscientious

• Creative

• Disciplined

• Efficient

• Energetic

• Enterprising

• Enthusiastic

• Expressive

• Extroverted

• Ingenious

• Innovative

• Manager

• Personable

• Persuasive

• Precise

• Productive

• Reliable

• Responsible

• Self-reliant

• Self-starter

• Skilled

• Tactful

• Team player

• Technical


Use Active Verbs, but not cartoonishly Active

• Verbs have either active or passive voice. The active voice is more powerful.• Active: Pat Smith wrote the report.• Passive: The report was written by Pat Smith.


And, avoid pompous writing

• At this point in time-NOW

• In spite of the fact that-ALTHOUGH

• Cooperate together-COOPERATE

• Owing to the fact that-BECAUSE,SINCE

• On account of the fact that-BECAUSE

• During the time that-WHILE

• In an efficient manner-EFFICIENTLY

Brevity is the soul of wit William Shakespeare


InterviewingSome tips


Dress for success

• Dark two-piece suit, white dress shirt or blouse, conservative shoes• For women, closed toe, low heel

• Showered, clean shaven, little cologne/perfume, well-groomed hairstyle• Carry breath mints

• Little jewelry, no visible tattoos, not too much makeup• For women, conservative nail colors


Verbal and non-verbal communication

• Interviewing “Do’s”• Wear the appropriate clothing and be

well groomed• Be polite and courteous to all persons in the building and office• Be 15 minutes early• Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake• Make plenty of eye contact with the interviewer• Smile and have good posture• Be a good listener

• Interviewing “Don’t’s”• Don’t chew gum or smoke• Don’t wear too much jewelry, perfume or makeup• Don’t interrupt the interviewer• Don’t look at your watch during the interview• Don’t volunteer negative information about yourself and don’t criticize former employers or coworkers


Interview types and flow

• One-on-one

• Group

• Panel

• Multiple

• Case

• Typical flow during an Interview• Establishing rapport• Questions about you• In-depth interview• Questions for the interviewer• Concluding the interview


Some success storiesCase of an Internship candidate


Case study of an Internship candidate

Situation

•150+ applications over 3 months•5 interviews•0 internship offersResult• Frustration• Uncertainty• Doubt• Financial pressure


IntrVu Consulting helped the candidate secure an Internship

Our help• Cover letter (missing)• Curriculum Vitae review• Application package creation• Application analytics• Mock interviews

Execution• 20+ applications• 6 Internship interviews• 2 offers (10% conversion!)

Result• Intern at a leading satellite company in Germany• Salary: € 850 pm + perks + training (France &

the UK)


How can IntrVu help?

• Audits / Reviews• Application strategy consulting• Interview frameworks• Best practices


How can you contribute?

• Join our Ambassador program• More details on the website

•Spread the word• Help grow our community

• Internship program

• Software development (Analytics, Cloud,…)• Marketing (Online, Offline, Social Media,…)• University Alliances


Online & social media outreach

• Facebook page• 1000% weekly growth rate• 450% new member growth rate• 12,000+ weekly outreach

• YouTube! Channel• 65 free videos• 112 subscribers• Average view time: 6 minutes

• Website• 98 published articles• 10,000+ unique visitors / week• Average articles read: 2.3 / visit


Digital outreach

• IntrVu Magazine launched (March 2016)• Expected outreach: 20,000 downloads• Expected 3 month outreach: 60,000• 3 live webinars delivered• 200+ participants reached• Outreach growth rate: 650%


Offline events & workshops

• Over 50 job candidates / week• Over 75 admission candidates / week• Events organized at:• Diakonie Speyer, Ludwigshafen,

Heidelberg• University of Heidelberg• DKFZ (German Cancer Research

Institute)• EMBL (European Molecular Biology

Laboratory)• Corporate workshops


Get in touch

http://www.intrvu-consulting.com

[email protected]

+49 176 9792 4897

https://www.facebook.com/intrvu

https://twitter.com/intrvu

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Hk6LjhB1-

jxHqmbpGajPQ

http://www.slideshare.net/intrvu

Date post:	22-Feb-2017
Category:	Education
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Workshop: Leibniz Universität, Hannover

Education