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Imagine that you are responsible for filling a position. You have to find the person who best suits the position from 100 applications as quickly as possible. What do you think of when you keep reading the sentence "I hereby apply for the advertised position"? How do you react to the words "flexible" and "team player"?
In order to write a successful cover letter, it is worth changing your perspective, because one thing is clear: Your application documents are initially everything that HR managers see of you. So take enough time for each job advertisement and consider:
These two points sound banal, but they are the essence of a good cover letter. Now, it is important to bring the most important arguments to the point in a concise text. We have collected a few tips and hints.
Employers often only take a few minutes to read individual applications. An exciting introduction is therefore recommended.
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I hereby apply for… I have read your job advertisement with great interest… | After my master’s degree in the summer, I plan to enter into the field of event management… After several internships in large companies, I would now like to get to know the perspective of an SME In my last internship in the area… I was responsible for…. |
A lot of important information about the individual stages of your career can already be found in your résumé. Use the cover letter to describe individual examples from these experiences in more detail: what have you already learned or done, to what extent and context, on which topics or content?
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I was able to gain experience in the field of public relations. | During my publishing internship, I was independently responsible for the weekly newsletter and maintained the publisher's website. In addition, I organized a conference with 50 participants on the subject of "Social Networking". |
Soft skills tend to play a subordinate role in the cover letter. As a rule, employers expect you to be able to work in a team, be punctual, etc. Therefore:
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I am a team player, ambitious and flexible. | Together with my colleagues, I organized a conference with international scientists. I had great fun planning this event as a team. |
You have now already explained why you, with your specific skills and knowledge, fit the advertised position. Actually self-evident, but often forgotten: the cover letter is a letter of motivation, so personal motivation should be in the foreground of this document:
Don't just describe why you are a good fit for the advertised position. Many arguments about your knowledge can already be found in your résumé.
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As the market leader in the automotive industry, your company is one of the top-selling companies in the country. | I have already completed several internships at auto parts suppliers. Now I would like to experience the entire process chain for once. I am particularly interested in the management department of your company. |
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I am responsible for customer care and acquisition, the implementation of a new quality management system, and I am responsible for the evaluation of the individual development processes. | I am currently looking after the company's business customers and I acquire new customers. In addition, I am responsible for the introduction of a new quality management system and for evaluating the associated processes. |
University of Potsdam
abindiepraxis
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14469 Potsdam
Tel.: +49 331 977-1810
Fax: +49 331 977-1179
E-mail: career-serviceuuni-potsdampde