Applying in English - An Interview with Prof. Jackie Pocklington - BHT Berlin

Are there fundamental differences among American, British, and German applications?

There are, in fact, a number of fundamental differences among traditional American, British, and German applications, although it must be noted that recently in Great Britain - and even in Germany - there has been a clear tendency towards adopting the American style of application.

At least up until recently, the German style of application has been to create one standardized Lebenslauf for all applications. By contrast, the American resume and the British CV are always individually tailored to the targeted position. Furthermore, in an English-language cv, all required qualifications are highlighted for easy recognition through boldfacing, underlining, and bulleting, as well as through the reverse-chronology listing of jobs and stages of education.

The traditional German Anschreiben, on the other hand, presents all of the applicant's qualifications, whereas the American cover letter and the British covering letter highlight only two or three of the key qualifications that are relevant for the targeted position in order to generate interest in the application.

Another distinctive difference to traditional German Lebensläufe and British CVs is the fact that American resumes contain neither photos nor personal details; this is precaution against discrimination lawsuits. However, exceptions are made for non-American applications that contain these items.

There are still a few minor application distinctions worthy of note: Traditional British CVs contain the heading "CV" or "Curriculum Vitae", whereas American resumes begin with the applicant's name and other contact information. Moreover, American resumes and British CVs are seldom dated and are never signed like the  German version. Finally, like in the German Anschreiben, the subject line in American cover letters appears above the salutation line (Dear ...), whereas in British letters, it appears below this line and is underlined to distinguish it from the body of the letter.

What are the typical mistakes made by German-speaking applicants, and how can they be avoided?

German a
pplicants frequently fail to assess their own qualifications and abilities realistically: in such cases they waste a lot of time applying to positions for which they are not qualified. Worse yet, when applicants only have a vague understanding of their own career aspirations, all too frequently they come to regret their career decisions because the position does not correspond with their hopes and expectations.

Moreover, many applicants here in Germany seem to overlook the opportunities that networking offers. Since the great majority of openings are filled internally or on the basis of recommendations, i.e. without advertising, it pays to make and maintain contacts with company employees who can inform job seekers about potential openings.

Some German applicants also fail to get enough information about the company and the targeted position, resulting in application documents that are ineffectively customized to the job they're applying for.

Finally, I've met quite a few German applicants who overestimate their own language abilities when applying in English. Not only should they have their application documents checked by friends with good English skills (preferably native speakers), but they also need to understand that the job interview requires intensive language preparation.


If I were one of your graduates preparing for a job interview in English, what advice would you give me?

Collect information on the company and the targeted position in order to
1) demonstrate your interest in the position through your extensive knowledge, for example by providing reasonable answers to questions like "What do you know about our firm?";
2) prepare relevant questions for gaining a better understanding of the company and the targeted position in order to present your relevant qualifications more effectively; as well as
3) put yourself in a position to make an informed decision when accepting or rejecting a possible job offer.

You need to have a clear understanding of the qualifications the employer expects of you. Remember the aim you are trying to achieve at the interview: You have to persuade the employer that you possess precisely these relevant qualifications. With this objective in mind, work out your answers to anticipated interview questions, and have your formulations checked by friends skilled in English.

Simulate interviews a number of times with these friends. As first impressions are usually decisive, pay careful attention to making an impression of friendliness and self-confidence at the beginning of the interview, in particular the greeting, the small talk, and your answer to a typical lead-off question like "Tell us about yourself".

How can I inform myself about the job market of the country I wish to apply to regarding qualifications, requirements, salary overviews, work permits, etc.?

For information about entry regulations and work-permit regulations, it is best to consult the embassy and consulates of the country concerned directly. Many of these institutions place such information on their websites. Links to the websites of embassies can be found at Jounalistenlinks.de.

The qualifications that are required in order to enhance your chances of finding a position in a particular profession in a particular country depend on the current situation in the employment market there, and naturally also on the branch of business or industry, as well as on the job profile of the particular
job. You can find comprehensive information regarding these matters in the US market, for example, at the website of the Occupational Outlook Handbook or Wetfeet.com. There is also a lot of information available on the Internet concerning various branches of business and industry as well as large companies. Along with the familiar company directories Vault and Hoover's, the American website Job-Hunt.org presents a valuable starting point for research of the employment market.

The amount of salary you can earn in your profession abroad can be determined free of charge
by way of salary reports and salary calculators at numerous websites, at least for the American market (however unfortunately not for the rest of the world). One website that is frequently employed by jobsites is Salary.com. For salary reports as well as for many other employment-related fields, the Riley Guide provides valuable information and lists of links as an effective starting point for your research.

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