The purpose of the cover letter is to arouse the interest of the potential employer. To do this, you must demonstrate your motivation and qualifications and show that you are the suitable candidate for the position to be filled. Be sure to respond to the position and the requirements!

Our tips:

In advance:

• Find out about the company on the company's website, on company evaluation portals, in trade journals or trade directories (e.g. about the products and services it offers, various areas, the activities of the department in which the position is advertised, the corporate culture, etc.)!
• Read the job posting carefully and carefully. What are the requirements for the position? Which of these do you fulfill? Think of examples that can prove your qualifications. Think not only of experience and knowledge from previous internships or your studies, but also of non-university commitment and hobbies.

In the cover letter:

• Write short, clear and concise - usually one page is absolutely sufficient
• Limit yourself to information that is relevant to the position
• Write your cover letter individually tailored to the employer and the respective position
• Prove your qualifications and skills with examples
• Address the cover letter to the right contact person
• Observe formalities (address line, subject, greeting, signature) - a sample can be found Here

Please avoid:

• Formal mistakes! Spelling mistakes are an absolute 'no-go' in the cover letter
• Standardized introductory sentences such as "...on your homepage I have read that you are looking for an employee in the area XY. The job advertisement appealed to me, so I would like to apply for the position." You don't have much space in the cover letter - don't waste it with banal phrases!
• Standardized cover letters
• Box sets

If you need help preparing the cover letter, go to the Office hours of the Career Service and use our Consultancy service.

The search and the right choice of the employer is pioneering for your further career, but involves some difficulties.

Our tips:

• At the beginning of your studies, inform yourself about potential fields of activity that you find interesting. In this way, you can focus on your possible professional fields during your studies, set appropriate priorities and gain practical experience through internships or working student activities - this increases your chances of entry
• Do internships in the areas and with the companies that interest you. How to find out if your dream job and your dream company actually suits you
• Find out about your desired company, e.g. on rating portals, on homepages, in trade journals, in social media
• If you do not yet have a preference for a company, you can search in business directories, trade journals or via an online search to see who is suitable for you as a potential employer
• Find out about qualifications that are in demand in your dream job at your desired company - you can already acquire these during your studies
• Use social networks! For example, you can see on profiles of people who have studied something similar what activity they have exercised and are doing today
• Go to specialist lectures on topics that interest you. There you often have the opportunity to make contact with the speakers
• Visit career fairs such as our Career Forum - this is also a good opportunity to test your 'market value'
• Job advertisements can often be found via job boards or company websites. But it is also worth taking a look at newspapers, trade journals or social media

An opportunity to inform yourself about positions of international and renowned employers offers the Job Portal of the University of Bayreuth.

The employment reference is the certificate of your work commitment, the duration of the employment relationship and your activities. For employers, the certificates are an important indication to be able to better assess you as an applicant.

If the certificate is not created automatically, request it from your employer. This also applies to internships. In addition, it is helpful to have a feedback conversation with your direct supervisor in advance, so that your opinion can also be included in the certificate.

According to the legal regulation, the employment reference must always be formulated in a benevolent way, which means that formulations often have a different meaning than one thinks. A first overview of formulations and their meaning can be found Here. If you are not satisfied with a wording in your report card or discover errors in the report card, you should ask for an correction.

A popular instrument for personnel selection is the Assessment Center (AC). The idea is to simulate the future working world through practical exercises and thus determine the qualifications of the applicants. Typically, an AC lasts between one and two days. Various exercises are completed. Classic exercises are the "mail basket", group discussions, role-playing games, presentation tasks or even questionnaires with personality tests. Assessment center trainings can be found under the heading "Events

A semester abroad broadens the personal horizon and is also another building block for later professional success. In many internationally operating companies, experience abroad is expected through internships or studies. It is important to take care of the application at an early stage.

There are various opportunities and subsidies to go abroad:

• Erasmus funding for studying abroad within Europe - there are partnerships between the University of Bayreuth and other universities
• Worldwide partnerships
• Programs and scholarships, e.g. by the DAAD
• Foreign bafög - Higher subsidy rates for training abroad also support students who do not receive support in Germany because of the level of their parents' income.
• Applying as a "free mover" at any university worldwide

More detailed information can be found on the website of the International Office of the University of Bayreuth.

The main components are the cover letter, the CV and the relevant certificates and certificates. Since the application documents convey the first impression that the company gets of you, a high degree of care is essential here.

The cover letter - see also sub-section cover letter - is intended to demonstrate your motivation and qualifications and thus make them interesting for the employer. The following points must be observed:

• Inform yourself about the corporate culture of the employer (industrial groups prefer a different writing style than e.g. Start-ups)
• Write clearly and concisely - usually one page is absolutely sufficient
• Try to address the right contact person
• Write your cover letter individually tailored to the employer, but also to the respective position
• Observe the formalities (address line, subject, greeting, signature)

The CV - see also sub-item CV - is the first snapshot of the potential employer of your person. This first impression counts. The following points must be observed:

• Ensure consistent formatting
• Follow a clear structure
• Bundle information through nounization and highlight important points
• Limit yourself to the relevant stages of your life (length usually 1 - 2 pages)
• Don't forget to add the scanned signature and date at the end

Certificates and certificates serve as proof of your qualifications and knowledge. As a rule, the application documents of students and graduates contain the following certificates:

• Master's and/or bachelor's certificate - if a certificate of current studies is not yet available, a current transcript should be enclosed
• High school diploma
• Internship or employment references, if available
• Certificate of completed training, if available
• additional certificates only if they are relevant to the position

Please attach only good quality copies to your folder - the originals will always remain with you.

The design of a cover page is optional for an application.

If you need help with the preparation of your documents or have questions about the general application process, then arrange a personal appointment with us or come to the application check in our open consultation hours.

In the summer semester, our students have the opportunity to work together with employers from a wide variety of industries on exciting practical questions. In workshops and case studies, students and company representatives get to know each other intensively and not infrequently this participation is the springboard for our students to the internship or first permanent position in the desired company. Detailed information about the CareerDays can be found Here.

Since 2011, the German state, together with companies, foundations and private individuals, has been supporting particularly high-performing students. The students initially receive income-independent funding of 300 euros per month for a limited period of two semesters.

The prerequisite for obtaining a Deutschlandstipendium is primarily an excellent academic performance. Specifically, this means an average of 2.0 or better for a direct application after school an Abitur of 1.5 or better and for the application during studies an average of 2.0 or better after the first two semesters. In addition, stays abroad, volunteering and special personal circumstances also play a role in the selection.

Further information on funding, application and the guidelines can be found Here.

A direct entry into a company after completing your studies is the most common career entry for academics. You usually get your own projects and responsibility after a short training phase. In usually, direct entry is better paid than a trainee position, but you may commit to a specialist department at an early stage. Interesting direct entry positions can be found on our JobPortal.

A dual degree program means that you combine in-depth practical experience with an academic degree. There are different versions:

Studies with in-depth practice
The study with in-depth practice lasts 3.5 years and includes a practice of 16 months. The practical part is mainly completed during the semester break. In order to start a course of study with in-depth practice, you must first apply to the company and, if successful, conclude an education contract. The application is then made to the university.

Combined studies
The joint study program offers the opportunity to receive a fully recognized education in addition to the academic degree. It lasts 4.5 years and includes 27.5 months of practical experience. After the successful application to the company and the university (analogous to the study with in-depth practice), a 14-month vocational training in the company takes place. After that, university and practical semesters alternate. The IHK / HWK exam is usually completed in the third practical semester.

In addition to the pre-organized opportunities, Bayreuth University also offers the possibility to complete any course of study part-time. This allows professional flexibility. An overview of part-time studies at the University of Bayreuth can be found Here.

Good grades and practical experience are a kind of minimum requirement for employers. In addition, the applicant should have character. But how do you show character in an application?

A guideline for recruiters is the section "volunteering". Through its individuality, social commitment sharpens the applicant profile and thus helps to stand out from the crowd. In addition, it is a unique experience to get involved socially and to "tackle" yourself. This not only broadens your personal horizon, but you also learn to take responsibility. Opportunities to get involved at the University of Bayreuth can be found Here.

In general, the gap year is the period between two stages of life. For example, between Abitur and studies or between Bachelor and Master. During the gap year, experience should be gained and looked outside the box. While after school au pairs, foreign or language trips are the focus, the Bachelor Master system is designed so that you should use the year after the Bachelor to "try out" work. The practical experience should then help you decide on the right specialization or the right master's degree. Especially high-performing students have the option of an organized gap year. You will rotate between four international companies within one year. Further information can be found Here.

In Germany alone, there are almost 7700 different master's degree programs. About 90% of the master's degree programs are consecutive. This means that there is a professional relationship between the bachelor's and the master's degree. The Bachelor's degree is deepened in the subject of the Master's degree and a focus is placed. There is no technical connection for non-consecutive master's degree programs. A classic example of this is the MBA (Master of Business Administration) for natural scientists. The master's programs that you can study at the University of Bayreuth can be foundHere.

Depending on the type of internship, it offers a wide range of opportunities.

The orientation internship, which is usually completed before starting a degree program or during the first four semesters, helps students choose a career and degree program.

In addition, it is advisable to complete another, longer internship lasting 3 to 6 months. This serves to gain a deeper insight into a profession in order to prepare for starting a career. Often, this is where you make important professional contacts, improve your chances on the job market, and develop personally.

Since 2015, the minimum wage pursuant to §22 MiLoG has also applied to some internships, namely if you are considered an employee pursuant to §26 of the Berufsbildungsgesetz. This means that compulsory internships, orientation internships, or work-study internships lasting up to three months, as well as entry-level qualifications, are excluded from the minimum wage. You can find interesting internships on our StellenPortal.

At the University of Bayreuth, there is a free consultation by the TK Techniker Krankenkasse for questions about insurance.

Service hours at the university:
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Studentenwerk SWO Room 1.62

TK office
Kerstin Ritter – Student Advisor
Spinnereistr. 5a
95445 Bayreuth

Phone: +49 40 / 46 06 51 04-425
Mobile: 01 51 / 51 08 31 31
Email: Kerstin.ritter@tk.de

If your documents have convinced the employer, you have cleared the first hurdle. Now it's time for the personal interview. Be punctual (allow for buffer times), adapt your dress code to the company (see dress code), make sure you have a firm handshake, and listen actively to your interviewer. To help you prepare actively, we offer simulated interviews, known as “mock interviews.” You can find more detailed information under the heading Consulting Services.