Before you start writing your application

• a good understanding of the job for which you are applying
• obtained a copy of the job's duty statement and selection criteria

• Get as much information you can get about the company
• Have all of the information you are going to need ready (on a fact sheet or master application), including dates of each employment, name, address, and phone number of each company and names of each supervisor. If possible, take an application away from the place of business. Make copies of it to practice on. Then fill out the original and return it to the business. Always ask before doing this, since some businesses will not accept an application that has been removed from the building.
• Follow directions completely. If you don’t understand a questions ask for help.
• Answer every question fully. Give as complete a description of your previous jobs and education as possible in the space provided. The employer may see an application that lacks some information as someone who only does his or her work halfway.
• Do not leave any blank spaces. If an answer is "none", write that. If a question does not apply to you, write &qot;N/A" (or "not applicable"). If you prefer not to answer a question, write, "will discuss".
• Use black ink or type it, unless instructed to do otherwise.
• Avoid abbreviations completely if possible or use only acceptable ones such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., Jr., etc. Be sure to write out addresses with Road, Street, Avenue, etc.
• Apply for a particular job or occupation, never say you will do anything, and relate information to qualifications of the position. Prioritize duties that relate to present goal.
• Print answers and make sure they are legible.
• Write "open" or "negotiable" for salary unless you already know the salary range. Avoid asking for a specific salary. If you ask for too much, you might lose a good job. If you ask for too little, you might get it.
• Use action verbs to describe duties. Keep verb tense consistent (present "-ing" or past "-ed").
• Refrain from negatives as reasons for leaving a job, put your best foot forward, but be honest.
• If there is a space for comments or additional information, use it! It will help to sell yourself, personality traits, hobbies, etc.
• If the application asks for your signature (most do), sign your name, as you would endorse a check. Do not print it.
• Have your references ready. You may need to list up to 5 references, people who can vouch for your character, and their address and phone numbers. Usually these must be persons other than your family or former employers. Get references from authotities. Important: Get permission before giving someone’s name as a reference.
• If possible, list two telephone numbers where you can be reached. If you give a friend’s, relative’, or neighbor’s phone number, make sure everyone in that household knows about it and agrees to take messages for you. Then check with them at least once per day.
• Check the application for mistakes or - better - have someone else check it before you submit it. If you did it, you should be able to spell it.
• Have a good attitude, smile, and use good manners. :-)

Your application should consist of...

• Job Application Cover Sheet - which should be placed at the front of your application. Any covering letters etc should be placed after this
• Attach a personal resume (no more than 3 pages) detailing your educational qualifications and employment history. Include dates of employment, capacity in which you were employed, name of employer(s) and a brief outline of the main duties undertaken.
• Attach a brief outline with comments for each selection criteria explaining how your skills, experience, abilities and achievements meet the standard/level of performance required. If you do not address the selection criteria, the Selection Advisory Committee may not consider you for interview.
• Include copies of relevant qualifications (ie trade qualifications, licences etc.) if applicable.

Your CV and covering letter

Interviews

Job Offer

General information concerning applications

http://www.careers-gateway.co.uk/
This site deals mainly with the following topics:
Career links, job seeking, action planning, application forms, self-assessment, how to reply to job adverts, letters of application, finding vacancies, CVs, interviews.

http://www.wissen-unserer-zeit.de/index.shtml
This site offers useful links for applicants, including aptitude tests.

http://www.dv-job.de
Information about analysis of location factor, checklist qualification, right use of job offers, written application, online-application, tips for job interviews and assessment centres and work contracts.

http://www.das-geheimwissen-der-personalberater.de/
On this site you can not only get to know the pros and cons of online-applications, but also applications in general, CVs etc. Special feature is the "Lexiothek", which answers all questions concerning application.

http://focus.de/D/DB/DBV/DBV22/DBV22A/dbv22a.htm
Well-structured homepage which gives a good overview of how to create formally correct application documents.

http://www.jova-nova.com/auswahl/inhalt.htm
Besides general topics this site also deals with problem solving. There is the opportunity to fill in an online application form or simulate a job interview and your mistakes will be commented and corrected.

http://www.jobware.de
The special feature here is the opportunity to pass an English test in several fields (new economy, job interview in English, sales and marketing etc.)
Gives hints for a wide range of applicants' questions. Also, job offers for foreign countries can be found.

http://www.it-arbeitsmarkt.de/die_unterlagen.phtml
Tips concerning application, CV and documents with examples especially for the IT-sector, including experts' opinions.

http://www.jungekarriere.com/
Here you can get all the information you need to create your perfect application letter, documents and CV. You can also learn form other peoples' experiences by reading reports of work placements.

http://www.c-cn.de/
Campus Career Network gives tips for applications and is especially created for young people. You can also make use of the work placement offers if you are enrolled.

http://www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca/
The University of Waterloo, Canada, offers a special Career Service which provides a 6 step Career Development e-Manual.

http://www.quintcareers.com
Several tips concerning Career Resources Toolkit, career, college and job-relates articles, career-related tutorials, tests and quizzes for job-seekers and career assessment tools.

http://www.bpi.fr/11/ecran18.html
This French homepage offers a lot of links which are useful for creating a letter of application and CV in French.

http://www.bewerbungen.de
Information from the "Akademischer Dienst Berlin", including hints and advice concerning CV, application, assessment centres, certificates and job interviews.

http://www.stellenangebote-jobs.de/buecher/karriere.htm
This site offers a lot of literature concerning several application topics like assessment centres, applications on the internet, women and application, application for a job abroad …
In co-operation with amazon.de

http://www.job-consult.com/stellenmarkt.asp?ziel=16
Well structured information about resumes and interviews.

http://www.jobs.de/index.phtml?state=19
Resume topics in alphabetical order, very comprehensive.

http://www.jobrobot.de/content_0500_bewerbungstips.htm
Comprehensive information about many aspects of resumes.

http://www.stepstone.de/tips/content/stepstone/bewerbung/start_seite.html
Extensive information about resumes in Europe. Subcategories are poorly structured.

http://www.careermoves.de/bewerbung
General information about content, style and formalities.

http://www.aicron.com/resumetips.htm
Short poorly structured overview of resumes.

http://ww.resumeservice.net/tips.cfm
Eight tips on writing resumes .

http://www.alec.co.uk/cvtips/
Structured CV and resume tips.

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/Coop/interview/resume.html
Poorly structured essay on resumes with some examples.

http://www.eresumewriting.com/darbinis3.html
Short, structured information on resumes straight to the point.

http://www.damngood.com/yana/map.html
Many aspects of resumes with FAQ and examples. Structured if a bit confusing.

http://www.floridaemeraldcoast.com/employment/Cindex2.htm
Essential tips for electronic resumes.

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/carct/resume.html
Information on resumes structured in 5 steps with many examples from various branches.

http://www.accent-resume-writing.com/tips/
General advice on writing resumes.

http://www.theitjobboard.com/Career_Centre/CV_and_Interview_Advice/
Information on CV and interviews.

http://www.resumeedge.com/
Commercial resume service with more then 100 sample resumes from various branches