How to create a compelling job application

Your application should look clear and structured. What counts is a clear presentation of the content:

1. Is it clear from your application why you are particularly suitable for the advertised position? The most convincing approach is to focus specifically on the requirements of the advertisement as well as the job description. Use language which establishes a similarity between yourself (i.e. your qualifications, experience and skills) and the application profile that we're looking for.

2. Your motivation for applying is also a very important point. It should be clear from your application that you're genuinely interested in the advertised post as well as in our company. Is your interest in our company and sector credible (or are you merely using empty phrases that could just as easily apply to other companies)?

3. Last but not least, we'd also like to be able to assess the person behind the application. Does your personality shine through through the application (or do you use standard phrases such as "team-spirited", "able to work under pressure" and "flexible" that have little significance without examples to back them up)?

These are questions we ask ourselves when assessing your cover letter. It will certainly help your application if you bear these questions in mind when you're writing it!

In my opinion structure is the second factor which differentiates a good application from a not so good one. If you want your application to be clear and transparent, put the documents together in a structured fashion, using the traditional cover letter, CV and attachments format, and ensure there are no gaps or errors before submitting it. You should think of your application as your business card: it gives a first impression of yourself and the way you work.

Many applicants ask themselves lots of questions when writing a cover letter. Basically, we're looking for three pieces of information in a cover letter: we want to know who you are, what you can do and why you're applying. A cover letter in which you merely change the address and subject line and send it off to other companies is no use to you or us. Instead, make your cover letter unique! Show us what your motivation is in wanting to work in our sector and applying to our company. As well as this, use your achievements, experiences and successes to make it clear why you are particularly suitable for a position at Boehringer Ingelheim. It is also very important to make your personality tangible through the application. Every cover letter needs a personal, individual touch that differentiates it from others. The best way to do this is to ask yourself what it is that sets you apart from other applicants, as this highlights your uniqueness and suitability.

This may sound trivial and obvious, but please also think about the form your cover letter takes! Stick to the usual formal requirements and structure your letter so that it's easy to read and fluent. We're far less interested in applications that are difficult to read due to a lack of structure. Use conventional fonts and font sizes, be concise, brief and relevant, and use whole sentences. If possible, your letter should be no longer than one page. And seriously: have someone proofread your entire application. Typos, spelling or grammar errors can make it look as if you haven't put much effort into your application and that your enthusiasm for this position isn't particularly high.

Your CV tells your life story. When writing it, ask yourself if you're telling your story in an exciting and consistent way. As with the cover letter, it is naturally of fundamental importance that the structure is clear. Important facts should be indicated clearly using keywords, so you need to ensure a logical construction of the individual sections. Individual stages should flow into each other without any time gaps. Make sure the information you provide is both complete and comprehensible. You can use bold to highlight certain words in order to attract our attention to them. We also recommend brief statements – for example concerning your areas of responsibility in your internships, for example – as well as short comments, using keywords, on your main fields of study, as this makes it easier for us to be able to better assess your suitability.

Another tip: adapt your CV to every new position you apply for (i.e. not just the cover letter, which is what most people do)! You can do this initially with regard to the keywords you list in each bullet point. If you're applying for a position that involves, for example, project management, use keywords to highlight all your experience, activities and qualifications that prove your suitability for the post. You can even adjust the bullet points themselves in your CV.

Let's suppose you're a newcomer applying for your first management position and are therefore unable to point to any "real" disciplinary management experience. You could then use a separate bullet point in your CV that lists all your experiences that prove your managerial skills (e.g. managing a volleyball team, class representative, first project management, etc.).

What we don’t expect in your CV, by the way, are details about your nationality, religion, marital status or a photo as we value social and specialist skills rather than outward appearances or personal details. For us, competence is also shown in the design of a CV, which should also be convincing. We prefer a tabular overview in US American style (i.e. the most recent information is listed first in each section).

The attachments round off your application. They provide "evidence" of your suitability and motivation and consist of all documents that qualify you for the job. University graduates should attach their university results, any relevant internship certificates and also include their high school diploma. And please leave out any documents that are not relevant to the position.

If you stick to these rules, you have a good chance of clearing the first hurdle on your way to your dream job and receiving a personal invitation to subsequent selection procedures.

In my next posts, I will be revealing how to get through the Assessment Center successfully as well as giving tips on how to be convincing in interviews, so stay tuned!