A few moons ago, we published tips on CV writing when you’re applying for management jobs in Germany. Today we have a follow-up on this series.
We share tips to optimize your job application. Quite clearly, the CV must be optimized according to the company or position you’re applying for, so generalizations seldom work. The headhunter or the executive recruiter clearly needs to understand why you are the right person applying to the position and more importantly how your technical and managerial skills fit the job description needs.
In this post we would like to highlight topics like language, salary discussions, career goals and your ‘management profile’ presentation that comes to the fore while ‘optimizing’ the application documents, most importantly your CV. These notes have been developed by talking into consideration what our headhunter partners have shared with us about what they look for in a CV. Read further to be inspired!
What is the one thing a headhunter looks for in the CV of a senior candidate?
Jorg Stegemann, Kennedy Executive: The presentation from a candidate shows how he/she is able to prioritize and clearly indicate the most important details. Therefore, a two pager is more than sufficient, and I’d even recommend not having any more than 5 bullet points for any work experience that is over 10 years old
Rebecca Schween, WorldKonnekt: The first thing we look at, as recruiters, is the stability of the CV.
Recruiters and hiring managers initially skim CVs for no more than 30 seconds, so the candidate has to make the right impression and ensure important information can be read easily. If there are any major gaps it is best to explain these upfront.
3 key tips to optimize your job application
Active Speech
A resume trying to impress a headhunter needs to have the energy. Use terminology that is emphasize management skills. Ensure the CV has terms like ‘lead’, ‘organized’, ‘planned’ tending to explain your previous leadership roles even on a quick glance. At the same time it is important to pay attention to aspects like: what fits the core criteria for the job and in addition is this your first contact with the headhunter?
In which case, it is important to ensure you present yourself as clearly as possible. It is also good to get advice from counselors or resume experts making it easier to know what the correct terminology or expected language is.
Clear, concise information about your management profile
Since the CVs usually receive only just a quick glance, it may be beneficial to start with a short descriptive passage about your core competencies developed and enhanced over a period of time. This could be an essence of your own expertise, and professional experiences summarized for the headhunter.
Your personal 30 second elevator pitch. Perhaps you write this towards the absolute end when you’ve finished writing the whole CV and in the end come up with an executive summary which is easy to read but powerful nonetheless.
No-Go: Salary Expectations
Contrary to the view of many job application guides, we believe that the salary topic needs to be shunned from your job application documents. It belongs exclusively in an interview, otherwise you will perhaps lose the chance of even getting to that stage.
Ideally your focus in your CV should be to present yourself as an ideal candidate for the job, and if the headhunter or executive recruiter response, only then should you lead into this conversation around salary. In fact a few headhunters felt that candidates taking about salary as the first thing also may tend to get rejected as they are perceived as people solely driven by salary expectations and not having the passion for the job profile.
We hope that this information can help you in applying in Germany, and getting your next management jobs. If you had a different experience to share, please feel free to write to us!
