Short introduction of the advisor and the participants

Presentation of the Evangelisches Studierendenwerk Villigst

• One of 13 organisations for the promotion of gifted students with two application deadlines per year (1 September and 1 March for basic funding, 1 June and 1 December for doctoral funding)
  • Support for students, currently 1,500 scholarship holders and 300 doctoral candidates
• Ideal support: intensive counselling/support, support for stays abroad, career guidance, building a network, summer university, right to a say at all decision-making levels

Requirements for scholarship holders: Studying at universities of applied sciences and universities, social commitment, visions and ideas for the future, does not have to be Protestant, grades are not decisive, does not have to come from Germany, all subject areas possible

Group task on applications

Everyone stands in a line and sorts themselves according to the question 1. question: How many job interviews did you have?

• Discuss how the job interviews went
  • Job interviews are perceived as unpleasant

2nd question: Have you ever taken part in an assessment centre / had to complete tasks in the application?

• • None of the participants had any experience of this

3rd question: Did you feel well prepared?

• • You prepare yourself roughly, but many questions are answered rather spontaneously
    • Only rough information about the companies is researched

4. which semester are you in?

The application

Letter of motivation

• Template useful, but still write individually
  • Unsolicited application makes sense
• Always apply by email or application portal
  • Only a short, formal cover letter in the email
  • Attach a detailed cover letter as a PDF document with your CV, certificates, diplomas and references -> easier to read

The job interview

• generally in every application, but generalisation is not possible

Preparation

• Find out about the company/the person conducting the interview to show interest and appear prepared
  • Who is sitting opposite you and the history of the company
• Preparation for questions
  • Why do you want to work for the company
  • What could be questions about yourself (CV, cover letter)
    • Prepare for critical questions if there are gaps in your CV
  • Recommendation not to memorise answers completely
    • Speak your answers out loud or ask a friend to interview you
• Prepare your own questions and requirements (e.g. salary)
  • Are benefits, such as gym membership or home office, asked

Appearance / external impact

• Natural eye contact and good posture - calm and confident demeanour, avoid nervous tics
• Clothing: well-groomed appearance and rather serious clothing (blouse, shirt), but not completely disguised, often also depending on the employer

Procedure

• First self-introduction and then motivation and personal goals in the company
  • Be yourself
• How would you like to contribute to the company?

The application process

Example from the Protestant Student Services Organisation

• Compile documents to be checked by the organisation
• Invitation to a pre-selection interview
  • If successful: Main selection
    • Group discussions, film analysis, problem-solving tasks, individual interview
• Application procedure from the application deadline on 1 September to the main selection in February

Group work on a job interview

The participants are divided into two groups and asked to think about four questions for an application for the position of "Full-time Marketing and Social Media Officer" One person from group A and one from group B sit together and simulate a job interview