Making Contact and Applying

2025-07-08

Your research will help you identify suitable opportunities. If everything is clear, go ahead and apply directly. If you have questions about the job requirements, call them. If you’re considering a unsolicited application because no postings are currently available, definitely call!

You can rehearse a 'mock call' with a friend if you're unsure. If you want to visit a company in person—especially a smaller one—to introduce yourself, go ahead. You might even land an interview on the spot or at least leave a personal impression when submitting your documents.

Remember that your success in a face-to-face meeting also depends on how confident you feel. A phone call might be the easier first step. It also offers a chance to make a positive impression. That said a verbal conversation rarely leads directly to an internship offer. A written application is usually still required.

You may also choose to make initial contact by email. This is advisable only if:

No one can be reached by phone despite multiple attempts.
The company's website lists a dedicated contact person and email for internship inquiries. Otherwise, your message may never be forwarded appropriately.

Other ways to initiate contact include approaching the company at a fair, at a networking event, or via social media platforms like LinkedIn.

In all cases aim to build contact politely, professionally, and respectfully (incl. with regards to the other person`s time). Use the opportunity to position yourself as a relevant candidate.

Checklist: Telephone Contact

What is the goal of the phone call?

Find the right contacts for internships or HR processes.
Clarify details about the available position.
Is an internship in the desired field possible?
What conditions need to be met (on both sides)? (e.g., clarify requirements for recognition as a mandatory internship)
What application format is preferred?
What time frame is desired or possible for both parties?
Is the job posting also applicable to voluntary internships?

Please ensure that you only ask questions that are not already clearly answered in the job advertisement.

Prepare for the phone call:

Research information about the employer online.
Have your resume ready in keyword format.
Be able to state and describe your expectations regarding the content and tasks of the internship.
Prepare questions, e.g. about the company's areas of activity (Important: check the website in advance!)
Take notes during the phone call.
For calls before application: Have your application documents prepared so that you can send them shortly after the phone call.

Every application is a form of self-marketing. The same standards apply for internship applications as for graduate jobs. Your application should include the following:

Cover letter
Curriculum vitae (CV) – photo optional
Certificat

a) Cover Letter
If you're applying for an advertised position, tailor your cover letter to the requirements and explain why you're a relevant candidate. Recruiters want to see what motivates you to apply to this company and for this role specifically.

Use the letter to present aspects of your profile that are not fully reflected in the CV — such as soft skills. Keep in mind that HR staff usually review your documents first, before forwarding them to the hiring manager. As HR employees are no experts in your working field make it easy for them to recognize you as a relevant candidate. Use similar language to the job advertisement and clearly explain how your existing skills and knowledge are relevant if it cannot be assumed to be common knowledge and easy to identify without such (e.g. transferability of similar skills - but not the same as requested in the advertisement).

Provide specific examples from your experience to give context to your key statements — but avoid repeating your CV. If you've had a phone call or personal conversation already, mention it. Also include your availability and the desired internship duration if there is no separate section for this in the application form.

For unsolicited applications, focus on the tasks you are seeking. Highlight academic and other skills that make you particularly suitable for the company or institution. Include your motivation and your goals for the internship.

The Career Center offers personal support and workshops for creating application documents tailored to German and international job markets: www.uni-bremen.de/en/career-center/teams

b) Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your CV should be in tabular form. Usually, the most relevant sections come first, and the entries within each section are listed in reverse chronological order. You may choose a classic single-column or a modern two-column layout (best for one-page CVs). A photo is optional and may be placed in the top-right corner or on a separate cover sheet.

Your CV should include:

Personal information:
- Full name, address, phone number, email
- Optional: Place/date of birth, nationality, photo
Optional: short 'About me' section (2–3 lines; recommended if, according to the job posting, only the CV is required); Adopt a perspective that highlights the added value for the company. Focus on aspects that are not typically included in the CV (e.g. soft skills, motivation)
Education:
- Degree(s), university name, location (including country if abroad), specialization, projects if relevant
- Skilled worker training
- Optional: final grade (only if very good across all degrees); foreign degrees should include German equivalents information
Professional experience: internships, part-time jobs (role, employer, location)
Additional qualifications and training
Skills: languages (with level per CEFR), IT skills, other relevant competencies
Optional: volunteer experience, hobbies/interests
Optional: place/date and signature

Larger companies or those receiving many applications often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before a human sees your documents. To optimize your CV for ATS:

Avoid graphic elements like skill bars for key skills
Use a clean tabular format
Use keywords from the job advertisement
Test readability by ATS (are all information taken into consideration and are the informations connected correctly?)

Checklist: Application documents

Complete documents: one-page cover letter, CV (Curriculum Vitae) max. 2 pages, certificates
Focus on relevancy and clarity. More is not better. Your goal should be a clear, focused and relevant self-presentation for the desired position. Tailoring to the specific job may be necessary.
Describe in your cover letter how you meet the desired requirements and beyond that why you are a relevant candidate. Do not simply repeat your CV, but use the cover letter to present your motivation and goals as well as relevant aspects that go beyond the CV. Use concrete examples from your past to give your key statements context and emphasis.
Pay attention to ATS (Application Tracking System) optimization in your CV (especially relevant for applications to large companies)
Content of the CV: reverse chronological order per section, sections sorted by descending relevance
CV and cover letter should be signed
Certificates: combine them into one PDF, ensure good scan quality, and sort them following the same order as in the CV. If something is not mentioned in the CV, it shouldn't appear in the certificates either.
In an unsolicited application, highlight your skills and strengths relevant to the desired internship.
Form/layout/font: consistent, easy to read (minimum font size 11), distance to page`s edge large enough (nothing should be cut off when printed)
In all communications (including cover letters)
- Address the person directly: “Dear” followed by first and last name, without using Mr. or Ms. to account for gender diversity.
- Use formal language: 'Dear' form, ending with 'Best regards, [Your first and last name]'
For email applications: Attachments should be PDF, max. 4 MB

c) Certificates and Transcripts
Combine all certificates that support your CV into one PDF. This includes school and academic degrees, job and employer references / letter of recommendation, transcripts of grades (unfinished degrees), training certificates, language certificates, etc.

Arrange them in the same order as they appear in your CV. Don’t include documents where the linked information is not mentioned in the CV.

This serves to support and prove your statements. The Career Center offers extensive help with your application—first information is available at:

→ www.uni-bremen.de/en/career-center/counselling

→ www.uni-bremen.de/career-center/veranstaltungen oder www.uni-bremen.de/en/career-center/workshops

→ www.uni-bremen.de/career-center/beratung/ratgeber-berufsstart-karriere

→www.berufsstart.de/bewerbung

Application via email follows the same rules. Cover letter, CV, and certificates are combined into a single PDF with a small file size and attached to the email. A greatly shortened version of the cover letter can be included in the body of the email. Your motivation and goals can serve as a strong introduction here.

Checklist: Application Documents - Guide to Internships in Germany

Checklist: Telephone-Contact - Guide to Internships in Germany

Foreword

Do I have to do an internship?

Exploratory Internships
Professional Internships
Mandatory Internship
Voluntary Internship
Time Planning
Checklist for download

How do I plan an internship?

a) Profile Analysis
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
b) Time Management
c) Framework Conditions
Checklists for Download

How do I find a suitable internship?

University of Bremen
Other Job Advertisements
Company Databases on the Internet
Trade and Industry Fairs / Company Contact Fairs
Trade Journals, Magazines and Daily Newspapers
Manuals and Reference Books
Professional Associations and Networks
Specific tips for international students
Checklist for download

Making Contact and Applying

Should I just call employers?
Application
- a) Cover Letter
- b) Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- c) Certificates and Transcripts
Application by Email
Checklists for download

Quality Assurance Standards for Successful Internships