We spoke to 22-year-old Dresden student Vincent, who we have been following since 2018, about the application process. He is studying mechatronics and told us what is important to him and his fellow students when looking for a job.
A varied and exciting range of tasks and a collegial environment. Opportunities to work from home, a pleasant working environment and good pay are also plus points. For me, the response to an application is extremely important and perhaps sometimes underestimated. Do I get a confirmation of receipt? Will I be informed when I can expect a response? Or am I left in the dark for weeks or even months? In general, the quicker the better. Ideally, I won’t have any time at all to apply for another position.
What question do you think is better not to ask in a job interview?
I like it when you don’t just ask the standard questions (“three strengths and weaknesses” etc.). Brainteasers, for example, are also refreshing from an applicant’s perspective and allow you to “watch the candidate’s thought process”.
Stay in Dresden or move somewhere else – what will be your decision in this regard?
The employer and the associated prospects definitely play a decisive role for me. Generally speaking, employers in the vicinity have a “home advantage” if you already have family and friends in the region.
For me, the rest of the answer coincides with question 1. If another employer is better in all aspects from question 1 than companies in the region, I would probably move somewhere else. However, for me it is by no means just a question of pay
What do you find most difficult in the application process?
The letter of motivation. Of course, from an employer’s point of view, it is interesting to hear a good story about why the applicant wants to work for your company. However, you have to ask yourself whether this is not mainly used to select candidates who are particularly good at writing motivation letters and not applicants who will later perform the tasks in their field of activity particularly well. The intrinsic motivation of the applicant can also be authentically determined in a job interview.
An addition at this point that may be of interest: Even after long application phases, the existing uncertainty on both sides is great. Whether the company is satisfied with my work or whether I get on well with the company and the work will only be answered realistically after a few months. Therefore, a probationary period or a temporary position at the beginning would not deter me if it becomes credible that this is not a permanent condition if the work is good.
How do you research potential employers?
When I’m actively looking for a job or internship, job boards like LinkedIn are my first port of call. Of course, I first consider whether I have ever come into contact with a company that might be suitable. Contact at job fairs, university events or excursions plays an important role here. In concrete communication, “we would like you to work for us” sounds much more attractive than “if you want, you are welcome to consider applying to us”. In general, my feeling is that proactively approaching students pays off.
