Applying for jobs while unemployed.

Working on your application skills while you’re unemployed? Makes sense.

Applying for a job for the umpteenth time and getting a rejection can be demoralising. After so many rejections, feelings of self-doubt and mostly completely unfounded fears kick in. That’s why it’s good to be perfectly prepared for the application process. But this is precisely where more work is needed, according to the results of the latest study by IU International University of Applied Sciences.

The importance of job application training is widely acknowledged. Although the majority consider themselves to be well prepared for the application process, application training is considered important. Almost 63% are generally motivated to undertake such training. And that’s despite the fact that 83.4% indicate that their applications are already very carefully prepared. This shows that many jobseekers are willing to work on their skills and their application.

Almost all respondents who have already undertaken job application training stated that the first priority during training was rewriting their CV. However, when it comes to personal needs, targeted preparation for an interview is much more important for successful application training than rewriting your CV and cover letter. And preparation for salary negotiations is also desired more often than it is actually offered in job application training.

When it comes to the added value that job application training should offer, job seekers particularly want more assurance and self-confidence. Only then is the actual preparation for the interview and the prospect of a concrete position or job placement mentioned.

Many job application training courses are not tailored enough. Only one in ten respondents is very satisfied with the job application training they have completed. 46.6% are fairly or very dissatisfied. Almost half were not able to apply what they had learned. This is partly due to the discrepancies between the required course content and the content actually discussed during job application training.

Our conclusion: In order for job application training to be considered a success, it must first and foremost teach greater assurance and self-confidence and prepare participants for real-life job application situations. In a direct comparison, optimising applications is less important than strengthening soft skills. Application training should therefore focus on individual coaching rather than general training.

• Publication date: 21 December 2022

• 1,026 jobseekers surveyed in Germany

• Period of the survey 15 May 2022 – 30 May 2022

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