Letters of recommendation
Letters of recommendation are voluntary (unlike an official employment reference) and are usually provided by former supervisors or internship supervisors. Instead of a letter of reference, you can also include a person in your CV as a reference who can provide information about you if asked. In Germany, references are especially welcome for applications in research.
References answer questions like
- What qualification have you acquired in the company?
- What activities did you perform in the company?
- What successes have you achieved?
- What are your personal strengths?
- What social behavior have you shown?
An application should be accompanied by a maximum of 3 references. The reference is universal, i.e., it is not addressed to a specific person.
Work samples
Sometimes job advertisements request work samples from applicants. This is especially true in creative and social science occupations, such as communications professions. Work samples range from scientific articles to graphics, videos, or self-written texts (e.g. press releases). If work samples are specifically requested, you should include a maximum of three to four copies of recent work and select carefully, according to the job you are seeking. Meaningful work samples are, so to speak, your own references about your abilities and potential.
Tip: Collect your work products that you have created over time at internships, workshops, or part-time jobs.
