Job application as a temporary worker: modern tips

Placing shelves, selling, collecting, serving, cleaning - these are typically temporary jobs. Be it during the holidays (schoolchildren), semester break (students), or to earn some extra money and to supplement the household budget: As a rule, you can still apply to work as a temporary worker. Here we will show you how you can write the perfect application for a quick job and perhaps find a way into your professional life or gain your first professional experience.

What does a temporary worker do?

Temporary workers do simple tasks that do not require any particular prior experience, knowledge, or qualifications. There is also no need for a more extended familiarization period. After a short briefing, temporary workers can start work immediately.

Sure, when you apply to work as a temporary worker, it's not about a steep career but simply about the money. However, they are usually only remunerated with the minimum wage.

Simple temporary workers are often only employed temporarily. Until the task is done. In the retail trade, in supermarkets, in the catering trade, or the hotel industry, temporary jobs are regularly required so that temporary workers are constantly sought, who seldom remain permanent.

As a rule, there are no prerequisites for a job as a temporary worker. For some jobs (e.g., when coming into contact with food), a health certificate is expected. Sometimes also a police clearance certificate or a valid driver's license.

What do I have to consider when applying as a temporary worker?

Since you do not need any special qualifications for a quick job, you score in the application above all with high motivation, physical resilience, punctuality, hard work, and friendliness.

The application itself is also subject to less strict rules and formalities. Nevertheless, there are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind:

• The text in the cover letter can be fresher and more relaxed. Spelling or grammatical errors are not welcome here either (but more of them are tolerated).
• If you have no previous knowledge or experience, you should compensate for this with the will to learn and perform. The attitude should be: "I'm not too good for anything."
• Because a temporary job is often about physical work and service jobs, you should shine in the application with practical and social skills - resilience, reliability, friendliness, flexibility.

If a suitable position is then available, there is hardly anything in the part-time job.

Help wanted: templates and sample letters for the application

For the application documents for an application as a temporary worker, similar rules apply to the so-called short application. So you are not sending a "complete" application folder but a significantly reduced version.

This is made up according to the following pattern:

• Cover letter (maximum 1 page)
• resume (ideal: only 1 page)
• Application photo (optional)
• NO credentials
• NO qualifications, certificates

You can either staple everything together in a folder or put it in a transparent sleeve. That's enough. After all, it's about a temporary job and not about applying as a specialist or manager.

Edit templates online in the browser

You can edit, rewrite and then copy or print out the following templates and sample texts online in your browser. To do this, click anywhere in the box. Then the text can be overwritten individually and personally.

Template: Letter of application temporary help without experience

A lack of work experience is a problem with many traditional applications. Not with temporary jobs. When applying for a job as a temporary worker, you must convince with your motivation and score with a few soft skills.

Tips for the resume

The resume for a temporary job isn't that different from any other resume, either. It should be clear, meaningful, complete, and accurate.

This means: Except for your previous career and training, you can shorten and choose. Only what is essential and relevant to the advertised position is included. Everything else is unnecessary reading ballast. And no HR manager likes that.

The standard today is a tabular resume. Means: In the left column are the times (format: MM / YYYY - MM / YYYY). On the right, pure facts: jobs, knowledge, experience, interests.

The resume is then broken down into sections. This creates a clear content structure in which the reader can find his way around and grasp the essential information at a glance.

The following structure is standard:

The professional structure of a resume

• The title ("resume" or the form "resume Max Mustermann" is sufficient.)
• Personal details (first name, surname, birthday and place of birth, complete address, telephone number, email address, (application photo))
• Professional career (Profession, jobs, experience, positions)
• Education (School, apprenticeship, degree, highest degree, grade, semester abroad, internship)
• Special knowledge (Advanced training, certificates, foreign languages, IT skills, driver's license, awards, etc.)
• Interests and hobbies (Private engagement, honorary positions, own projects, relevant hobbies)
• Place, date, signature (Always the current date, handwritten with a pen)

TIP: Please never make the mistake of using the same resume for all applications. Experienced personnel will notice this immediately. Consequence: bulk goods - rejection!

You should continually adapt your application documents individually for each application. Although this takes more effort, it is often rewarded with more invitations to an interview.

Continuing the discussion about the perfect resume that meets all selection criteria and quality, as well as ATS-friendly resume. Last week, a friend of mine asked me to find a resume template that was modern and appropriate for his profession. Imagine my surprise when I found this acting resume template. I've seen a lot of different templates. This template is not only beautiful, but it also has a well-thought-out structure. Overall a fantastic product. Recommend for everybody.

HR professionals like it when the application looks like you "only" want to work for this company. The more you adapt the layout and design of the cover letter and resume to the future employer, the more likely the employer will perceive it as a compliment and appreciate the effort.

Attachments to the CV

Prove your qualifications with references, certificates, or work samples. Limit yourself to the evidence required for the job.

• School reports: Enclose your last report card or your final report. With many years of professional experience, you can - depending on your profession - do without it.
• Certificates of the apprenticeship or degree: Please enclose the degree certificate. If you graduated a long time ago, the certificate could be omitted.
• Employment references: If possible, you should submit these from every former employer. Internship certificates are only helpful for young professionals.
• Further education certificates/seminar certificates: Name relevant further education and training.

Scan references and certificates. When applying by post, do not send originals but copies.

In some cases, employers require additional attachments to the CV, such as a letter of motivation. Make it clear what you are particularly interested in about the position and the company. In contrast to the cover letter, where you emphasize your professional aptitude, you mainly state your reasons in the letter of motivation.

Complete application documents - that's what we mean.

If an employer would like complete application documents, please send:

• Write to,
• Cover sheet (optional; if you use it: with photo),
• CV (if you do not use a cover sheet: with a photo),
• Certificates and any other attachments.

Employers pay attention to this

 The first impression that your documents make determines whether you will reach the following selection rounds.

Focus on what is essential for each job posting. Convincingly explain why you are suitable for the advertised position.

The job advertisement tells you how to apply. This is possible, for example, by e-mail, post, or on a company's application portal. When choosing the application path, keep to the wishes of the employer.

Your application must also be structured and must not contain any spelling mistakes or formal defects.

Convince yourself with a personal cover letter

Arouse the interest of potential employers with personal information. Templates are a great source of inspiration but should never be copied. Pay attention to your formulations and thereby set yourself apart from the competition.

Tips for a cover letter:

• If possible, it should not be more than one A4 page.
• Make sure that the address and contact person are correct.
• Write how you became aware of the job offer: refer to the job advertisement, the interview at a job fair, or a personal recommendation.
• Avoid subjunctive forms such as "would" and "could." Use active language with short and accurate sentences.
• Make it clear why you are the right person for the position. State your professional and personal qualifications.
• State a possible starting date if this is desired.
• Look for a friendly final wording asking you to be invited to an interview.

Only respond to salary requests when required. If not, clarify this in the interview.

When applying online, add your scanned signature to the document. For the letter application, you sign with your full first and last name.

Write a resume - that's how it works.

Build up your resume templates for Google Docs in a table. It should not exceed 2 A4 pages. Limit yourself to the essentials about the desired position. The order of the stations mentioned is usually descending in time.

This information should be included in the resume:

• personal details with photo
• Education
• if available: voluntary and military service
• Vocational training, studies
• professional career including internships
• Advanced and advanced training
• exceptional knowledge and skills such as IT knowledge, foreign languages, soft skills

When applying by e-mail or online, add your scanned signature to the document.

Apply by letter, sign the resume with your full first and last name.

Some employers expect anonymous resumes. The photo and any information that would allow conclusions to be drawn about your gender or your origin are omitted in these.

Tips for your perfect resume

As I said, there are no fixed rules but rather guidelines for resumes. Of course, all resumes can be designed in Word. However, since the small things are often necessary, a high-resolution image (CMYK format for printing) or a good PDF, for example, is an opportunity if the application is printed out. So every little detail can make a difference. The more positive the visual and content structure of the actor resume template, the higher the chance of reaching the next step - to be shortlisted. Of course, you should orientate yourself towards the potential employer:

• What are the mechanisms and expectations in the industry?
• Which target groups are served?
• What kind of guys do I work with (internal/external)?
• What is the age structure like in such companies (supervisors, colleagues, customers)
• How does the company describe itself (e.g., rather conservative or open)?

So it often applies: An adapted (newly coordinated) application usually fits every company, industry, or HR manager. So the resume can vary from classic to creative, or the color design can be different. Such an approach can be derived by checking the potential employer (website, reviews, HR, social media, etc.). Of course, you shouldn't interpret too much, but there is usually a little more psychological influence involved. Examples can be:

• Using identical company colors can have a positive effect (subconscious sympathy)
• Take up the requested points of the position in the letter & resume
• Only use a professional applicant picture - depending on the branch of casual - (correctly) serious
• The PNG format is suitable as a digital signature so that the signature looks real
• The order (cover sheet), cover letter, resume, attachments
• -> replace the resume in the second position (after the cover sheet), as it is usually read first
• Never exceed two pages of your resume - (better mirror content)!
• -> Nobody is so important that they can write 3-5 pages about themselves

Conclusion:

Writing the perfect resume - the opinions of the "experts" usually differ. There is no precise checklist or guide. Essentially, it depends on work experience, knowledge, or skills and how you sell them. No spelling mistakes and a highly professional applicant picture must be the standard. What is now considered to be a good structure or attractive design is also a matter of taste. For example, suppose you want to keep your functional resume templates very simple because someone from the old school is on the other side. In that case, you have to think carefully about whether good cooperation is possible in the future. How often does it fail because of the implementation of new & modern things rejected by the "old" staff?

In the end, it also counts to separate the important from the unimportant. Therefore the essential tip is:

Just make an effort.

• Find out about the company / HR.
• Believe in your strengths and abilities.

A lot also depends on the attitude and motivation in how you approach something. And never forget: Other people only cook with water!

Tips for the handwritten resume

You can find the best tips for a handwritten resume here. They will help you write this seldom requested type of resume correctly. An employer's request for a handwritten resume in an application is often combined with the requirement to write a detailed resume. The following tips for the handwritten resume apply to both the tabular and the complex form.

How do you write a handwritten resume?

The burning question "How do you write a handwritten resume? "We are now cooling off - here, and you will get your answers. Like the electronic resume, the handwritten resume must make an excellent first impression. That means no spelling mistakes, straight lines, no splashes of color, and legible writing. But what is done on the computer with a few clicks of the mouse challenges the applicant with a handwritten resume.

Here are the crucial tips:

• Write with a fountain pen and blue ink! That gives a more excellent picture and leaves a better impression.
• Use high-quality paper! Copy paper is a no-go as the ink would run apart. Use white paper with no lines that weigh at least 100 grams.
• Put a lined paper underneath! So you can write straight without lines.
• Use blotting paper when writing! This will prevent stains or your hand from blurring what has already been written.
• Write yourself a template! Pay attention to wording, spelling, and grammatical errors.
• Start over if you make a mistake! Inkkiller and Tipp-Ex won't help you any further. If you make a mistake, then start again; everything else later appears unprofessional.
• Make sure to read proof! The best thing to do is to ask a friend if he can troubleshoot. Don't be sure that you've copied everything correctly from the template.
• Write slowly and evenly - your calligraphy is in demand! Take your time and stay calm; you don't have to tense up or adjust your writing. Your handwritten resume template in Word should not look like the notes from a presentation.
• Write the resume yourself! Even if you think your writing is the most illegible in the world, don't ask anyone else to do it. Dizziness can quickly backfire.
• Stick to the layout! Leave at least enough space to the left that the sheet could still be punched without the holes being in your text. At night on the right, it should be at least 2 cm. When it comes to line spacing, you can use the lined sheet of paper that you have placed underneath.

Handwritten resume samples can also provide you with further help.

Writing a resume

The resume is often the first document in an application that is read! Therefore it has to be convincing and memorable. Skills, experiences, and competencies must consequently be well presented. Since there are no long text passages here, you have to be creative, structured, and concise. Various opinions on the structure, length, or application photo and signature are circulating on the Internet. First, you have to understand that there are no hard and fast rules! Here, too, there are tips based on empirical values, theoretical specifications, and psychological patterns. But there is an unwritten rule that applies to all applicants: every application requires a cover sheet!

Resume - classic mistakes in the application

• List of extra points in the resume template that have nothing to do with the advertised position
• There is a lack of structure, or the design is not well ordered (classic: the chronological structure of occupation and training)
• Time gaps - here, it is essential to be creative and use advanced training.
• Increasing competencies are not clearly shown but rather carelessly documented.
• The length of the resume exceeds three pages - ideally 1-2 (depending on age or skills)
• Hobbies, interests, or jobs of the parents (except trainees) should not be listed -> Alternatively, in skills and competencies, if they suit the job. 
• Areas of activity are decorated with too many points (task fields). The design does not fit the company or the HR manager -> You don't always need a creative (own) layout, but a serious and well-structured one. 
• The resume can be found 1 to 1 on the Internet as a (free) template 
• Spelling mistakes shouldn't occur with so little text Date & signature are missing or incorrect

Forms and structure of the resume There are many forms and ways to build your resume. Here we focus on three forms of how to make this. And in classic, modern and creative (self-designed layout).

Classic resume

Classic resumes have the advantage that they are easy to create (Word, Publisher, Office Libre, ...) and do not require a lot of IT knowledge. They are usually in font size 10-11 Arial and black and white. The HR manager does not run the risk of being distracted. So you are focused on the essentials - the applicant's skills and practical experience. Here it is essential to write down your data neatly in tabular form - usually in two columns. The downside: You often do not stand out (qualitatively) from other applicants and appear "ordinary." Therefore, classic resumes are usually expected from students who apply as trainees or older people who are not internet natives. In general, however, the latter group should move on to the level of the modern resume.

Modern resume

The modern resume templates "only" need advanced knowledge or a few euros. You can get resume templates on the Internet and tinker with standard MS Office programs. The advantage is that the HR manager is (subconsciously) influenced more positively and perceives everything as more pleasant to read. You are more likely to stand out optically. There are hardly any disadvantages except that you should be creative. This applies to the structure and the choice of colors, but this applies to the entire layout of the application. Furthermore, it would be best if you were a little familiar with image programs to insert icons or PNGs, for example. -> Alternatively, the list of templates in Word is helpful (but please at least change the colors or the structure)

Creative resume

The creative resume has the advantage that you can stand out from other applicants. Jobs in online marketing, design, advertising, or events are ideal for such resumes. Everything that needs creativity. But also for "ordinary" job offers, it can be helpful if you stand out from modern or classic outlines. A great design is not everything because it is always your vita with all your skills and competencies that count. The disadvantage is that this type is very time-consuming and can also cost something (e.g., Adobe programs). The chances are the best for the first impression, but the danger of getting lost in many "gimmicks" and losing sight of the essentials is very significant. You have to be experienced and experienced, especially when deciding which design, content, or structure fits which industry and HR.