Cover sheet application – pro tips + pros & cons
Cover sheet application. We show you what to look out for and give you practical templates. The cover page in an application: Should I use a cover page and how is the cover page structured? Is the cover sheet actually still important? We’ll answer these questions and more for you now!
Cover page content
Often discussed and much disagreement – the roof sheet of an application! For some it is an indispensable page in the application, for others totally unnecessary and superfluous. But what is right now? Should I now add a Cover page add a cover sheet to my application documents or leave it out?
Good to know: The cover sheet is optional, meaning it is optional. There are many different ways to design your cover page. You are also free to design the cover page as a kind of teaser and write the contact details and logo on the cover page.
Information that must be on the cover sheet of the application
In general, however, there are a few pieces of information that should always be included on the cover page of an application. These are:
The heading
The headline should be be short and meaningful. For example, you can simply and concisely write “Application” or “Application documents”. Either the headline is at the top of the cover page or is visually emphasized in the layout, for example by a colored, large font.
Position sought
You can keep this option open. Stating the position you are seeking is not mandatory, but it can be useful to the reader, giving you an advantage. If the reference number is given in the job advertisement, you can also indicate this here and for which branch or location you are applying.
Directly below you can also write the company name. This makes it clear that this is a targeted application and not a mass application.
Contact details
As always: first and last name, your address, phone number, email address, website, LinkedIn or Xing profile.
Application photo
An application photo has long since ceased to be a requirement. However, should you be considering a cover page, it makes a lot of sense to add a photo of yourself as a design element. It’s important that your photo and the cover design – the format – the colors and the design match.
Summary
This is where you list everything that goes into your application materials. Curriculum vitae, attachments certificates. But be careful: Even with a cover page, the cover letter is always at the top of the application. You do not include the cover letter in the table of contents. The cover page can be useful in an application, but it also has disadvantages.
Advantages & disadvantages of a cover sheet
Advantages:
Recognition value
The personnel managers receive countless applications every day. If you design a good cover page that matches the rest of your application, there’s a very good chance you’ll stand out from the rest.
Clarity
The cover page immediately tells the reader what position you are applying for and gives him/her a quick overview of who is applying and what to expect from the application. This can be a big plus in your application even later when you are selected. The application looks more structured and thus also appears more well thought out.
Space gain
By placing your application photo on the cover page, your resume gains some space and you can focus on a good layout there.
Contra:
Too much of a good thing
The cover page can seem superfluous in a well-structured and clear application. Therefore, some employers evaluate the cover sheet as unnecessary.
Priorities
First impressions count. And you can certainly score points with a good cover sheet, too. But: You also distract a bit from the content of your application.
File size (online)
Applying by mail is quite normal today and is even preferred. A cover page then provides an additional page, which increases the file size. Your file should not be larger than 2MB. be.
Cover sheet order in the application
As the name “cover page” suggests, the cover page is the first page of your application. The same is true if you apply online or by email. But you should never forget that the cover letter is always the first page of your application.
Because the cover letter is the gold piece of your application. In the cover letter you explain your interest in the company and the position, introduce your personality and go into detail about your skills. That’s why the cover letter is MUCH more important than a cover page. . That’s why the cover letter, whether print or online, ALWAYS comes first.
What’s next?
As I said before, the cover page is a nice-to-have, but first and foremost comes your cover letter. Then comes your resume, then your references and finally, internships, work samples, references and certificates.
Frequently asked questions
Edited at: December 7, 2022
