Which certificates should be attached to an application?
It is only necessary for young people who are applying for an apprenticeship to enclose their most recent school certificate or school leaving certificate, and it makes sense for applicants up to the age of 25, as they do not have such extensive professional experience due to their young age. In the case of applicants who are older than 25, the school leaving certificate can be waived in any case.
Of course, there are always a few companies that would like to see a copy of the last school report for over 50-year-olds – even if in this age group professional experience is more important than a document from the distant past. Even if an employee aged 50 plus submits his school-leaving certificate later, this is no guarantee that he will actually get the job. In many cases, however, a rejection follows.
Certificates that must always be attached to an application
These include:
- the certificate of professional qualification, regardless of the age of the applicant. It is irrelevant whether you have successfully completed vocational training and/or a degree.
- All job references, with the most recent one on top.
- References and certificates for further and advanced training that are not older than five years and that also have something to do with your current job. On the other hand, certificates relating to older versions of EDP programs (e.g. MS Office 2000) no longer have to be attached, especially if your documents show that you have already worked with newer versions.
Why outdated testimonials and certificates no longer need to be attached
Your application documents are about demonstrating your current knowledge and skills or the fact that you have always kept your specialist knowledge up to date. For this reason, it would not do well for a hairdresser to enclose a certificate from the 1980s stating that she can create water waves very well, for an office worker it would make a strange impression if, according to .Certificate that you can use an (electric) typewriter very well, but can prove that you have little or no computer skills.