It is often said that those who are well qualified can choose where they want to work. That may be so - but job applicants still have to apply first, and that is often time-consuming. The classic cover letter, for example, still torments many. Almost 40 percent of employed people say that the wording of this text causes them problems when looking for a job. The most important thing is to prepare yourself when you have the time so that you can then react to job advertisements quickly and with little effort. "Efficient application is possible with a little preparation," says Hamburg career advisor Birte Püttjer-Stoppok. For example, the current quiet phase of the lockdown can also be used for this, in order to then dare a successful professional restart. WELT explains how to take the step there.