A Stellenausschreibung from a Stadtverwaltung or Landkreis is denser than most private-sector ads. The opening paragraphs describe the authority’s mission; the decisive material usually sits under Anforderungsprofil, Aufgaben, and the notes on Bewerbungsfrist and form of submission.
Start with the mandatory qualifications. If a degree, Ausbildung, or Laufbahnbefähigung is listed as zwingend, treat it as a gate — committees rarely waive it. Soft skills such as Teamfähigkeit appear almost everywhere; the stronger signal is whether the posting asks for Bürgerkontakt, Führungserfahrung, or experience with specific Verwaltungssoftware.
Pay attention to Entgeltgruppe or Besoldungsgruppe. It tells you the seniority band and often correlates with how much prior public-sector experience the panel expects. A TVöD E9 role and an E13 specialist post will weight evidence differently even when both sit in the same Amt.
Finally, note the application channel. Some municipalities still require postal Bewerbungen with signed originals; others use a portal with strict file-size limits. Missing the channel instruction is a common, avoidable rejection before anyone reads your Anschreiben.