Your appointment letter asks for evidence of your job search. You have applied through company websites, sent emails and spoken with recruiters—but the records are scattered across different places.

You do not need to turn the meeting into a search through your inbox. Start with a clear application list and keep the relevant evidence alongside it.

The important point: there is no single application quota or evidence format in §37 SGB III that applies to everyone. The law provides for the required frequency and form of evidence to be set individually. Follow your own agreement, decision and appointment instructions rather than a number you saw online. Source: §37 SGB III

This guide is about practical preparation for the Agentur für Arbeit. The list below is an ExpatEaze preparation aid, not an official form or a substitute for instructions in your case.

1. Check exactly what the Agentur has requested

Look for the period the request covers, the submission date, the type of activity requested and the evidence you have been asked to provide. You may see the terms Eigenbemühungen (your own efforts to find work), Bewerbungsnachweise (application evidence) or Bewerbungsübersicht (application overview).

Making efforts to end unemployment is part of the legal definition of unemployment for ALG I purposes. That is different from saying every person must submit the same number of applications each week. Source: §138 SGB III

Keep your Eingliederungsvereinbarung, any relevant decision and the current invitation together. Under §37, the individual arrangements can specify both the minimum frequency of your efforts and how they are to be demonstrated. Source: §37 SGB III

If you are unsure whether the office wants a summary, copies of applications or something else, ask for clarification. Do not assume that preparing a list automatically completes every request.

2. Build a simple application list

A spreadsheet, a document table or a clearly written list can help you organise the information. Choose a format you can maintain consistently, then check that your intended submission method matches the office’s instructions.

These are suggested columns:

Use one row per application. Keep spelling and dates consistent so you can quickly locate the corresponding evidence.

Separate applications already sent from jobs you are only considering. A saved vacancy or an unfinished application is not a submitted application. Record planned actions in a separate section rather than mixing them into your completed activity.

3. Keep the supporting records organised

An application list summarises your activity; supporting records show the details. Depending on what you have and what the office requests, useful records to organise include a submission confirmation, the sent email, a saved application, an interview invitation or the employer’s actual reply.

These are examples of records to keep—not a guarantee that a particular screenshot will satisfy your individual request.

A simple folder structure helps. Create one folder for each month, then use consistent names such as:

2026-10-07_Employer_Position_Confirmation.pdf

Use your actual employer, role and date. Keep the original message or file where possible, and make sure a saved copy remains readable. Do not crop out information that is needed to understand the application or alter a document to make it appear more favourable.

Before the meeting, try opening a few files from your list. A record that only exists behind a login on your home computer may be difficult to show during an appointment.

4. Record the outcome honestly

No reply is not the same as a rejection. Write “No response yet” where that is what you know. An application you withdrew should not be recorded as an employer rejection.

If an employer gave feedback, keep it accurately. If no reason was given, do not write “German level too low” or “missing qualification” because that is what you suspect.

This distinction is especially useful when you discuss what is making your search difficult. Separate three things: the skills listed in a vacancy, what an employer actually told you and your own interpretation. They may inform the conversation differently.

If an application was discussed by telephone and you do not have written confirmation, make a dated note of what happened and ask the Agentur what evidence it needs. Do not create a fictional email or present your own notes as the employer’s words.

5. Use the list to prepare a useful conversation

The meeting is not only about counting applications. The BA explains that employment counselling can address your professional goals, application strategy, suitable vacancies, development opportunities and possible support. Source: BA employment counselling

Read your list before the appointment. What roles have you been targeting? Have interviews led to the same questions? Are you repeatedly missing a stated technical skill? Are you applying for jobs whose language requirements you currently meet?

Prepare a short factual summary rather than an argument built around an assumed cause. For example:

“I applied for these roles during the requested period. Two employers invited me to interview, one sent a rejection without a reason, and I am still waiting on the others. I would like to discuss whether my target roles and application materials are appropriate.”

This is an illustrative way to structure the conversation, not a script to copy as your own experience. Use only the figures and events in your actual record.

6. Bring the documents relevant to the appointment

For a first employment-counselling appointment, the BA lists identification, a CV, qualification and employment certificates, evidence of additional qualifications, and a recent or sample application letter. For people from abroad, relevant residence/work-status evidence is also listed. Your own invitation remains important because a follow-up appointment may have a different purpose. Source: BA appointment preparation

Keep the application overview with the specific evidence requested. Avoid bringing an unstructured collection of every document you own.

For wider preparation, see How to Prepare for an Agentur für Arbeit Appointment in Berlin.

Questions to clarify in German

„Für welchen Zeitraum soll ich meine Bewerbungen nachweisen?“
For which period should I provide evidence of my applications?

„Benötigen Sie eine Übersicht oder auch einzelne Nachweise?“
Do you need an overview or individual supporting records as well?

„In welcher Form und bis wann soll ich die Unterlagen einreichen?“
In what format and by when should I submit the documents?

Write the answers down. Do not rely on remembering a date or submission route after the meeting.

7. Protect your documents and prepare your interpreter

Keep personal application records out of public comments and social-media messages. Share relevant documents through the agreed private channel, without giving anyone your email password or account login codes.

For an interpreted appointment, provide the invitation and your key questions beforehand. A short, organised overview lets the interpreter understand the context without having to reconstruct your entire job search during the meeting.

If a deadline has passed or the office questions whether you met an obligation, explain the situation accurately and seek clarification promptly. A tidy spreadsheet does not itself resolve a legal dispute or reverse a formal decision. Obtain qualified advice where necessary.

Need help preparing for your Agentur für Arbeit appointment?

ExpatEaze provides German–English interpreting and practical appointment preparation in Berlin. Depending on the agreed scope, support can include understanding the invitation, organising the relevant information, preparing your questions and clarifying the administrative next steps discussed during the appointment.

See Agentur für Arbeit Appointment Support in Berlin for the available service options.

ExpatEaze is an independent language-support service. It does not decide benefit entitlement, set your job-search obligations or provide individual legal advice.

Information checked: 7 October 2026. General administrative and language-support information, not individual legal advice. This preparation aid is not an official BA form. Follow the instructions applicable to your case.