Waiting for the final grade before thinking about employment compresses too many decisions into a stressful period. Start by placing fixed academic dates on one calendar: thesis submission, defence, final examinations, enrolment end and likely certificate availability.
Create a sustainable weekly rhythm
Reserve separate blocks for role research, tailored applications, professional conversations and language practice. Two careful applications may be more useful than ten generic ones, especially when you can show why your course project or student job fits the role.
German CV conventions vary by field. Make dates and responsibilities easy to scan, describe results with evidence, and explain unfamiliar institutions briefly. A photograph is not legally required. Ask someone in your sector to review whether the document answers the questions a hiring manager will actually have.
Preserve evidence while it is close
Request references before supervisors become difficult to reach. Save non-confidential work samples you are allowed to keep. Write down the context, your contribution and result of each major project; this makes later interview examples far more specific.
Residence and work rules depend on your situation and can change. Identify the responsible authority and official federal information early. If timing or eligibility is unclear, seek qualified immigration advice rather than relying on an old forum answer.
Post-study life also needs a social plan. Keeping one university group, club or volunteering routine can soften the sudden loss of campus structure while a job search is still uncertain.