applicant
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applicant
A person who officially applies for something, especially a job, a university place, or an office.
Wir haben über hundert Bewerber für die ausgeschriebene Stelle.
We have over a hundred applicants for the advertised position.
'Der Bewerber' (the applicant) belongs to a word family: It is the person who writes a 'Bewerbung' (application) because they are 'sich um etwas bewerben' (applying for something). If you know one of these words, you can understand the others more easily.
Er hat seine Bewerbung gestern abgeschickt.
He sent off his application yesterday.
To express what someone is applying for, the prepositions 'für' (for) or 'um' (for) are used with the accusative. 'Bewerber für die Stelle' (applicant for the position) is more common in everyday language.
Es gibt viele Bewerber für diesen Studienplatz.
There are many applicants for this university place.
In the context of jobs and selection processes, you often hear phrases such as 'geeignete Bewerber' (suitable applicants), 'vielversprechende Bewerber' (promising applicants), or 'ein Kreis von Bewerbern' (a pool of applicants).
Wir haben die besten Bewerber zu einem Gespräch eingeladen.
We invited the best applicants to an interview.
candidate
A Bewerber has actually officially applied for a job, a place, or an office. Kandidat is broader and can also refer to someone who has been selected or is generally being considered. Use Bewerber for a specific application, and Kandidat when talking about a selection.
Maria ist eine Bewerberin, weil sie sich offiziell um die Stelle beworben hat.
Maria is an applicant because she officially applied for the position.
Nach den Gesprächen gilt Maria als die stärkste Kandidatin für die Stelle.
After the interviews, Maria is considered the strongest candidate for the position.
