If you are applying for a job in Germany, you may be asked to submit an Anschreiben, the German term commonly used for a cover letter. For international applicants, writing a German cover letter can be confusing because German job applications often follow a more structured and formal approach than applications in some other countries.
A good German cover letter should do more than repeat your Lebenslauf. It should explain why you are applying for the particular position, what attracts you to the employer, which parts of your experience are relevant and what value you could bring to the organisation.
For international applicants, the Anschreiben can also be an opportunity to explain circumstances that may not be immediately obvious from a CV, such as relocation to Germany, German language skills, recognition of foreign qualifications, availability, work authorisation or a career change.
This guide explains the structure of a German cover letter, what to write in each section, how formal the language should be, how to address a German employer and which common mistakes you should avoid.
Anschreiben is the German word generally used for a cover letter accompanying a job application. It is normally submitted together with your Lebenslauf or CV.
The purpose of the Anschreiben is different from the CV. Your Lebenslauf provides a structured overview of your education, employment history and qualifications. The cover letter allows you to connect your experience directly to the particular vacancy.
A German job application may contain several documents, depending on the employer and position:
Not every German employer requires a cover letter. Some companies specifically state that an Anschreiben is optional, while others continue to request one. Always follow the instructions in the job advertisement.
A German cover letter should generally be concise. One page is a practical target for most applications.
The purpose is not to reproduce your entire professional history. Instead, the letter should focus on the strongest reasons why your background matches the specific position.
A useful German cover letter usually contains:
Keeping the document to one page makes it easier for recruiters to identify the most relevant information quickly.
A professional German Anschreiben normally follows a clear business-letter format.
A simple structure is:
The layout should look professional and match the overall style of your Lebenslauf. Using the same font, colours, spacing and header style can create a consistent application package.
The greeting is particularly important in a German cover letter.
If you know the recruiter's name, use:
Sehr geehrte Frau Müller,
or:
Sehr geehrter Herr Schneider,
If the employer has not provided a specific contact person, a traditional formal greeting is:
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
However, if the job advertisement gives you the name of the responsible recruiter or hiring manager, using that person's name is generally preferable.
Be careful with German gendered titles and spelling. For example, Frau is used for a woman and Herr for a man.
The subject line should immediately identify the position you are applying for.
For example:
Bewerbung als Softwareentwickler
or:
Bewerbung als Marketing Manager – Referenznummer 12345
If the job advertisement contains a vacancy number or reference number, include it where appropriate.
A clear subject line helps the employer understand the purpose of the document immediately.
The opening paragraph is one of the most important parts of your Anschreiben. Avoid spending the entire introduction saying that you are "very interested" in the position without explaining why.
A stronger opening connects your experience or qualifications with the vacancy.
For example:
Mit mehrjähriger Erfahrung in der Webentwicklung und einem Schwerpunkt auf PHP und JavaScript bewerbe ich mich mit großem Interesse auf die ausgeschriebene Position als Full-Stack-Entwickler.
In English, this means:
"With several years of experience in web development and a focus on PHP and JavaScript, I am very interested in applying for the advertised position as a full-stack developer."
The exact wording should always reflect your actual experience.
One of the most common mistakes in a German cover letter is turning the document into a second CV.
Your recruiter already has access to your Lebenslauf. The purpose of the Anschreiben is to explain the connection between your background and the vacancy.
Instead of writing:
"I worked at Company A from 2020 to 2022, then Company B from 2022 to 2024 and Company C from 2024 to 2026..."
focus on the most relevant experience:
"In my previous roles, I developed web applications using PHP, Laravel and MySQL and coordinated development work across several client projects. These experiences closely match the technical requirements of your advertised position."
The second approach provides context rather than simply repeating dates.
The main section of the German cover letter should answer an important question:
Why is your experience relevant to this particular job?
Choose two or three strong examples from your career.
For a software developer, this might include:
For a marketing position, you might discuss:
For an Ausbildung application, the emphasis may instead be on motivation, relevant school subjects, practical experience, language skills and interest in the profession.
A strong cover letter should demonstrate your abilities rather than simply describing yourself with generic adjectives.
Instead of:
Ich bin sehr motiviert und teamfähig.
you could write something more specific:
In meiner bisherigen Tätigkeit habe ich regelmäßig mit Entwicklern, Kunden und Projektverantwortlichen zusammengearbeitet und Aufgaben innerhalb eines kleinen Teams koordiniert.
This gives the employer something concrete to evaluate.
Similarly, instead of saying "I am an excellent SEO specialist", explain what you actually achieved or managed.
Your motivation should relate to the actual vacancy.
A weak sentence would be:
"I am applying because I need a job in Germany."
Even if this is personally true, it does not explain why the employer should select you.
A better approach is to explain the professional reason:
"The opportunity to work on international web projects while contributing my experience in PHP development and technical SEO particularly interests me."
Your motivation should ideally connect three elements:
Recruiters often want to know whether an applicant has made a genuine effort to understand the organisation.
You do not need to write a long history of the company. One or two specific points can be enough.
You could mention:
Avoid copying sentences directly from the company's website. Instead, explain briefly why that particular aspect interests you.
If you are applying from outside Germany, the employer may have questions about your location and availability.
A short explanation can be useful if relocation is relevant to the application.
For example:
Derzeit lebe ich außerhalb Deutschlands und plane meinen Umzug nach Deutschland. Für die Position bin ich ab [Monat/Jahr] verfügbar.
Or, if you are already in Germany:
Ich lebe derzeit in Deutschland und bin kurzfristig für ein persönliches oder digitales Vorstellungsgespräch verfügbar.
Do not include unnecessary immigration details unless they are relevant to the employer's hiring process.
German language ability can be highly relevant for international applicants.
Use recognised CEFR levels such as:
For example:
Meine Deutschkenntnisse entsprechen derzeit dem Niveau B2. Ich besuche weiterhin einen Deutschkurs, um meine Sprachkenntnisse kontinuierlich zu verbessern.
Only state a language level that you can genuinely support. If you have an official certificate, you can mention it where relevant.
For international companies in Germany, English may be an important part of the role.
You can mention your English level in the cover letter if it directly supports your application.
For example:
Neben meinen Deutschkenntnissen verfüge ich über sehr gute Englischkenntnisse und habe in internationalen Arbeitsumgebungen regelmäßig auf Englisch kommuniziert.
Again, the statement should reflect your actual ability and professional experience.
Some German job advertisements ask applicants to state their Gehaltsvorstellung or salary expectation.
If the advertisement explicitly requests this information, follow the employer's instructions.
You can write:
Meine Gehaltsvorstellung liegt bei 55.000 Euro brutto jährlich.
If salary expectations are not requested, there is usually no need to force salary information into the cover letter.
German job advertisements often ask when the candidate can start.
Useful expressions include:
For example:
Ich stehe Ihnen zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt zur Verfügung.
The closing paragraph should be confident but professional.
A common formulation is:
Über die Einladung zu einem persönlichen Gespräch freue ich mich sehr.
This means:
"I would be very pleased to be invited to a personal interview."
Another possibility is:
Gerne erläutere ich Ihnen meine Motivation und Qualifikationen in einem persönlichen Gespräch.
Then use a formal closing such as:
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
followed by your name.
A basic German Anschreiben can look like this:
Max Mustermann
Musterstraße 10
10115 Berlin
+49 123 456789
max.mustermann@example.com
ABC GmbH
Frau Anna Müller
Musterweg 20
10117 Berlin
Berlin, 10 October 2026
Bewerbung als Softwareentwickler
Sehr geehrte Frau Müller,
mit mehrjähriger Erfahrung in der Webentwicklung und einem Schwerpunkt auf PHP und JavaScript bewerbe ich mich mit großem Interesse auf die ausgeschriebene Position als Softwareentwickler.
In meiner bisherigen Tätigkeit habe ich Webanwendungen entwickelt, Datenbanken betreut und an verschiedenen Kundenprojekten gearbeitet. Besonders meine Erfahrung mit PHP, MySQL und modernen Webtechnologien entspricht den Anforderungen Ihrer ausgeschriebenen Position.
Ihr Unternehmen interessiert mich insbesondere aufgrund seiner internationalen Projekte und seines technischen Umfelds. Ich möchte meine bisherigen Erfahrungen einbringen und gleichzeitig meine Kenntnisse in einem professionellen deutschen Arbeitsumfeld weiterentwickeln.
Ich stehe Ihnen zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt zur Verfügung und freue mich darauf, Sie in einem persönlichen Gespräch von meiner Motivation und meinen Qualifikationen zu überzeugen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Max Mustermann
This example is only a structure. Your final Anschreiben should contain your own qualifications, achievements and reasons for applying.
An Ausbildung application is different from an experienced professional job application. Employers may place greater emphasis on motivation, school education, practical experience and interest in the profession.
For example, someone applying for an IT Ausbildung could explain:
Avoid making the letter entirely about immigration. The employer is primarily interested in whether you are suitable and motivated for the Ausbildung.
Experienced international professionals should focus on the professional value they can bring to the German employer.
Useful topics can include:
For senior candidates, avoid filling the letter with every position held during the career. Select the experience that demonstrates your suitability for the advertised role.
The answer depends mainly on the job advertisement and employer.
If the vacancy is written in German and requires German communication, a German cover letter is generally appropriate. If the vacancy is clearly advertised in English by an international company, an English application may be accepted or preferred.
Do not automatically translate a German cover letter into English or vice versa without checking the language of the vacancy.
If you are not confident enough to write professional German, it is better to have the document carefully reviewed rather than submitting a cover letter containing obvious grammar and vocabulary mistakes.
International applicants should pay particular attention to the following mistakes:
Although there is nothing inherently wrong with explaining that you are applying for a position, a stronger introduction can communicate your professional value more quickly.
Instead of a generic introduction, connect your background with the role.
For example:
Als ausgebildeter Elektrotechniker mit fünf Jahren Erfahrung in der industriellen Automatisierung möchte ich meine Kenntnisse künftig in Ihrem Unternehmen einsetzen.
This immediately tells the employer who you are, what you do and why the application is relevant.
Yes, when you genuinely do not know the appropriate contact person, Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren is a traditional formal greeting.
However, if the job advertisement identifies a recruiter, HR manager or hiring manager, using their name is usually more personal and precise.
Do not guess the name. If you are unsure whether the listed person is responsible for recruitment, verify the information before addressing the letter to them.
A useful way to improve an Anschreiben is to compare the job advertisement with your own experience.
Create three columns:
For example:
You can then use the strongest matches in your cover letter instead of writing generic statements.
Before sending your Anschreiben, check every item below:
An Anschreiben is a cover letter used as part of a German job application. It explains your motivation for applying and connects your qualifications and experience with the particular vacancy.
One page is generally a good target. The letter should be concise and focus on the most relevant qualifications, motivation and experience rather than repeating your entire CV.
No. Some employers make a cover letter optional or do not request one. Always follow the instructions in the job advertisement.
If the vacancy is in German or requires German communication, a German cover letter is generally appropriate. For English-language positions, an English application may be accepted.
It is a formal German greeting meaning approximately "Dear Sir or Madam". It can be used when the responsible contact person is not known.
Include your salary expectation when the employer specifically requests it in the job advertisement or application instructions.
If your work authorisation or residence status is relevant to the employer, you can mention it briefly and accurately. Avoid turning the entire cover letter into an explanation of your immigration situation.
You can maintain a basic template, but the final letter should be adapted to each position. Change the job title, employer-specific motivation and relevant qualifications so that the letter genuinely matches the vacancy.
A strong German cover letter (Anschreiben) is concise, specific and relevant to the vacancy. It should complement your Lebenslauf rather than repeat it.
For international applicants, the document can also help explain useful context such as German language ability, international experience, relocation plans, availability and professional qualifications. However, the central purpose should remain the same: demonstrate why your genuine skills and experience make you relevant to the position.
Use a professional structure, address the correct person when possible, keep the letter around one page, research the employer and refer specifically to the requirements of the job advertisement. Finally, proofread the German carefully if you are submitting the application in German.
Once you understand the basic structure, you can create a reusable German cover letter template and customise it for each job, Ausbildung position or internship you apply for in Germany.
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