Cover Letters in Germany: How to Write an “Anschreiben”

A cover letter is called an “Anschreiben” in Germany. It complements the “Lebenslauf” and explains to the employer why you are applying for this specific position, what tasks you are already capable of handling, and how you will benefit the company. If the job posting asks for “Bewerbungsunterlagen,” they usually expect not only a resume but also a complete set of application documents: an Anschreiben, a Lebenslauf, and relevant certificates or recommendations.

How Does a Cover Letter Differ from a Resume?

Your Lebenslauf presents the facts: experience, education, skills, languages, projects, and dates. Your Anschreiben connects these facts to the specific job opening. There’s no need to recount your entire professional history in it. It’s better to choose two or three key points and show why they’re important for the position.

A good cover letter answers three questions:

Why are you interested in this company and this role?
Which tasks listed in the job posting are you already capable of performing?
What results the employer can expect from you during your first few months on the job.

An Anschreiben is not a recommendation from a previous employer and does not replace a letter of motivation for a university application. It is a business document for a job application, so structure, clarity, and specificity are important.

When a Cover Letter Is Really Necessary

In Germany, the format of your application depends on the employer. Some companies explicitly request a cover letter (Anschreiben), while others only require a resume (CV) and a few short questions in an online form. If the job posting mentions “Bewerbung,” “vollständige Bewerbungsunterlagen,” or asks you to explain your motivation, it’s best to include a cover letter.

If the employer states that a cover letter is not required, you should not send a long letter separately. In this case, you can briefly explain your motivation in the form fields or in the body of the email, if appropriate.

Structure of a Cover Letter

A traditional cover letter should be no longer than one A4 page, including the header. For email applications and online forms, the structure can be more concise, but the logic remains the same.

Header and Subject Line

The header should include the candidate’s and employer’s contact information, the date, and the subject line. It’s helpful to include the job title and, if available, the job posting number in the subject line.

Example topic:

Application for Junior Data Analyst, Ref. 12345

Cover Letter

It’s best to address your application to a specific person if their name is listed in the job posting or on the career page. If no contact person is listed, a neutral salutation such as Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren is appropriate.

First paragraph: reason for applying

Start with a specific reason for applying. Don’t just write a generic statement about how interesting the position is. Show that you understand the product, the team, or the tasks involved.

Example:

Your job posting caught my attention because I’ve spent the last two years developing data reports for sales teams and would now like to apply this experience in an international SaaS environment.

Main Section: Experience Relevant to the Job Requirements

Identify the requirements in the job posting and match them to your experience. Employers want to see evidence—not just a list of qualities—such as projects, tools, results, and types of tasks.

Things to mention:

relevant work experience or internships;
tools and technologies that are directly required for the role;
industry experience;
languages and communication with clients or teams;
Achievements that can be described without exaggeration.

Final Step: Be Prepared for the Interview

At the end, you can indicate your availability, a possible start date, and your willingness to discuss details during the interview. If the employer asks for “salary expectations,” include your expectations only in the required format.

The closing is usually formal:

Best regards

What to Write If You Have Little Experience

For students, recent graduates, and entry-level candidates, the cover letter is especially important: it helps explain your motivation and transferable skills. Instead of saying “I have no experience,” it’s better to highlight where you’ve already tackled similar tasks.

Examples from the following are suitable:

academic projects;
internships and part-time student positions;
volunteer work;
independent projects;
courses and certificates;
previous work experience in another field, if the skills are applicable.

The key is to relate your example to the job opening. If the job involves interacting with customers, you can mention your experience in customer support, sales, teaching, or coordination. If the role requires analytical skills, highlight the types of data, spreadsheets, or reports you’ve worked with.

What to Avoid

Copying templates from the internet without adapting them.
Summarize your Lebenslauf point by point.
Writing a single, generic cover letter for all companies.
Using a tone that is too emotional or pleading.
Overload the text with long paragraphs.
Claiming skills that aren’t supported by your resume.
Sending a letter with errors in the company name or job title.

Mini-checklist before submission

Check your cover letter before uploading it to the employer’s portal or sending it via email:

the job title and company name are listed correctly;
The salutation is addressed to the correct contact person;
The cover letter should be one page long;
The first paragraph should demonstrate your motivation specifically for this role;
The main body of the cover letter should address two or three key requirements from the job posting;
The text does not duplicate your resume;
the file is named clearly, for example, Cover Letter_Last Name_Position.pdf;
The PDF opens without breaking the formatting.

A Short Cover Letter Template

What follows is not a ready-made text to copy, but a structure that you should adapt to the specific job opening.

Dear Ms./Mr. [Name],

I read your job posting for the position of [Position] with great interest. I was particularly drawn to [specific reason: product, team, tasks, industry].

In my previous role as [role], I implemented [relevant task] using [tools/approaches]. This allowed me to [result or skill relevant to the position]. This experience aligns well with your requirements, particularly [requirement from the job posting].

In addition, I bring [second strong point: language, industry, project, communication]. I would like to apply this knowledge at [company] to make a [practical contribution].

I look forward to being invited to an in-person interview.

Best regards

[First Name Last Name]

FAQ

In which language should you write your cover letter?

Usually in the language of the job posting. If the posting is in German, write in German. If the posting is in English and the team’s working language is English, an English cover letter may be more appropriate. When in doubt, follow the employer’s requirements.

Do you need to sign the Anschreiben?

For PDF documents, a typed signature or a scanned signature is often used, but requirements vary. In online forms, a separate signature usually isn’t a deciding factor; a well-formatted file and relevant text are more important.

Can I send the same cover letter to multiple companies?

You can use the same basic structure, but your motivation, examples, and focus should be tailored to the specific job opening. Generic letters quickly come across as mass mailings.

Which is more important: the Anschreiben or the Lebenslauf?

For many employers, the Lebenslauf remains the most important document because it provides a quick overview of your experience. A cover letter strengthens your application if it explains your motivation and how your experience relates to the job’s requirements. Therefore, it’s best to first get your resume in order and then write a cover letter tailored to the specific role.