Have you been looking for a job in Germany, applying for hundreds of jobs, and finding that you’re not getting any responses? It happens to the best of us, even to those who work in highly demanded professions.

Searching for a job is a daunting task that takes a lot of work, patience, and perseverance anytime and anywhere. When you add looking for a job in a foreign country like Germany into the mix, it’s even more challenging. You’re probably unfamiliar with the country’s norms when creating job applications and could unknowingly be making mistakes.

The most significant part of getting noticed by German employers is your ability to put together a solid job application, which usually includes a well-written cover letter and CV that tells a story about you and why you’re uniquely qualified for that position.

Let me help you get your job search in Germany started, with our guide to German cover letters.

This guide to writing a German cover letter will:

⭐ Talk about why cover letters are important in Germany.

⭐ Address the ongoing debate about these documents.

⭐ Give guidance on how to structure a cover letter.

⭐ Help you understand why a clean and simple design is key.

⭐ Advise about using AI to your advantage.

⭐ Provide insights and practical tips.

⭐ Answer common questions about cover letters.

I recommend bookmarking our extensive guide on how to write a German cover letter and using it as a frame of reference when applying for jobs in Germany.

For more help on finding work in Germany, browse our career guides.

I know writing cover letters is a tedious and boring task. I don’t know anyone who likes writing cover letters. I’ve been through the pain myself and I hated every moment of it. However, I hope that this guide to German cover letters will help make the process, suck a little bit less.

Let’s jump in! 

An Introduction to Cover Letters in Germany

A cover letter, or Anschreiben in German, is considered an essential part of your job application in Germany. A German cover letter introduces you to a company, showcases the effort you put into your job application, and conveys your level of enthusiasm for the job.

Way back in 2016, a survey of German recruiters reported that 42% of recruiters and hiring managers disregarded applicants who didn’t include a cover letter in their job application. A further whopping 71% of them said they consider cover letters important in their evaluation of candidates.

Fast-forward to 2025, and not much has changed, and most employers still want to see cover letters in job applications.

The Debate on German Cover Letters

Should you write a cover letter when you apply for a job in Germany? No matter where you live in the world, this debate has been raging on forever. You may wonder if cover letters are a waste of time when your CV speaks for itself. You may ponder if anyone even bothers reading them. As a foreigner in Germany, you might be unsure what German employers expect with cover letters.

Let me tell you a story: I worked for a German company when a member of senior management asked me, “Why do people write cover letters? I never read them. I only want to see their CV. If it’s interesting, I’ll get in touch. I’m way too busy to read both cover letters and CVs.”

He made a very fair point, and I agreed with him 100%. Wouldn’t life be easier if we didn’t have to bother with cover letters? His pain was my pain, as I reviewed several job applications daily, looking at people we could potentially add to our team. It was time-consuming and tedious to comb through them, being sure to conduct a fair and thorough assessment of each applicant.

Unfortunately, cover letters remain important. See those stats mentioned above. So take it from me: someone who has lived in Berlin for a decade, been a hiring manager, and works as a coach. This guide wouldn’t need to exist if cover letters weren’t an important part of the job applocation.  

Even though they feel like a waste of time (and they really are!), cover letters are essential when applying for jobs in Deutschland.

Why Cover Letters Are Important

There are numerous reasons why you should include a cover letter each time you apply for a job in Germany:

⭐ First impressions are key, especially if you’re applying for a job you’re super excited about. Without a cover letter, your job application could be immediately rejected, as the recruiter or hiring manager may perceive this as “lazy”. They may think that if you didn’t make an effort to create a well-thought-out cover letter, then why should they even consider you for the job?

⭐ Some (not all) HR software scans submitted documents seeking out specific keywords. A cover letter that mentions certain keywords from the job description could help you bubble to the top of the candidate pool, where you’ll get noticed before others.

⭐ A cover letter is your chance to shine and I mean, really shine. It’s when you can tell the company why you want to work for them, explain how you’re uniquely qualified for that role, and make your personality come through. It’s your chance to convince them you are the right person for the job!

⭐ A cover letter shows diligence and interest from your side. Employers are keen to gauge your level of interest in them, learn more about you, and just how you are passionate about your chosen field.

Think of it like this – when you go to the theatre to watch a movie, you’ll see trailers for upcoming flicks. They only last one or two minutes, but if the trailer is really good, they’ve hooked you, and you’ll go watch that movie once it’s released. Your cover letter is exactly like a movie trailer. It’s a preview of your CV and you as a person. A cover letter’s main call to action is to make the reader curious to know more. They’ll spend time reviewing your CV and, hopefully, contact you for that first interview!

So if your cover letter is well done, in the sense that it’s framed as a well-written and compelling narrative, it’ll motivate the employer to contact you. 

On a side note, when I got hired for my current job, my manager even mentioned that he liked my cover letter and commented that many people fail to make an effort, which disappointed him. Of course, not all hiring managers or recruiters will read them, but when you’re going up against lots of other candidates, why would you take a chance to not come out on top?

Evaluating Your Information Sources

When you Google “German cover letters,” you’ll also find all sorts of content saying different things. And it’s frustrating to know “what’s what.” I’m here to cut through that confusion for you.

Unfortunately, much of the content on Google, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc., is often of low quality. Relocation agencies or short-term housing rental companies will commission a writer to put together a piece on cover letters for example. The writers will create an SEO-friendly, well-researched, and engaging article that seems authentic. The writers, while talented, are often not familiar with the topics they write about, never having worked as a hiring manager, recruiter, career coach, etc.

The same applies to many influencers who create content and dole out advice despite not having the aforementioned experience or knowledge. They may have studied and worked in Germany but have no HR or coaching experience. They operate on the flawed assumption that if you move to Germany and work at a job here, they’re qualified to “teach” others. While sharing one’s lived experience can be valuable, they tend to share the same recycled content that reaches the top of Google’s search results.

What results is a vicious, never-ending circle of misconceptions and suggestions of bad practices. 

Many people also glean information from one of Germany’s many popular Facebook groups. While asking questions there can be somewhat helpful, and the people who respond to you are generally well-meaning, many of the answers provided are often incorrect or even contradicting. As such, they don’t function as reliable sources of information.

I hope this guide will relieve you of these worries.

Structure a German Cover Letter

Following a our fixed structure and applying our repeatable method will make writing a German cover letter way easier.

Part 1: The Salutation 

German cover letters begin with the all-important salutation. There is officially a slew of complicated rules that Germans follow for writing business correspondence, but as an English-speaking foreigner, you can safely ignore them.

Hot tip: If you’re applying for a government job or working at a very traditional German company, I would only then advocate for writing a classic cover letter.

There is one golden rule that I do recommend following no matter what – recruiters and hiring managers in Germany tend to like having cover letters addressed to them specifically. So if you see a contact name listed with the job ad (either on LinkedIn or their website), go ahead and address the cover letter to them directly. 

Take a look at the following example for context. The product owner position at GK Software SE lists a contact. In such cases, you’d address the cover letter to Peter Christopher Walo.

Some of my coaching clients tell me that they’re not used to addressing their cover letters to a specific person and actually feel hesitant about doing so. In today’s ever-competitive job market, you need to do whatever it takes to get noticed. Many recruiters and hiring managers will welcome this personal approach and appreciate your attention to detail, so go ahead and address the cover letter to them, a publicly listed contact. 

A few other tips:

⭐ When company environments feel formal, avoid addressing someone by their first name.

⭐ For women, skip using Miss or Mrs to stay safe and avoid assuming their marital status.

⭐ For men, Mr always works.

⭐ Another option, especially if you don’t want to assume a person’s gender identity or preferred pronouns, is to start the letter using both their first and last names.

Honestly, it’s easiest when there is no contact name listed. In such cases, you can greet them with “Dear hiring team” or “To whom it may concern”. Another one that I’ve taken a shine to recently is “Dear <company name> team”. So if I was applying for a job at SAP, for example, I’d start the cover letter with “Dear SAP team”.

While the salutation shouldn’t be something you think about that much, it’s an important part of the cover letter you need to get right. 

Part 2: The Introductory Paragraph

The introductory paragraph should include some basic information, including the position you’re applying for and where you heard about the position. You should also explain why you want to work there and how your background makes you an ideal candidate for the job.

1) Mention the position you’re applying for and where you heard about it

Typically, you learn about a job opening through a job search site. However, sharing where you heard about the position is especially important if you’ve been referred by someone. Referrals carry a lot of weight, as candidates referred by someone are usually given the chance for an interview over those who submit cold applications. Don’t be shy about sharing the name of the person who referred you. That person might often get financial compensation if you get hired and pass probation. This is a benefit where I currently work, and last year, I received my first referral fee. 🥳

2) Uncovering your motivations about why you want to work for them

You need to spend the rest of the paragraph telling the employer exactly why you want to work for them. For this, you’re going to need to do some company research.

Spend time deep diving into their website, paying special attention to their career site and about page (things like company values, origin stories, information about the founders and execs, etc.). See if the company has made the news recently. Check out their employee reviews on platforms like Glassdoor. Browse their social media channels to observe the common pain points for their customers and how the company handles the complaints. Look out for their competitors to see what they are doing and if it’s better or worse.

As you do your research, take notes and reflect on them. Ask yourself these types of questions:

⭐ What is the company culture like? Does the company prioritize collaboration, innovation, diversity, or other values that are important to you? Are employees encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas?

⭐ What opportunities for growth and advancement exist within the company? Does the company offer professional development programs, mentorship opportunities, or clear paths for career progression?

⭐ How does the company support work-life balance? Are there flexible work hours, remote work options, or other policies in place to help employees maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life?

⭐ What is the company’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion? Does the company actively promote diversity and inclusion in its hiring, as well as in workplace policies? Are there employee resource groups or initiatives dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment?

⭐ What is the company’s reputation in the industry and among its employees? Are there any red flags or controversies associated with the company? Do current or former employees generally speak positively about their experiences?

⭐ What are the company’s long-term goals and vision? Does the company have a clear mission and vision for the future? Are you aligned with the company’s values and vision for growth?

After looking into these things, ask yourself: What truly motivates you to want to work there? Your answer to this last question is the most important. That’s the question you need to answer directly when writing a German cover letter and will likely be something you discuss during the interview process. 

Now that you’ve done your company research, you need to bring these motivations into the cover letter and distill them into a few points. Here are some common things that motivate people to want to work for a company:

⭐ A superior tech stack

⭐ Cutting-edge innovation, pioneering something new

⭐ Mission and commitment to sustainability

⭐ Purpose driven organization doing something good in the world

⭐ Being part of a startup from the ground up

⭐ Working alongside high-caliber colleagues and talent

⭐ Mature company culture with a high retention rate; people are treated well

⭐ Opportunity to learn and grow

If your primary motivations are having a high salary or living close to the office, now isn’t the time to mention them. While they are perfectly acceptable reasons, this paragraph must be devoted solely to the company.

Customizing your cover letter for each job application is key, and the introductory paragraph is where you begin to apply this concept. It shows that you took time to understand the company, can articulate what motivates you, and invested effort in crafting a solid job application.

The knowledge you gain about the company from your research efforts will also prove useful when you get to the interview stage, as you’ll be able to speak to your motivations confidently.

3) Finishing the intro paragraph

You can conclude the introductory paragraph with a generic sentence such as, “I feel confident that the combination of my skills, experience, and education makes me an ideal candidate who would positively contribute to your organization if hired.” This nice transition sentence guides the reader into the next paragraph.

To summarize, introductory paragraphs in German letters should be structured like this:

⭐ The position name

⭐ How you heard about the position

⭐ What motivates you to work there

⭐ Transition sentence to highlight how your skills, experience, and position qualify you for

Part 3: The About You Paragraphs

The about you paragraphs should clearly communicate why you’re uniquely qualified for the job and convince the company to invite you for an interview. This part of the cover letter is also the most important and where you need to spend the most time.

Here, you’ll tell a story through a series of examples, weaving in facts that highlight your experience, education, and skills while tying them to the job description for the role you’re applying for. Use the job description as your guide by picking a few key points and building on them by using examples that draw from your past work experience, volunteering efforts, education, and more.

Front-End Engineer Example: You’re applying to be a front-end engineer for a company that’s about to rebrand their website and work on making it comply with accessibility standards.

If you say something generic like, “I have 10 years of experience building websites using different front-end technologies,” this isn’t sufficient. Get more specific. Instead, you can say, “I have 10 years of experience building websites using technologies like React, Angular, and Vue.js.”

This is already better, but you can build on that even more. Continue with something like, “At my last company, I led a project to rebrand our website and make it more SEO-friendly. After launch, conversion rates for our product went up by 10% in the first month alone. I also took part in the company’s monthly hackathons where I regularly developed solutions to improve the usability of our in-house design system.”

You can further impress them by saying how you spend your free time. Using the same front-end engineer example, the engineer could go on to say: “Outside of work, I regularly contribute to the open-source community, helping to develop accessibility-compliant front-end websites for charities. View my GitHub profile to see more of my work.”

The above text outlines some of the tech the person uses, how much work experience they have, their specific job-related accomplishments, and even how much they like to code in their free time. It also mentions some of the responsibilities featured in a typical job description.

Junior Talent Acquisition Specialist Example: Imagine a recent university graduate applying for a talent acquisition role, and it will be their first real job. The job description says they’ll be responsible for finding new candidates beyond those applying through the company’s website. The company is taking diversity and inclusion seriously and wants to attract new candidates from various backgrounds.

You can start with referencing your education and some special project work you did while completing your university program:

“While completing my Master’s degree in Human Resources Management, my thesis was about recruiting and how companies can work to eliminate candidate bias during the job application process. For one of our class projects, I developed a new framework to help companies attract talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. I worked with two local companies to test out the strategies, and as a result, they hired three new people from diverse backgrounds. Based on my education and project experience, I believe I have the required skills to help you attract the type of new candidates you seek.”

Be careful not to repeat the job description or your CV itself. This part of the cover letter is intended to merely be a preview and not your whole story. This is where you can intrigue your potential employer, make them interested in knowing more about you, and hopefully, invite you for an interview. 

This part of the cover letter is where you really get a chance to shine. You can see how important being personal is and why every cover letter you write should be unique.

Cover Letter Design

Part 1: Formatting Rules

I recommend having a job application that uses the same design throughout – so whatever format you use for your CV, apply the same for other job application documents like your cover letter or references.

1) According to Indeed, these are the best fonts for job applications:

⭐ Arial

⭐ Cambria

⭐ Calibri

⭐ Didot

⭐ Garamond

⭐ Times New Roman

⭐ Helvetica

2) In terms of font size, use a 10 – 12 size font.

3) You can introduce style to your cover letter using upper case, bolding, italicising, or underlining. Whatever style you choose, apply it consistently. i.e., If you bold a heading and use a slightly larger font size, do this for all headings.

4) Most word processing applications like Google Docs or MS Word have a default margin of 1 inch or 2.54 cm. I recommend not changing the default margins, especially if you plan to decrease the size.

5) Many people can’t resist the urge to drastically decrease margin and font sizes, to cram as much information as possible into their cover letters. This results in a cover letter that is way too text-dense and difficult to read for the human eyes. Keep your paragraphs brief and spread out the text. 

6) You may hear that Germans don’t like to see “style” applied to job applications. It’s an unfortunately false, over-perpetuated stereotype. While content matters the most, it’s also important to have an attractive-looking job application. That said, don’t go overboard on your design to the point where it overpowers your content. The last thing you want is for the reader to miss out on valuable information about you because they find it hard to read.

7) A cover letter should never exceed one page and should contain a maximum of three to five paragraphs of text.

8) Above all else, consider accessibility, aka how will the cover letter be received by the reader. By using the right margins, having a readable font size, short paragraphs (not long text-dense ones), the document will be more pleasing to the human eye. 

Part 2: Useless Information

You may see content out there encouraging you to write formal cover letters that look like something from another era. It’s recommended that you add the company’s address, your address, as well as your signature.

There may be times when it makes sense to follow this advice but in most cases, you don’t need to do this. Snail mail concepts don’t apply here. You can easily omit the company’s address (they know where they are located), and your address (you’ve likely added this information to the online job application or it’s ready on your job application), as well as a physical signature.

The great thing about leaving this useless information out is that it frees up valuable real estate on your cover letter, leaving more room for valuable content.

Part 3: Design Tools for a German Cover Letter 

The simpler your cover letter design is, the better. Whatever you do, avoid using design tools that add graphics, tables, and color. Having such elements on your CV may do more harm than good, as many HR systems can’t interpret anything other than plain text. Your CV could come through as unformatted, missing critical information, or even blank.

I recommend these platforms and tools:

⭐ Google Docs

⭐ MS Word

⭐ Resume.io

We further suggest avoiding these platforms and tools, as they tend to over engineer what a simple cover letter or CV should be like.

⭐ Canva

⭐ MS Designer

If you don’t like how your cover letter looks, there are plenty of marketplaces where you can buy attractive, lightweight, well-designed templates. For example, when I was looking for a job a couple of years ago, I bought a template from Etsy.

FAQ

Now that we covered some of the German cover letter basics like structure and design, there is a plethora of other things to think about. Use our German cover letter FAQ to dive into topics like whether or not to send a cover letter in German when you don’t speak German, being mindful about tone of voice, using AI, and more.

That’s a wrap! Follow these tips to write a really good German cover letter that’s going to land you a job in Germany.