This guide is about the language. For the German cover letter in general (length, structure, what recruiters look for), read our page on the cover letter for Germany. If you are just starting your search, begin with how to find a job in Germany.
Key takeaways
- Job ad in German: write in German. Job ad in English: English is fine, unless the ad asks for German.
- Use short, active sentences. You need correct German, not fancy German.
- Three small rules matter a lot: a comma after the salutation, a small letter at the start of the next line, and no comma after “Mit freundlichen Grüßen”.
- Always write “Sie”, “Ihnen” and “Ihr” with a capital letter when you mean “you”.
- State your German level honestly, with the CEFR level (A1 to C2) and a certificate if you have one.
When to write your cover letter in German
The language of the job ad is your best guide. Hochschule Darmstadt says employers in Germany usually expect applications in German, so applying in German can raise your chances (h_da, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). The same page adds a limit: if your German is not good enough yet, apply in English instead.
TU Chemnitz makes a related point. If you say you have German at B2 level but send your application in English, that does not look coherent (TU Chemnitz).
| Situation | Language of your cover letter |
|---|---|
| Ad in German, asks for good German | German |
| Ad in German, you are still learning German | German if you can write it correctly with help, and say your level honestly |
| Ad in English, German “a plus” | English, and mention your German level |
| Ad in English, no German needed | English |
| Not sure | Ask the contact person, or follow the language of the ad |
See how much German and English the job ad really asks for.
Check a job adOne more thing. If you write in German, the interview may also be in German. Even interviews for jobs advertised in English can switch to German (University of Siegen, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). Write a letter that matches the German you can actually speak.
Key point: Follow the language of the job ad, and write only in the German you can also use in an interview.
Check the format first, too. The international service of the Federal Employment Agency (ZAV) notes that some companies do not require a classic cover letter for online applications (ZAV, The perfect cover letter, issue 02/2026, retrieved 1 Nov 2026). Many company portals use a free-text box for your motivation instead (ZAV, Online applicant portals, issue 03/2026, retrieved 1 Nov 2026). The phrases in this guide work there too.
The layout in short (DIN 5008)
A German cover letter is a formal business letter. Many career services point to DIN 5008, the German standard for business letters (University of Kassel, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). The standard itself is not free, but Duden’s free sample chapter on letters explains the main points. DIN 5008 covers only the form, not the content, and following it is not a legal duty (Duden Ratgeber, sample PDF, 2020).
From top to bottom:
- Your details (Absender): name, address, phone, email.
- Address of the company (Anschrift): company, department, contact person, street, postcode and city. In the address you write “Herrn” for a man, not “Herr” (Duden sample). Göttingen advises against “z. Hd.” before the name (University of Göttingen).
- Place and date on the right: Heidelberg’s sample uses “Ort, Tag, Monat, Jahr”, for example “Frankfurt am Main, 31. Oktober 2026” (heiSKILLS Heidelberg, 2024). In a DIN information block, Duden shows the numeric form 2026-10-31.
- Subject line (Betreff) in bold, without the word “Betreff” and without a full stop. Two blank lines before and after it (Duden sample; Kassel).
- Salutation (Anrede) with a comma at the end.
- Text: introduction, main part, closing. One page at most (Heidelberg). Kassel suggests no more than ten sentences (Kassel).
- Closing formula (Grußformel), then your signature and your typed name.
- “Anlagen” (attachments) at the bottom left. You don’t need to list each document (Kassel; Göttingen).
Use the same font and size as in your CV. Kassel suggests size 12 (Kassel). Heidelberg says no smaller than 11 and paragraphs of no more than five to seven lines (Heidelberg). If you want a ready layout, use our German cover letter template. The Federal Employment Agency also offers free Word templates (“Anschreiben klassisch” and “modern”) and a checklist, in German. It suggests an opening of about three to at most five lines (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Anschreiben, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
Tip: Write the subject line without the word “Betreff”, put “Herrn” in the address for a man, and keep the whole letter to one page.
Get a one-page letter in German business letter layout for your job.
Write my cover letterGerman phrases for each part of the letter (EN ↔ DE)
These phrases are our own examples. They follow the rules from the sources in this guide. Change the details to fit your job. Words in square brackets are for you to fill in.
| Part | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Subject (Betreff) | Application for the position of Junior Data Analyst, reference 2026-114 | Bewerbung als Junior Data Analyst (m/w/d), Kennziffer 2026-114 |
| Subject (Betreff) | Your job ad on your careers page of 20 October 2026 | Ihre Stellenanzeige auf Ihrer Karriereseite vom 20. Oktober 2026 |
| Salutation (Anrede) | Dear Ms Schulz, | Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, |
| Salutation (Anrede) | Dear Mr Weber, | Sehr geehrter Herr Weber, |
| Salutation (Anrede) | Dear Dr Klein, | Sehr geehrte Frau Dr. Klein, |
| Salutation (Anrede) | Hello Kim Wagner, (gender not clear from the name) | Guten Tag, Kim Wagner, |
| Salutation (Anrede) | Dear Sir or Madam, (last resort) | Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, |
| Opening (Einstieg) | Thank you for our phone call on 28 October. | vielen Dank für das freundliche Telefonat am 28. Oktober. |
| Opening (Einstieg) | Your job ad caught my interest because I have worked with [topic] for three years. | Ihre Stellenanzeige hat mich sofort angesprochen, denn ich arbeite seit drei Jahren mit [Thema]. |
| Opening (Einstieg) | With three years of experience in data analysis, I bring what you are looking for. | Mit drei Jahren Erfahrung in der Datenanalyse bringe ich mit, was Sie für diese Stelle suchen. |
| Experience (Erfahrung) | In my current job, I built a dashboard for 40 branches. | In meiner aktuellen Position habe ich ein Dashboard für 40 Filialen aufgebaut. |
| Experience (Erfahrung) | I led a project with five colleagues. | Ich habe ein Projekt mit fünf Kolleginnen und Kollegen geleitet. |
| Experience (Erfahrung) | As a result, our team was able to … | Dadurch konnte unser Team … |
| Experience (Erfahrung) | I work with SQL and Python every day. | Ich arbeite täglich mit SQL und Python. |
| Experience (Erfahrung) | You ask for experience with [X]. I have worked intensively with [Y], a similar system. | Sie suchen Erfahrung mit [X]. Ich habe intensiv mit [Y] gearbeitet, einem vergleichbaren System. |
| Motivation | What interests me most is your project on [topic]. | Besonders interessiert mich Ihr Projekt zu [Thema]. |
| Motivation | Here I can use my experience in [field]. | Hier kann ich meine Erfahrung in [Bereich] einbringen. |
| German level | My German is at level B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2, 2026). | Meine Deutschkenntnisse entsprechen dem Niveau B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2, 2026). |
| German level | I am improving my German in an evening course (goal: C1). | Ich verbessere mein Deutsch zurzeit in einem Abendkurs (Ziel: C1). |
| German level | English is my native language. | Englisch ist meine Muttersprache. |
| Salary (Gehaltsvorstellung) | My salary expectation is €52,000 gross per year. | Meine Gehaltsvorstellung liegt bei 52.000 € brutto im Jahr. |
| Salary (Gehaltsvorstellung) | My salary expectation is between €50,000 and €54,000 gross per year. | Meine Gehaltsvorstellung liegt zwischen 50.000 € und 54.000 € brutto im Jahr. |
| Start date (Eintrittstermin) | I can start on 1 February 2027. | Ich kann die Stelle zum 1. Februar 2027 antreten. |
| Start date (Eintrittstermin) | Taking my notice period of three months into account, I can start on 1 February 2027. | Unter Berücksichtigung meiner Kündigungsfrist von drei Monaten stehe ich Ihnen ab dem 1. Februar 2027 zur Verfügung. |
| Start date (Eintrittstermin) | I am available from [month], preferably. | Ich stehe Ihnen vorzugsweise ab [Monat] zur Verfügung. |
| Closing (Schluss) | I look forward to meeting you in person. | Ich freue mich auf ein persönliches Gespräch. |
| Closing (Schluss) | I am happy to explain in an interview how I can support your team. | Gern erläutere ich Ihnen in einem Gespräch, wie ich Ihr Team unterstützen kann. |
| Closing (Schluss) | I am also open to the position of [title]. | Gern stehe ich Ihnen auch für die Stelle als [Titel] zur Verfügung. |
| Closing formula (Grußformel) | Best regards | Mit freundlichen Grüßen |
| Attachments | Attachments | Anlagen |
Notes on the table:
- Opening after the salutation starts with a small letter: “vielen Dank …”, not “Vielen Dank …”. More on this below.
- Analogous skills: if you don’t have exactly what the ad asks for, but something close, say so directly (Kassel).
- Salary: give it only if the ad asks for it (KIT Career Service, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). State a gross annual figure, never net or monthly (University of Kassel, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). Our guide on salary expectations in Germany shows how to find your figure, and the net salary calculator shows what a gross figure means per month.
- Start date: KIT says to name your possible start date in the last part (KIT). Check your notice period in your employment contract first. The legal minimum for an employee is four weeks to the 15th or to the end of a calendar month (§ 622 BGB). For internships, Heidelberg suggests an open phrase like “vorzugsweise ab …”, because a fixed date can rule you out (Heidelberg).
- Also open to another role: TU Chemnitz suggests applying for one specific position and adding one sentence in the last paragraph if you are open to a second one (TU Chemnitz).
Sehr geehrte Frau [Name], vielen Dank für das freundliche Telefonat am [Datum]. Ihre Stellenanzeige hat mich sofort angesprochen, denn ich arbeite seit drei Jahren mit [Thema]. [Main part] Meine Deutschkenntnisse entsprechen dem Niveau [Niveau] ([Nachweis, Jahr]). Gern erläutere ich Ihnen in einem Gespräch, wie ich Ihr Team unterstützen kann. Ich freue mich auf ein persönliches Gespräch. Mit freundlichen Grüßen [Name] Anlagen
Tip: Give salary and start date only if the ad asks for them, and give salary as a gross annual figure.
Phrases to avoid
Avoidhiermit bewerbe ich mich …
WhyA stock phrase with no new information (Kassel)
BetterStart with a reason: a phone call, a project, your key experience
AvoidWie Sie meinem Lebenslauf entnehmen können …
WhyKassel lists it as a phrase to avoid
BetterSay the fact directly
AvoidIch bin teamfähig, motiviert und zuverlässig.
WhyClaims without proof (Kassel)
Better“Ich habe … gemacht.” with an example
AvoidIch würde mich freuen, wenn … / Ich könnte …
WhyWords like “würde”, “könnte”, “möchte” sound unsure (Göttingen)
Better“Ich freue mich auf …” / “Ich kann …”
AvoidMir wurde die Leitung von … übertragen.
WhyPassive voice. Heidelberg prefers active (Heidelberg)
Better“Ich habe … geleitet.”
Good news if German is not your first language: short sentences are an advantage here. Heidelberg’s own sample says: write short, clear sentences, and use a full stop more often instead of many commas (Heidelberg).
Set up your letter
Fill in two addresses. Get a German letter layout.
“Sie”, not “du”
In a cover letter you always use the formal “Sie”. In German job interviews the formal “Sie” is normal too, and you switch to “du” only if the other person offers it (University of Siegen).
The official German spelling rules say: the pronoun “Sie” and the matching forms “Ihr”, “Ihre”, “Ihnen” are written with a capital letter (Amtliches Regelwerk 2024, § 65). This is not a small detail. A lowercase letter changes the meaning:
| You write | It means |
|---|---|
| Ich danke Ihnen. | I thank you. |
| Ich danke ihnen. | I thank them. |
| Ist das Ihr Team? | Is that your team? |
| Ist das ihr Team? | Is that her team? / their team? |
| Können Sie … | Can you … |
| Können sie … | Can she … / can they … |
Check every “sie”, “ihr” and “ihnen” in your letter before you send it.
Key point: “Ihnen” with a capital letter means “you”. “ihnen” in small letters means “them”.
Common mistakes when German is not your first language
1. “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren” when you could find a name
Kassel’s career service calls this salutation outdated and tells you to look for a named contact in the ad, on the website or by phone (Kassel). Göttingen says to use it only if you could not find a name even after a phone call (Göttingen). Check the spelling of the name too.
If you have a name but don’t know the person’s gender, Duden suggests the full name: “Guten Tag, Silke Segler” (Duden, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
2. “Sehr geehrter Frau” or “Sehr geehrte Herr”
The ending must match: “Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz” and “Sehr geehrter Herr Weber”. The official rules use “Sehr geehrte Frau Schröder,” as their letter example (Amtliches Regelwerk 2024, § 53).
3. A capital letter after the salutation
In Germany, the salutation ends with a comma, and the next line starts with a small letter, unless the first word is a noun or “Sie”. The official rules show “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, hiermit …” (Amtliches Regelwerk 2024, note to § 72). Kassel gives the same advice (Kassel). Duden also says a comma separates the salutation from the rest of the sentence (Duden). The capital letter after the salutation is the Swiss style, used when there is no punctuation mark after it.
- Right: “Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, vielen Dank …”
- Wrong: “Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, Vielen Dank …”
- Also right: “Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, Ihre Stellenanzeige …” (capital, because “Ihre” means “your”)
4. A comma after “Mit freundlichen Grüßen”
In English you write “Best regards,” with a comma. In German you don’t. The closing formula stands without any punctuation, in business and private letters (Duden, retrieved 31 Oct 2026; Amtliches Regelwerk 2024, note to § 72).
- Right: “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” then your name on the next line
- Wrong: “Mit freundlichen Grüßen,”
Example: An invented letter starts with “Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, Vielen Dank …” and ends with “Mit freundlichen Grüßen,”. Two fixes: “vielen Dank” with a small letter, and no comma after “Grüßen”.
5. “Liebe Grüße” or “Best regards” in German
Duden lists “Mit freundlichen Grüßen”, “Mit freundlichem Gruß” and “Freundliche Grüße” for business letters. It keeps “Liebe Grüße” for private letters (Duden). Göttingen calls “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” the standard formula for a cover letter (Göttingen).
6. Nouns in small letters
All German nouns start with a capital letter (Amtliches Regelwerk 2024, § 55). That includes words you might not see as nouns at first: “die Erfahrung”, “das Projekt”, “die Datenanalyse”, “das Vorstellungsgespräch”. Verbs and adjectives stay small: “ich arbeite”, “erfolgreich”.
7. “Betreff:” in the subject line
Write the subject itself, not the word “Betreff” or “Betr.:” (Kassel). Put it in bold and leave out the full stop (Duden sample). If the ad has a reference number, put it in the subject (TU Chemnitz).
8. Sending it without a second reader
Göttingen tells applicants to have their cover letter proofread, and Heidelberg says to check it for spelling mistakes at the end (Göttingen; Heidelberg). This matters even more when German is not your first language. Ask a colleague or a friend whose first language is German, or use your university’s career service.
State your German level honestly
Recruiters want to know what you can do in German. The Welcome Center Rhineland-Palatinate says to mention your language skills if they matter for the job, and to add proof such as language certificates (make-it-in.rlp.de, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
The clearest way is the CEFR, the European scale from A1 to C2. The Council of Europe describes B2 as being able to talk with native speakers fluently enough that neither side has to strain, and C1 as expressing yourself fluently without much searching for words (Council of Europe, CEFR global scale, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). You can rate your skills separately, for example B2 in writing and C1 in speaking (LMU Jobline, retrieved 31 Oct 2026).
Why honesty pays off:
- A letter written in better German than you speak sets up a hard interview. The interview may switch to German (Siegen).
- A clear level helps the employer judge if the job fits. “B1, currently in a B2 course” is more useful than “good German”.
- Words like “fluent” are vague. LMU Jobline links “very good command” to B2 only roughly (LMU Jobline). A CEFR level with a certificate is clearer.
Practise the questions you will likely get, in German or in English.
Practise in the Mock Interview TrainerTip: Give a clear CEFR level with proof instead of vague words like “good German” or “fluent”.
Not sure about your level? Our free German level test is a CEFR self-assessment from A1 to C2 and gives you a line for your CV.
Foreign degrees and experience abroad in a German letter
A German reader may not know your university, your country’s degree system or your former employer. One clear sentence helps them place you. Don’t explain more than that in the cover letter. Details belong in the CV.
What you can refer to:
- University degree: the ZAB Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung) names the comparable German level of a foreign university degree. The ZAB says many employers ask for it in job applications, for instance in the public sector. It costs €208 (ZAB, fees, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
- Vocational qualification: IHK FOSA assesses foreign vocational qualifications that are comparable to an IHK profession and issues a binding notice you can show employers (IHK FOSA, in German, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
- Do you need it? For non-regulated professions you can work without recognition. For regulated professions, such as doctors or teachers, it is required. The federal portal Anerkennung in Deutschland explains the difference and has a Recognition Finder in 11 languages (Anerkennung in Deutschland, retrieved 1 Nov 2026).
- The German name of your job: ESCO, the European Commission’s classification of occupations, lists 3,039 occupations in 28 languages (ESCO, retrieved 1 Nov 2026). Look up your job title in English to find the usual German term.
These phrases are our own examples. Use only what is true for you.
| Situation | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Degree with ZAB statement | My master’s degree in computer science ([university], [country]) is comparable to a German master’s degree according to the ZAB. | Mein Masterabschluss in Informatik ([Universität], [Land]) ist laut Zeugnisbewertung der ZAB mit einem deutschen Master vergleichbar. |
| Statement applied for | I have applied to the ZAB for a Statement of Comparability. | Die Zeugnisbewertung meines Abschlusses habe ich bei der ZAB beantragt. |
| Vocational qualification | IHK FOSA has confirmed that my qualification is fully equivalent to the German qualification as [profession]. | Die IHK FOSA hat die volle Gleichwertigkeit meines Abschlusses mit dem Beruf [Beruf] festgestellt. |
| Experience abroad | For four years I worked as [job title] at [company] in [country], a company with [number] employees. | Vier Jahre lang habe ich als [Berufsbezeichnung] bei [Firma] in [Land] gearbeitet, einem Unternehmen mit [Zahl] Beschäftigten. |
| Experience in English | My team worked in English, with clients in [countries]. | Mein Team hat auf Englisch gearbeitet, mit Kundinnen und Kunden in [Ländern]. |
Tip: Name the size or field of a foreign employer in a few words. “A logistics company with 2,000 employees” tells a German reader more than a company name they have never heard.
Key point: Never claim a German equivalent you don’t have in writing. Write the original degree name and add the comparable German level only if a ZAB statement or an IHK FOSA notice says so.
A full example cover letter in German, with English translation
This is an invented example. The person, the company and all details are made up. Use it as a model for structure and language, not as a text to copy. For more examples, see our German cover letter examples.
| German (what you send) | English (translation for you) |
|---|---|
| Sam Taylor Musterstraße 12 60311 Frankfurt am Main [Telefon] · [E-Mail] |
Sam Taylor Musterstraße 12 60311 Frankfurt am Main [phone] · [email] |
| Beispiel GmbH Personalabteilung Frau Petra Schulz Beispielweg 5 60313 Frankfurt am Main |
Beispiel GmbH HR department Ms Petra Schulz Beispielweg 5 60313 Frankfurt am Main |
| Frankfurt am Main, 31. Oktober 2026 | Frankfurt am Main, 31 October 2026 |
| Bewerbung als Junior Data Analyst (m/w/d), Kennziffer 2026-114 | Application for the position of Junior Data Analyst (m/f/d), reference 2026-114 |
| Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, | Dear Ms Schulz, |
| vielen Dank für das freundliche Telefonat am 28. Oktober. Ihre Stelle als Junior Data Analyst passt sehr gut zu meiner Erfahrung: Seit drei Jahren werte ich bei einem Logistikunternehmen in Hamburg Lieferdaten aus und erstelle Berichte für die Geschäftsführung. | Thank you for our friendly phone call on 28 October. Your Junior Data Analyst position fits my experience very well: for three years I have been analysing delivery data at a logistics company in Hamburg and preparing reports for the management. |
| In meiner aktuellen Position habe ich ein Dashboard für 40 Filialen aufgebaut, mit dem unser Team Lieferverzögerungen früher erkennt. Auch die gewünschte Erfahrung mit Prognosemodellen bringe ich mit: Ich habe ein Projekt zur Planung der Lagerbestände mit zwei Kolleginnen geleitet. | In my current job I built a dashboard for 40 branches, which helps our team spot delivery delays earlier. I also bring the experience with forecasting models you ask for: I led a stock planning project together with two colleagues. |
| Besonders interessiert mich Ihr Projekt zur Planung von Lieferrouten, über das Sie auf Ihrer Website berichten, denn hier kann ich meine Erfahrung mit Lieferdaten direkt einbringen. | What interests me most is your delivery route planning project, which you describe on your website, because there I can put my experience with delivery data to direct use. |
| Meine Deutschkenntnisse entsprechen dem Niveau B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2, 2026). Englisch ist meine Muttersprache. | My German is at level B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2, 2026). English is my native language. |
| Unter Berücksichtigung meiner Kündigungsfrist stehe ich Ihnen ab dem 1. Februar 2027 zur Verfügung. Meine Gehaltsvorstellung liegt bei 52.000 € brutto im Jahr. | Taking my notice period into account, I can start on 1 February 2027. My salary expectation is €52,000 gross per year. |
| Ich freue mich auf ein persönliches Gespräch. | I look forward to meeting you in person. |
| Mit freundlichen Grüßen [Unterschrift] Sam Taylor |
Best regards [signature] Sam Taylor |
| Anlagen | Attachments |
Sam Taylor Musterstraße 12 60311 Frankfurt am Main [Telefon] · [E-Mail] Beispiel GmbH Personalabteilung Frau Petra Schulz Beispielweg 5 60313 Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main, 31. Oktober 2026 Bewerbung als Junior Data Analyst (m/w/d), Kennziffer 2026-114 Sehr geehrte Frau Schulz, vielen Dank für das freundliche Telefonat am 28. Oktober. Ihre Stelle als Junior Data Analyst passt sehr gut zu meiner Erfahrung: Seit drei Jahren werte ich bei einem Logistikunternehmen in Hamburg Lieferdaten aus und erstelle Berichte für die Geschäftsführung. In meiner aktuellen Position habe ich ein Dashboard für 40 Filialen aufgebaut, mit dem unser Team Lieferverzögerungen früher erkennt. Auch die gewünschte Erfahrung mit Prognosemodellen bringe ich mit: Ich habe ein Projekt zur Planung der Lagerbestände mit zwei Kolleginnen geleitet. Besonders interessiert mich Ihr Projekt zur Planung von Lieferrouten, über das Sie auf Ihrer Website berichten, denn hier kann ich meine Erfahrung mit Lieferdaten direkt einbringen. Meine Deutschkenntnisse entsprechen dem Niveau B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2, 2026). Englisch ist meine Muttersprache. Unter Berücksichtigung meiner Kündigungsfrist stehe ich Ihnen ab dem 1. Februar 2027 zur Verfügung. Meine Gehaltsvorstellung liegt bei 52.000 € brutto im Jahr. Ich freue mich auf ein persönliches Gespräch. Mit freundlichen Grüßen [Unterschrift] Sam Taylor Anlagen
What to notice in this example:
- The subject names the job and the reference number, in bold, without “Betreff”.
- “vielen Dank” starts with a small letter after the comma.
- Every claim comes with a concrete example, as Kassel and Göttingen advise.
- Active sentences: “habe ich aufgebaut”, “habe ich geleitet”.
- The German level is clear and has proof.
- Salary and start date appear because the (invented) ad asked for them. Leave them out if the ad doesn’t.
- No comma after “Mit freundlichen Grüßen”.
- The text has ten sentences and fits on one page, as Kassel suggests.
Your checklist before you send it
Keep every application on one board and see when to follow up. The board is part of the pass.
Track my applicationsHow Joblumi can help
Joblumi builds a one-page cover letter in German business letter layout and checks how much German and English the job ad really asks for. Start with the cover letter for Germany tool, or get your job search plan. Pricing is on our pricing page.
Put this guide to work
Start free. Build your CV and cover letter for each job ad.
FAQ
Should I write my cover letter in German if my German is only B1?
If the ad is in German, yes, as long as the text is correct and you state your level honestly. Use short sentences and get it proofread. If your German is not good enough to write a correct letter yet, Hochschule Darmstadt advises applying in English instead (h_da).
Is there a comma after “Mit freundlichen Grüßen”?
No. In German, the closing formula has no punctuation at all (Duden).
Does the line after “Sehr geehrte Frau …,” start with a capital letter?
No, with a small letter, because the sentence continues after the comma (Amtliches Regelwerk 2024). Nouns and “Sie/Ihr” still keep their capital letter.
Can I use “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren”?
Only as a last resort, when you cannot find a name even after calling the company (Göttingen).
Do I have to follow DIN 5008?
It is not a legal duty (Duden sample). But career services describe the cover letter as a formal business letter in this layout (Kassel), so following it is the safe choice.
Should I mention that German is not my first language?
Say what you can do: your native language and your German level, ideally with a certificate. The Welcome Center Rhineland-Palatinate says to mention language skills that matter for the job and add proof (make-it-in.rlp.de).
Related
- Cover letter for GermanyHow a German cover letter works: one page, business letter layout, a clear subject line, named contact. Check the job ad's language level for free.Tool
- German cover letter templateCover letter templates in German business letter layout (DIN 5008), in the same ten designs as your CV. Three free, PDF with a free account.Template
- German cover letter examplesSix complete cover letters for jobs in Germany, three in English and three in German, each with notes on why it works. Start yours from any of them.Example
- German level testFree German level test: rate what you can do in listening, reading, speaking and writing. Get your CEFR level from A1 to C2 and the line for your CV.Tool
- Salary expectations in GermanyHow to state salary expectations in Germany: gross per year, range or figure, in the cover letter, form and interview. With official pay data and phrases.Guide · 19 min read
- Motivation letter for GermanyWhat a German motivation letter (Motivationsschreiben) is, how it differs from a cover letter, length, structure, mistakes and a full example for a job.Guide · 18 min read
Sources
- Rat für deutsche Rechtschreibung: Amtliches Regelwerk 2024 (§ 53, § 55, § 65, note to § 72), binding since 1 Jul 2024, retrieved 31 Oct 2026
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