How to write the perfect cover letter

Are you applying for jobs in Germany and don't know what your cover letter should look like? Cover letters have special requirements in Germany and cause many applicants considerable headaches. In the following, we have collected the most the most important points concerning formatting, style and structure of the cover letter for you:

General facts:

• Maximum length of your cover letter: 1 - 2 pages

• If there is a motivation letter requested then you only need 2-3 sentences in the cover letter

• Cover letters consist of fully written text and should not include any bullet points (the CV in contrast should only include bullet points)

• Check out the website/social media channels to better understand the company you are applying for

• In case the job ad specifies that you need to include your salary expectations: Get information on kununu.com or glassdoor.de about salary structure

Formatting and wording of your cover letter

• Job ads in Germany are very particular and personalized applications are expected: Make sure to match your application with the contents and wording used in the job ad

• Use the same layout for your cover letter and CV (colors, font style, font size)

• Follow formatting standards (there is a DIN letter format in Germany)

• Only use written out text passages, avoid bullet points and the use of abbreviations

• Keep it formal, don’t be too emotional

• If possible, write it in German and get it proofread by a native speaker
  

How to structure the contents of your cover letter

Here is an example of a cover letter:

• Include your address and contact details in the upper part of the cover letter

• Include a subject line with a reference to the position you are applying for

• If a contact person is mentioned address it to him/ her
  

First part: The opening

• Express your interest for the job opening you would like to apply for. If you have already talked to the recruiter on the phone, met him/her at a job fair or know someone else in the company, a reference to this can be a good start

• Express your motivation to work for this particular company (optional, you can also include this in another part of your cover letter): The corporate website or social media channels usually provide good inspiration for this
  

Second part: Introducing your skills and your motivation

Need help brushing up your cover letter?

Book now

• Outline your qualifications and motivation: Why are you the best candidate for the job? Be careful not to simply recount your background. Talk about soft skills that you have and which are particularly relevant to the job.

• You can usually find out which qualifications are particularly important to the employer by carefully going through the details in the job ad. However, this is not simply a matter of listing them. Avoid general formulations such as: "I am a motivated and highly dedicated team player…” Instead, give an example from your career to date that shows how you have used your ability to work in a team or that underlines your sense of responsibility.

• It is also good to establish a direct link between your past performance and your future goals and to relate your qualifications and skills specifically to the employer and the job you are aiming for. The question to be answered here is: What added value do you bring to the company? For example according to the motto: “I would like to use my experience in the field of X to help your company achieve goal Z.”

Third part: The closing

• Keep in mind: Since the conclusion is the last to be read, it will also be remembered particularly well.

• Mention your availability and optionally your salary expectations and/or visa status or other important factors

• Close with a friendly Call-to-action e.g. “If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 0111/23456. Apart from that I am looking forward to a personal conversation.”
  

Check out our YouTube channel for more content on job application writing.

Make sure that your Cover letter is ATS-friendly

Are your application documents ready to send? There's one last step you should take before submitting your application: Make sure your Cover letter and CV are ATS-friendly so they can make it through the first round of review without being filtered out by automated screening programs. Find out how by reading this article.

Get your cover letter reviewed by a German HR expert