A German job application letter — the Bewerbungsschreiben — is more than a cover letter. It follows DIN 5008 formatting conventions, and German employers expect precise structure, formal tone, and specific content in a defined order.
How the German Bewerbungsschreiben Differs from an English Cover Letter
In English-speaking contexts, a cover letter is relatively flexible in format and may adopt a conversational tone. In Germany, the Anschreiben (the application letter, often used interchangeably with Bewerbungsschreiben) is expected to conform to the same structural conventions as any formal business letter under DIN 5008. The sender's details, recipient's details, date, reference line, subject line, salutation, body, closing phrase, and signature all occupy their defined positions on the page.
This rigidity is not bureaucratic inflexibility for its own sake — it reflects a hiring culture in which the ability to follow professional conventions is itself part of what is being assessed. A candidate who cannot produce a correctly formatted application letter has, in some hiring managers' view, already demonstrated a gap in their professional preparation.
The Required Sections of a Bewerbungsschreiben
Absender (Sender's Details)
The sender's full name, address, telephone number, and email address appear in the top-left section of the letterhead area, in the standard DIN 5008 position. A professional email address is expected — a personal address such as a nickname-based handle creates a poor first impression.
Empfänger (Recipient's Details)
The recipient's address block — typically the company name, the name of the hiring manager if known, the department, and the company address — appears in the address window position. If the hiring manager's name is not known, the letter should be addressed to the department responsible (e.g., "Personalabteilung") rather than using a generic "To whom it may concern."
Datum (Date)
The date appears in the reference line area in DD.MM.YYYY format. Using an incorrect date format is a commonly noted error in German HR departments.
Betreff (Subject Line)
The subject line identifies the position being applied for and ideally references the job advertisement. A typical Betreff reads: Bewerbung als Buchhalter (m/w/d), Stellenanzeige vom 20.10.2026. It is set in bold and appears without the word "Betreff" preceding it, per current DIN 5008 practice.
Anrede (Salutation)
When the hiring manager's name is known — and effort should be made to find it — use Sehr geehrte Frau [Name] or Sehr geehrter Herr [Name]. When it is not known, Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren is acceptable but less impressive than a named salutation.
Einleitung, Hauptteil, Schluss (Opening, Body, Closing)
The body of the letter is typically three paragraphs. The opening (Einleitung) states the position being applied for and why the candidate is interested in this specific company — generic openings are a major red flag for German HR professionals. The main body (Hauptteil) summarises the most relevant qualifications, experience, and skills with reference to the job requirements. The closing paragraph (Schluss) expresses interest in an interview, notes the availability to start, and refers to the enclosed documents.
Grußformel and Unterschrift
Mit freundlichen Grüßen closes the letter, followed by the handwritten signature (for printed applications) and the typed name below it.
The Bewerbungsmappe: What Else Is Expected
The Bewerbungsschreiben is the cover document for a full application package (Bewerbungsmappe), which typically also includes: a one-to-two-page CV (Lebenslauf) in the German reverse-chronological format; copies of relevant certificates and qualifications (Zeugnisse); and in some sectors, a photograph attached to the CV — although this is less common than it once was.
Templates for both the Bewerbungsschreiben and complementary HR documents are available at smartdexblog.de. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit also offers free guidance on application document conventions in Germany.