What should I put in a German cover letter or Anschreiben?

Your German cover letter needs to be one tight, formally structured page that proves you fit the role through facts, not enthusiasm. Every section has a fixed place, from your header details to your closing sign-off, so following the format matters almost as much as your content.

Anschreiben Structure at a Glance

Practical Tips for Each Section

• Find the actual hiring manager's name wherever possible, since a personalised salutation beats a generic one.
• Back every claim with a concrete result rather than repeating your CV word for word.
• State your notice period and start date clearly in the closing paragraph, for example the exact month you can begin.
• Only mention your salary expectation if the job posting explicitly asks for it, and give it as an annual gross figure.
• Close with Mit freundlichen Grüßen, remembering that German convention drops the comma after this closing phrase.

My Advice

Avoid generic openers like with great interest I read your job ad, since German recruiters read hundreds of these and skip past them instantly. Instead, open by connecting your current role or study status directly to what the job needs, and keep your whole letter tight enough to fit on a single page without shrinking your font below 11 point.