Inhaltspezifische Aktionen

Cover Letter

Here you will find tips on the format, structure and content of your cover letter.

Format and structure

The cover letter must not be longer than one page (A4) and should be structured similar to a business letter, i.e. with addresses, place and date.
You also need a subject line in which you state the exact job title.

If you know the correct contact person, write to them directly, e.g. "Dear Ms. Smith". If you do not know who exactly to address, use the greeting "Dear Sir or Madam".
It is not necessary or advisable to call just to find out a contact person for the cover letter!

The text of about 3 to 5 paragraphs is followed by a closing formula, e.g. "Kind regards" or "Yours sincerely" and your name and signature.

 

Content

In the cover letter, describe your qualifications and skills as they relate to the job.
Use the job advertisement as a guideline!

Select the most relevant required qualifications and use descriptive examples and experience to explain why you fit the job, how you work, and what skills you bring to the position. Start with your best argument.

Show your motivation to work for exactly this company. To do this, find out in detail what the company does. It is also good to draw a connection between your past achievements and your future goals. What added value do you bring to the company?

Only if required, provide information about your salary expectations and availability in the last paragraph. Finally, say that you look forward to a personal interview and end with a closing formula. A thank you statement for the attention or consideration given to your application is not required and is very uncommon in Germany. At the end, add your signature.

 

As you can see, it is especially important to write a cover letter that is individualized to the employer and the job for each application!

To understand even better how exactly to incorporate your skills into job applications and how to convince application readers, check out our job application workshops!
Here you can find our current program
.