German motivation letter: a complete example, translated and explained
Read a complete German cover letter with English translations, explained wording and an honest example of describing a language-level gap.
By DraftApply · · 8 min read
Short answer
For a job application in Germany, an Anschreiben is the cover letter accompanying your CV. A separately requested Motivationsschreiben adds your reasons for applying. Check which documents the employer names before writing: the terms are not used consistently across every vacancy.
Which document is the employer asking for?
| The instructions say | What it means | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| The instructions sayAnschreiben | What it meansA cover letter for the job | What to prepareRelevant experience and why you are applying. Our complete example below shows one page. |
| The instructions sayAnschreiben und Motivationsschreiben | What it meansTwo separately requested documents | What to prepareA cover letter plus a supplementary page about your reasons. Give each a distinct purpose. |
| The instructions sayMotivationsschreiben | What it meansThe term alone may not settle the format | What to prepareRead the surrounding instructions. If it is unclear whether an extra page is wanted, ask the employer. |
| The instructions sayOhne Anschreiben | What it meansNo cover letter | What to prepareFollow the requested CV and attachment fields. Do not send an extra letter anyway. |
The Federal Employment Agency distinguishes a supplementary motivation letter from the cover letter. If you are deciding whether to send a letter at all, use the German application-instructions guide.
The complete German letter
Aisha is a fictional senior product manager in London applying for a role in Berlin. Her German is B2; this fictional vacancy asks for C1. Her career details match the example CV. The candidate, employers, vacancy and results are fictional.
Germany · Fictional senior candidate · German
Read the complete text
Aisha Patel
Senior Product Manager | B2B SaaS
aisha.patel@example.com
7 Example Road London E1 6AN Vereinigtes Königreich
London, 10. Oktober 2026
Personalteam
Spreeblick Software GmbH (fiktiv)
Beispielstraße 18 10115 Berlin
Bewerbung als Senior Product Manager
Sehr geehrtes Personalteam,
Ihre ausgeschriebene Rolle verbindet Roadmap-Verantwortung, Kundenverständnis und die Zusammenarbeit mit Engineering und Vertrieb. Diese Aufgaben prägen meine Arbeit seit mehr als zwölf Jahren in internationalen B2B-Softwareteams.
Bei Cedarworks Software verantworte ich seit 2021 die Roadmap einer SaaS-Plattform für zwölf europäische Märkte. Gemeinsam mit acht Mitarbeitenden aus Engineering und Design führte ich einen neuen Onboarding-Prozess ein. Die durchschnittliche Einrichtung neuer Kundenkonten sank dabei von zehn auf sechs Tage.
Für die Priorisierung habe ich 35 Kundeninterviews ausgewertet und die Erkenntnisse in überprüfbare Produktentscheidungen überführt. Zuvor koordinierte ich bei Maplebridge Digital drei Produkteinführungen mit Vertrieb, Support und Engineering. Diese Erfahrung möchte ich in Ihr Produktteam einbringen. Für die Stelle bei Spreeblick Software ist ein Umzug von London nach Berlin für mich möglich.
Ich arbeite auf Englisch auf muttersprachlichem Niveau und auf Deutsch auf B2-Niveau. Ihre C1-Anforderung erfülle ich derzeit noch nicht; gerne würde ich klären, ob mein aktuelles Niveau für die Zusammenarbeit ausreicht. Ich freue mich darauf, mit Ihnen über die Produktziele und die Anforderungen der Rolle zu sprechen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Aisha Patel
Download the PDF to see the layout, or copy the full text to adapt it. Replace every personal detail and achievement with your own. The country controls in the site navigation do not change this German example.
English translation, with the wording explained
Address, subject and greeting
The address uses Vereinigtes Königreich for “United Kingdom”. Personalteam means “recruitment team”; the company is marked fiktiv (“fictional”). London, 10. Oktober 2026 is the place and example date.
- Bewerbung als Senior Product Manager
- Application for the Senior Product Manager position
- Sehr geehrtes Personalteam,
- Dear Recruitment Team,
Use the named contact when one is given. This example uses a clear subject without a “Betreff:” label. After a greeting ending in a comma, German normally continues in lowercase unless the word itself needs a capital. Here Ihre is the formal “your”, so its capital is correct. See Duden’s punctuation guidance and formal pronouns.
1. Connect your experience to this job
German original
Ihre ausgeschriebene Rolle verbindet Roadmap-Verantwortung, Kundenverständnis und die Zusammenarbeit mit Engineering und Vertrieb. Diese Aufgaben prägen meine Arbeit seit mehr als zwölf Jahren in internationalen B2B-Softwareteams.English translation
The role you have advertised combines roadmap responsibility, customer understanding and collaboration with engineering and sales. These responsibilities have shaped my work for more than twelve years in international B2B software teams.
For your own letter: The opening connects the role’s work to Aisha’s experience. For your letter, identify a real responsibility in the vacancy and the experience that prepares you for it. A company name inserted into a generic opening does not make that connection.
2. Give one example the reader can assess
German original
Bei Cedarworks Software verantworte ich seit 2021 die Roadmap einer SaaS-Plattform für zwölf europäische Märkte. Gemeinsam mit acht Mitarbeitenden aus Engineering und Design führte ich einen neuen Onboarding-Prozess ein. Die durchschnittliche Einrichtung neuer Kundenkonten sank dabei von zehn auf sechs Tage.English translation
At Cedarworks Software, I have been responsible since 2021 for the roadmap of a SaaS platform serving twelve European markets. Together with eight colleagues from engineering and design, I introduced a new onboarding process. The average time to set up a new customer account fell from ten days to six.
For your own letter: “Gemeinsam mit” means “together with”: the result belongs to the team, and her wording preserves that. Use a number only if you can substantiate it. A specific description without a number is better than an invented metric.
3. Add relevant experience and explain the move
German original
Für die Priorisierung habe ich 35 Kundeninterviews ausgewertet und die Erkenntnisse in überprüfbare Produktentscheidungen überführt. Zuvor koordinierte ich bei Maplebridge Digital drei Produkteinführungen mit Vertrieb, Support und Engineering. Diese Erfahrung möchte ich in Ihr Produktteam einbringen. Für die Stelle bei Spreeblick Software ist ein Umzug von London nach Berlin für mich möglich.English translation
To set priorities, I analysed 35 customer interviews and turned the findings into product decisions that could be checked. Before that, I coordinated three product launches with sales, support and engineering at Maplebridge Digital. I would like to bring this experience to your product team. For the position at Spreeblick Software, I am able to relocate from London to Berlin.
For your own letter: The final sentence answers why a London-based applicant is applying in Berlin. It says she is willing to move. It does not establish work authorisation or a start date; state those separately if the application asks for them.
4. State a language gap honestly
German original
Ich arbeite auf Englisch auf muttersprachlichem Niveau und auf Deutsch auf B2-Niveau. Ihre C1-Anforderung erfülle ich derzeit noch nicht; gerne würde ich klären, ob mein aktuelles Niveau für die Zusammenarbeit ausreicht. Ich freue mich darauf, mit Ihnen über die Produktziele und die Anforderungen der Rolle zu sprechen.English translation
I work in English at native level and in German at B2 level. I do not yet meet your C1 requirement; I would welcome the chance to discuss whether my current level is sufficient for the collaboration. I look forward to talking with you about the product goals and the requirements of the role.
For your own letter: Aisha names her level and the gap instead of implying she meets C1. The employer may still require C1. This is an honest way to ask, not a technique for bypassing a requirement. Grammar help is fine; the claims about your skills must remain yours.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen means “Kind regards”. Duden describes the closing as normally having no punctuation. Use your own name; follow the employer’s signature and submission instructions.
Make it in Germany explains language levels and notes that language skills may be checked during an interview. A polished letter should not imply a level you do not have.
What goes in a separate Motivationsschreiben?
If the employer asks for both documents, use the extra page to explain your reasons instead of repeating the same achievements. Aisha’s supplementary example focuses on working closer to German-speaking customers and developing her German.
Read the complete supplementary motivation letterApplying elsewhere in DACH? Compare the Austrian letter and Swiss letter guide. Use the destination’s example and the employer’s wording, not a country name swapped into this letter.
Before you send it
- The document answers what the job ad requests.
- Each achievement, date and language level matches my CV.
- The opening names relevant work, not just the company.
- Relocation, availability and work authorisation are accurate where requested.
- I replaced all fictional details and used my own name.
- The language and file format follow the employer’s instructions.
Draft a letter for your own vacancy
The free preview starts from a job ad. In your workspace, you can also use your CV. Review the draft and replace unsupported claims before sending.
No account needed: start with a vacancy and a cover-letter draft.
Sources and example context
Sources checked . The official guidance supports the document advice; our explanations and fictional examples show how to apply it. They do not establish hiring outcomes.