Lesson 112 · German A1-2

Writing a Cover Letter: das Anschreiben

Das Anschreiben

Following Lesson 111's Lebenslauf, today's the Anschreiben - the formal cover letter that goes with it. Unlike the Lebenslauf's note-form style, this is full formal-register sentences, reusing Lesson 27's letter structure and Sie-register throughout.

Today's win: write a short, correctly structured formal cover letter opening and closing.

Formal opening (reusing Lesson 27)

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, (Dear Sir or Madam - used when you don't know the specific contact)
Sehr geehrter Herr [Name], / Sehr geehrte Frau [Name], (when you do know the contact)

Quick check: which opening do you use when you don't know the contact person's name?

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Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren

Stating your interest

Ich bewerbe mich um die Stelle als ... (I am applying for the position as ... - reflexive, Lesson 28)
Ich habe die Stellenanzeige mit großem Interesse gelesen. (I read the job posting with great interest.)

Quick check: "I am applying for the position." - Ich ______ mich um die Stelle.

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bewerbe

Highlighting your fit

Ich habe drei Jahre Erfahrung in diesem Bereich. (I have three years of experience in this field - Perfekt-style haben, Lesson 7.)
Ich würde mich über ein Gespräch freuen. (I would be glad about an interview - würde, Lesson 65.)

Quick check: which construction from Lesson 65 makes "Ich würde mich freuen" extra polite?

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würde

Formal closing

Mit freundlichen Grüßen, (reusing Lesson 27's formal closing)
Try it out loud (or on paper): write a 3-sentence cover letter opening: state you're applying, why you're interested, and one relevant strength.

Recap

1. "I am applying for the position." - Ich ______ mich um die Stelle.

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bewerbe

2. Formal closing phrase, reused from Lesson 27?

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Mit freundlichen Grüßen

3. Which opening is used when the contact's name isn't known?

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Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren

Primary source

Format based on standard German Bewerbung conventions; register cross-checked against the Schreiben section of the official Goethe A1 Modellsatz.

Want feedback on a real cover letter draft? Ask your teaching agent to check it against these criteria.