Writing a Cover Letter in English: A Guide for German Speakers
An English cover letter is not a translated German Anschreiben: it follows its own rules — from “Dear …” to a more direct tone and the right sign-off. Learn the conventions, the classic German-English traps and see a complete example.
By Redaktion ·
Key takeaways
- An English cover letter is required whenever the job ad is in English or you apply to an international company — then the whole application should be in English.
- A cover letter is not a translated German Anschreiben: the tone is more direct and confident, and photos or personal details such as date of birth have no place in it.
- The sign-off depends on the salutation: after “Dear Ms Smith” the letter ends with “Yours sincerely”, after “Dear Sir or Madam” with “Yours faithfully” (British convention).
- Literal translations are the biggest trap: phrases like “I stand to your disposal” or “until now I worked” are wrong in English and jump out at native speakers immediately.
- Choose British or American English and stay consistent — mixing spelling, date format and sign-off looks sloppy.
The job ad is in English, your CV is translated — which leaves the hardest part: the cover letter in English. The biggest trap is not vocabulary but the reflex to translate the German letter sentence by sentence. An English cover letter follows its own conventions: a different tone, different formulas, different expectations. This article covers exactly those differences — for the structure of the German Anschreiben, see our separate guide.
When you need an English cover letter
The rule of thumb is simple: language of the ad = language of the application. An English cover letter is expected for:
- English-language job ads — including those from German companies, which often use them to test language skills directly
- international companies with English as the working language, especially in IT, consulting and start-ups
- applications abroad or for roles with an international team
Avoid half measures: a German cover letter attached to an English CV (or vice versa) looks indecisive.
Cover letter vs. German Anschreiben
| German Anschreiben | English cover letter | |
|---|---|---|
| Salutation | Sehr geehrte Frau Meier, | Dear Ms Smith, |
| Tone | formal, reserved | more direct, more confident |
| Photo/date of birth | photo customary (optional) | no photo, no personal data |
| Sign-off | Mit freundlichen Grüßen | Yours sincerely / Yours faithfully |
| Length | max. 1 page | 250–350 words, 3–4 paragraphs |
| Date | 12.07.2026 / 12. Juli 2026 | 12 July 2026 (UK) / July 12, 2026 (US) |
The most important difference is tone: in English you may — and should — name your achievements directly. “I led a team of five” is not bragging; it is the expected clarity.
Structure with sample sentences
The cover letter runs to four paragraphs:
1. Opening: position and hook
“I am writing to apply for the position of [position] advertised on [platform]. With three years of experience in [field], I was immediately drawn to this role.”
2. Why you fit
Your strongest piece of evidence, with a result: “In my current role at [company name], I streamlined the reporting process, cutting preparation time by a third.”
3. Why this company
A specific link to the employer: “What attracts me to [company name] is your focus on [topic] — an area I have worked in since 2023.”
4. Closing: looking ahead
“I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience could contribute to your team. Thank you for considering my application.”
A complete short example
Dear Ms [Name],
I am writing to apply for the position of [position] advertised on your careers page. With four years of experience in [field], the role matches both my skills and my ambition to work in an international team.
At [company name], I currently manage [task] and recently [concrete result]. I am confident this experience translates directly to the challenges described in your advertisement.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application in person and am available to start from [date].
Yours sincerely [First name Last name]
Denglisch traps: false friends and format errors
Native speakers spot these literal translations immediately:
- ❌ “I stand to your disposal” → ✅ “I am happy to answer any questions”
- ❌ “Until now I worked at …” → ✅ “I have been working at …” (present perfect for ongoing situations)
- ❌ “I make an apprenticeship” → ✅ “I am completing an apprenticeship”
- ❌ “Dear Mrs,” without a name → ✅ “Dear Sir or Madam,” — or better: research the name
- ❌ Date as “12.07.2026” → ✅ “12 July 2026” (UK) or “July 12, 2026” (US)
- ❌ “my chef” for your boss → ✅ “my manager” — a chef works in a kitchen
British or American?
Both are correct — but only consistently. British: “Yours sincerely” (with a known name) or “Yours faithfully” (after “Dear Sir or Madam”), date “12 July 2026”, spellings like “organise” and “programme”. American: “Sincerely”, date “July 12, 2026”, “organize” and “program”. For applications in Germany and Europe, British English is the usual choice; for US companies, American English fits. What matters is not mixing the two.
Common mistakes in English cover letters
- Translating the German letter word for word — stock phrases like “Hiermit bewerbe ich mich” never translate into natural English.
- Being too modest — the German understatement tone reads as insecure rather than polite in English.
- Including a photo and date of birth — unusual and partly unwelcome in the English-speaking context.
- Mismatching sign-off and salutation — “Dear Sir or Madam” plus “Yours sincerely” is a classic British form error.
- Mixing variants — half-British, half-American spelling stands out to practised readers.
Checklist: English cover letter before sending
- Salutation with a researched name (“Dear Ms Smith”) instead of an anonymous formula?
- Sign-off matching the salutation (sincerely/faithfully)?
- No photo, no date of birth, no marital status?
- All the Denglisch classics checked (disposal, until now, chef)?
- British or American English kept consistent (date, spelling)?
- 250 to 350 words, three to four paragraphs, direct tone?
The real work in an English cover letter lies between “correctly translated” and “sounds natural”. Our AI cover letter generator writes your letter in English from the start — with the right conventions from salutation to sign-off, instead of translating a German text.
Frequently asked questions
- When do I need a cover letter in English?
- Whenever the job ad is written in English — an English application is then expected, even from German companies, which often use it to test language skills. The same applies to international companies with English as their working language and applications abroad. Rule of thumb: language of the ad = language of the application.
- When do I use “Yours sincerely” and when “Yours faithfully”?
- In British English: if you know the recipient's name (“Dear Ms Smith”), close with “Yours sincerely”. If you don't (“Dear Sir or Madam”), close with “Yours faithfully”. In American English, “Sincerely” is standard in both cases.
- How long should an English cover letter be?
- Like the German Anschreiben, one page at most — and usually shorter: three to four paragraphs of about 250 to 350 words are standard. The tone is more direct, so an English cover letter gets to the point faster than the classic German application letter.
- Should an English application include a photo?
- No. In the UK and US, photos in applications are unusual and partly unwelcome due to anti-discrimination rules — and that convention carries over to English-language applications in general. Leave out your date of birth and marital status too.
- What are the most common Denglisch mistakes in cover letters?
- Literal translations of German stock phrases: “I stand to your disposal” (correct: “I am happy to answer any questions”), “until now I worked” (correct: “I have been working”), “Dear Mrs” without a name, or the German date format. And “chef” for your boss is wrong — the English word is “manager”; a chef works in a kitchen.