Guide
Writing an Anschreiben that sounds human in German
A strong Anschreiben for a German internship or trainee role is short, concrete, and addressed to a named contact when one exists. Open with the role, your current study status, and one reason this employer — not “your innovative company.”
The middle paragraph should connect two or three facts from your background to tasks listed in the advert. If the posting mentions customer projects or Excel planning, name a project where you did similar work. Avoid stacking adjectives; prefer verbs and outcomes.
Close with availability, a polite request for a conversation, and your phone number. If German is not your strongest language, keep sentences short and ask a native speaker or coach to check register — formal “Sie” remains standard unless the posting uses “du.”
We often cut first drafts by a third. Space on the page helps recruiters finish reading.