The cover letter for an Ausbildung is called the Anschreiben in German. Together with the Lebenslauf (CV), it is what the company reads before deciding whether to invite you to an interview. A good Anschreiben fits on one page, talks about this specific job at this specific company, and shows that your plan to train in Germany is well thought through. A letter copied from the internet is spotted in ten seconds. Here is how a strong Anschreiben is built, with an annotated example.
What the Anschreiben is for
A training manager (Ausbilder) may receive dozens of applications for a single place. Your CV says what you have done. Your letter says why you want this job, why at their company and why you will see the training through.
For an applicant from Cameroon, the letter has one more job: to reassure. The company wonders whether your German is good enough, whether you understand what an Ausbildung involves and whether you will really come. A precise letter answers those doubts without naming them.
The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) is clear on this: do not use the same cover letter for several applications. Tailor it to each job offer and each company.
The structure of an Anschreiben
| Part | Content | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Absender (sender) | Your name, address in Cameroon, phone, email | Top left |
| Empfänger (recipient) | Company name, contact person, address | Below the sender |
| Ort, Datum (place, date) | “Buea, 15.10.2026” | On the right |
| Betreff (subject line) | “Bewerbung um einen Ausbildungsplatz als ...” | One line, in bold |
| Anrede (salutation) | “Sehr geehrte Frau Schneider,” | With the name if you know it |
| Einleitung (opening) | Why you are writing, which position, from when | 2 to 3 sentences |
| Hauptteil (main part) | Why this job, your experience, your German | 2 short paragraphs |
| Schluss (closing) | You are available for an interview, including by video | 2 sentences |
| Grußformel (sign-off) | “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” then your name | Always the same |
The whole letter stays within one page. In German, the first sentence after the salutation starts with a lower-case letter, because the comma after “Sehr geehrte Frau Schneider,” carries the sentence on.
Annotated example: a fictional applicant
The example below is entirely fictional. The applicant, Comfort Ebai (example), is invented, and the hotel is left as a placeholder. She is applying for an Ausbildung as Hotelfachfrau (hotel management assistant).
Betreff: Bewerbung um einen Ausbildungsplatz als Hotelfachfrau ab August 2027
Sehr geehrte Frau Schneider,
mit großem Interesse habe ich Ihre Ausschreibung für einen Ausbildungsplatz als Hotelfachfrau gelesen. Ich komme aus Buea in Kamerun und möchte meine Ausbildung gern in Ihrem Hotel machen.
Seit meinem GCE Advanced Level im Jahr 2025 arbeite ich am Wochenende in einem Restaurant in Buea. Dort begrüße ich Gäste, nehme Bestellungen auf und helfe bei der Vorbereitung von Veranstaltungen. Diese Arbeit macht mir Freude, weil ich gern mit Menschen spreche und auch in stressigen Momenten freundlich bleibe.
Seit Oktober 2025 lerne ich intensiv Deutsch. Im Juni 2026 habe ich das Goethe-Zertifikat B1 bestanden. Besonders interessiert mich an Ihrem Hotel, dass Auszubildende alle Abteilungen kennenlernen, von der Rezeption bis zur Küche.
Über eine Einladung zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch, gern auch per Video, freue ich mich sehr.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Comfort Ebai
What each paragraph does
- Opening. It names the exact position and says where she comes from. No “I am writing to apply for...”. It goes straight to the point.
- First main paragraph. One real experience linked to the job, with three concrete tasks. Then one quality, backed by an example (“even in stressful moments”). That is stronger than a list of adjectives.
- Second main paragraph. Her German level, with the date and the certificate. Then a specific reason for choosing this hotel. That sentence must change for every application: it comes from the job ad or the company website.
- Closing. She offers a video interview, which shows she understands that distance is not an obstacle.
In English, to follow along: “I read your advertisement for a training place as Hotelfachfrau with great interest. I come from Buea in Cameroon and would like to do my training at your hotel. Since my GCE A-Level in 2025, I have been working weekends in a restaurant in Buea...”
Useful German phrases
For the opening:
- “mit großem Interesse habe ich Ihre Anzeige gelesen” (I read your advertisement with great interest)
- “hiermit bewerbe ich mich um einen Ausbildungsplatz als ...” (I hereby apply for a training place as ...)
For the main part:
- “Bei meinem Praktikum in ... habe ich gelernt, ...” (during my internship at ..., I learned to ...)
- “Ich arbeite gern im Team.” (I enjoy working in a team)
- “Ich habe das Goethe-Zertifikat B1 bestanden.” (I passed the Goethe-Zertifikat B1)
For the closing:
- “Über eine Einladung zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch freue ich mich.” (I would be glad to be invited to an interview)
- “Für ein Gespräch per Video stehe ich jederzeit zur Verfügung.” (I am available for a video interview at any time)
Mistakes that cost you the interview
- One letter for every company. Recruiters notice immediately. At least one sentence about the company must be unique.
- Talking only about Germany. “I want to go to Germany for a better life” does not convince anyone. Talk about the job.
- Sentences that are too long. At B1, write simple, correct sentences. Complicated sentences full of errors do more harm than short ones.
- Repeating the CV. The letter explains and connects. It does not list dates again.
- No name. “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren” (Dear Sir or Madam) is acceptable if you do not know the name, but a real name is always better.
- Claiming what you do not have. Do not write “B2” if you have B1. The interview will show it.
The letter and the visa
The Anschreiben helps you get a training contract. That contract is what later allows the § 16a visa application, which is now registered through the Auslandsportal and handled by the German embassy in Yaoundé. The letter itself is not a visa document, but an honest letter avoids contradictions later, when the embassy looks at your background. The steps are in our § 16a visa guide.
How ILC prepares your letter
At ILC, we prepare your Anschreiben with you for every application. We start from your real story, choose the examples that speak to the job, write it in correct German, and then our team sends the complete application to the company. You read and approve every letter, because in the interview you will be asked about what it says. To understand the whole journey, read how it works or our guide to Ausbildung in Germany.
The letter goes hand in hand with a good German CV (Lebenslauf), and the next step is preparing for the job interview.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cover letter have to be in German?
Yes. For an Ausbildung, the Anschreiben is written in German. It is also the first proof of your language level.
How long should an Anschreiben be?
One page at most. Three or four short paragraphs are enough.
Should I explain why I am leaving Cameroon?
Not in detail. Focus on the job and what the Ausbildung gives you. One sentence about your life plan is enough.
Can I use a template from the internet?
You can borrow the structure. The content must be yours, with your own experience. Otherwise the letter sounds fake, and the interview reveals it.
Sources
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit: how to find a job in Germany (CV, cover letter, interview)
- Europass: create your cover letter
- Make it in Germany: finding a vocational training place
- German Embassy Yaoundé: visas for training and employment
Last checked: 19 October 2026.