Guides · Application e-mail
How to write the application e-mail to a German employer
A large share of German SMEs and hospitals still take applications by e-mail: bewerbung@firma.de. The mail is a short cover note; the real documents are attached. Below: subject line, body, attachment layout and what to do when nobody replies.
Updated: 3 September 2026
Subject line
- Pattern: Bewerbung als [position] – [full name] – [reference number if any].
- Example: Bewerbung als Schweißer (m/w/d) – Mert Aydın – Ref. 4711
- If the posting dictates a subject ('Betreff: …'), use it verbatim; the ATS routes by it.
- The word 'Bewerbung' must appear; the HR inbox is filtered on it.
Body: five lines are enough
The mail body does not replace the Anschreiben; that goes as an attachment. The body is a cover note: who, which position, what is attached, contact.
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, / anbei erhalten Sie meine Bewerbung als Schweißer (m/w/d) für Ihren Standort Stuttgart. / Meine Unterlagen (Anschreiben, Lebenslauf, Zeugnisse) finden Sie im Anhang als PDF. / Ich lebe derzeit in der Türkei und stehe für ein Videogespräch jederzeit zur Verfügung. / Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Mert Aydın / +90 5xx xxx xx xx
Attachments
- One PDF is ideal: Bewerbung_Mert_Aydin.pdf — in order: Anschreiben, Lebenslauf, certificates. Under 5 MB in total; most mail servers cut at 10 MB.
- If you send separate files, name them: Anschreiben_Aydin.pdf, Lebenslauf_Aydin.pdf, Zeugnisse_Aydin.pdf. Sending 'scan0001.pdf' reads as careless.
- PDF, not Word. If you include a photo, inside the CV, not as a separate JPG.
- Documents in German or sworn translation; a scan of a Turkish diploma alone carries no meaning.
Sending: address, time, account
- Send to the address in the posting, not to a general info@ address. If there is none, the 'Bewerbung' or 'Karriere' address on the careers page.
- Send from your own address: firstname.lastname@gmail.com. Addresses like 'delikanli_41@' are not taken seriously.
- Weekdays 08:00–11:00 German time is the best window; a mail arriving at 02:00 sits at the bottom of the inbox the next day.
- Do not apply to several positions at the same employer on the same day; pick one.
No reply: the follow-up mail (Nachfassen)
If nothing has come within two weeks, a short follow-up is normal and expected; it is not pushy. Reply on the same subject line with 'Nachfrage:' prefixed.
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, / am 3. September habe ich mich als Schweißer (m/w/d) beworben. Ich möchte mich erkundigen, ob meine Unterlagen angekommen sind und wie der Stand des Verfahrens ist. / Für Rückfragen stehe ich gerne zur Verfügung. / Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Mert Aydın
One follow-up is enough. Silence after a second one means 'no'; give the time to another posting.
FAQ
- Can I paste the cover letter into the mail body?
- You can, but it is weak: formatting breaks and it does not enter the ATS cleanly. Anschreiben as PDF attachment, body as a five-line note.
- Which address should I send from?
- Your own, in your name; Gmail is fine. In Kelyvaro, sending also happens from your own Gmail, not from our address — the employer replies to a real person.
- Should I request a read receipt?
- No. In German HR a read receipt request is considered intrusive.
- How does Kelyvaro send the mail?
- It prepares the subject line, the body and the PDF attachment; you read and approve; the mail goes from your Gmail account under your name. Replies land in your inbox.
Ready to send
From subject line to PDF, ready — you approve with one click.
Kelyvaro prepares the mail, the cover letter and the PDF for every match; sending goes from your Gmail address. Signing up and your first application are free.