Cover letter for a hospital job in Germany
One page in German that says why this department, why you, and when you can start. With an example.
Ahmed Quteishat, Assistenzarzt, Innere Medizin (Berlin) · Founder of Klaro
Updated:
In short
A cover letter (Anschreiben) for a German hospital is one page, in German, and addressed by name to the head of department (Chefarzt or Chefärztin) when you can find the name. The subject line names the job exactly as the advert does. Three paragraphs are enough: why this department, what you bring, and your Approbation status and start date.
The structure on one page
- Your name, phone and e-mail. Town and date on the right.
- The hospital, department, head of department and address.
- Subject line (Betreff): "Bewerbung als Ärztin in Weiterbildung Innere Medizin", using the job title from the advert and its reference number if there is one.
- Greeting with the name.
- Three paragraphs: the department, your experience, your status and start date.
- "Mit freundlichen Grüßen" and your name.
- Attachments (Anlagen): CV, certificates, language certificates, references.
The greeting
The head of department's name is almost always in the advert or on the department's page. Titles go into the greeting: "Sehr geehrte Frau Prof. Dr. Weber," or "Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Yilmaz,". Only if you really cannot find a name, write "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,".
Three paragraphs a head of department wants to read
- Why this department: one concrete reason from the advert or the hospital's site. A focus area, the intensive care unit, how many months of specialty training the department may give. Klaro's training atlas shows those months for every hospital.
- What you bring: two or three experiences that fit the job, with place and duration. Do not repeat your whole CV.
- Status and start: Approbation or Berufserlaubnis, German level, earliest start date. Offer a visit (Hospitation); German hospitals often invite applicants for one.
Skip the opening "Hiermit bewerbe ich mich" ("I hereby apply"). The subject line already says that; use the first sentence for the department.
Example: a finished cover letter
Klaro wrote this letter for a real advert: resident in internal medicine (Ärztin/Arzt in Weiterbildung Innere Medizin), Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe, Berlin. The applicant, Lina Haddad, is an example person. It opens with "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren"; when the advert names someone, use the name instead.
Lina Haddad
+962 79 000 0000
lina.haddad@example.com
Amman, 19.10.2026
Bewerbung als Ärztin in Weiterbildung Innere Medizin mit Schwerpunkt Intensivmedizin
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
Ihre Ausschreibung für die Weiterbildung in der Inneren Medizin mit Intensivschwerpunkt am Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe passt zu meiner Situation: Ich habe meine Approbation beantragt, mein Deutsch ist B2, und ich möchte in einer Klinik arbeiten, die wie Havelhöhe anthroposophische Medizin mit moderner Intensivmedizin verbindet. Dass Ihre Abteilung 31 Intensivbetten und den Notarztstandort betreut, entspricht genau dem, was ich nach meiner ambulanten Erfahrung in Jordanien suche.
In Zarqa habe ich zwei Jahre lang chronisch kranke Patienten behandelt - Diabetes, Bluthochdruck, COPD. Das Basic-Life-Support-Zertifikat habe ich 2024 gemacht, und während meines Internships am Jordan University Hospital habe ich unter anderem in der Inneren Medizin rotiert. Jetzt möchte ich diese Erfahrungen in Ihrer Abteilung einbringen, besonders in der Intensivmedizin, wo Ihre Klinik sowohl konventionelle als auch anthroposophische Methoden einsetzt.
Ich würde gerne mit Ihnen besprechen, wie ich mich in Ihr Team einbringen kann. Meine Unterlagen habe ich beigefügt.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Lina Haddad
Common mistakes
- The same letter for every hospital. One sentence about the department often decides whether someone reads on.
- Leaving out your Approbation status. The hospital plans shifts and must know when you may work.
- More than one page.
- Adjectives instead of experience: "hard-working and motivated" proves nothing.
- A different status than in your CV. Write exams and dates word for word the same in both.
Questions
Does the cover letter have to be in German?
Yes, for a clinical job in a German hospital. Your German letter is also the first sample of your German that the hospital sees.
How long is a German cover letter for a doctor?
One page, usually three short paragraphs.
Can I apply before I have my Approbation?
Yes. Many hospitals hire doctors whose Approbation or Berufserlaubnis is in progress. Say exactly where your application stands and when you expect to be able to start.
Who do I address if the advert names no one?
Look for the head of department (Chefarzt or Chefärztin) on the hospital's website. If there is no name anywhere, "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren" is correct.
Klaro writes your German application
A German CV and cover letter from your own details, which you can enter in English. Free.