Is the Anschreiben (cover letter) still expected in Germany?

Often, but not always. Many German employers still expect a one-page Anschreiben, especially traditional companies, the public sector and smaller firms. A growing number of employers, especially larger and international ones, have made it optional or dropped it from their online forms.

Follow the advert:

• If it asks for an Anschreiben or "Motivationsschreiben", write one tailored to the role.
• If the online form has no field for it, do not force it in.
• If it is optional, a short, specific letter can still help when you are changing careers or applying from abroad.

A good German cover letter is concise and factual: why this role, what you bring, and your earliest start date. ResumeBuilder.ae lets you write a matching cover letter in the builder.