Applying in German as an English speaker
Half of all open positions in Switzerland are advertised in German. For an English-speaking applicant that is the largest pool of work still out of reach — and a word-for-word translation does not open it, because more than the language changes.
The example below is a German letter written by an English speaker, with the structure an Alemannic reader expects and the formalities they look for first.
Write your letter in German
Paste the German advert and upload your CV: the generator writes a first draft in German, structured the way an Alemannic reader expects it.
Create my letterExample — written out in full
Bewerbung als Produktionsplaner (Ref. 2026-88)
Sehr geehrte Frau Meister,
Sie suchen einen Produktionsplaner, der zwischen Auftragsabwicklung und Fertigung vermittelt und dabei zweisprachig arbeitet. Genau diese Rolle habe ich vier Jahre lang bei einem Zürcher Zulieferer ausgefüllt — auf Englisch gegen die internationalen Kunden, auf Deutsch gegen innen.
In dieser Zeit habe ich die Durchlaufzeit von neunzehn auf zwölf Tage gesenkt, indem ich die Auftragsübergabe neu organisiert habe. Die Umstellung auf digitale Planung habe ich begleitet, von der Datenübernahme bis zur Schulung der Anwender.
Zu meinem Deutsch: Niveau B2, seit vier Jahren im täglichen Geschäftsverkehr, schriftlich wie mündlich. Meine Ausbildung ist ein BSc in Operations Management (University of Manchester, dreijähriges Vollzeitstudium), ergänzt durch eine Weiterbildung in Logistik.
Ich besitze eine Niederlassungsbewilligung C, eine Bewilligung ist also nicht erforderlich. Meine Kündigungsfrist beträgt drei Monate, verfügbar wäre ich ab dem 1. Dezember 2026. Gerne stelle ich mich Ihnen persönlich vor.
Freundliche Grüsse
James Holloway
What matters here
- "Sehr geehrte Frau X" with the name if you have it; "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren" if not.
- A bold subject line naming the role and reference is expected — unlike in English letters.
- State your German level honestly, with the context you use it in.
- Do not translate qualifications: keep the original name and explain it once.
- "Freundliche Grüsse" in Switzerland — no "Mit", and ss rather than ß.
What gets lost in translation
English business writing leans on warmth and hedging: "I would be delighted to", "I feel I would be a strong fit". Translated literally, those become vague in German and read as evasion rather than as courtesy.
The Alemannic letter does the opposite. It is direct and factual. First sentence, the employer's need and how you match it. Second paragraph, the evidence with a number. Third, language and qualifications. Fourth, the formalities. Few adjectives, and a short sign-off — "Freundliche Grüsse" is complete, where English expects a whole closing sentence.
Two recurring traps. Do not translate qualifications: a BSc stays a BSc, written out once with its country and duration, because the translated name usually does not exist in the Swiss system. And note the Swiss spelling conventions — "Grüsse" with ss, not ß, which is German-German and marks the letter as written from outside.
Permit, notice period, availability
These three decide more first-round outcomes at Swiss employers than anything else in the letter, and they are missing from almost every translated one — because they were not in the English original either.
Permit: one sentence is enough. "Ich besitze eine Niederlassungsbewilligung C, eine Bewilligung ist also nicht erforderlich" answers the first question a recruiter has about a foreign name. If you do need sponsorship, say so equally plainly — open and early beats late and surprising.
Language level: state it with context. "Niveau B2, seit vier Jahren im täglichen Geschäftsverkehr" is worth far more than "gute Deutschkenntnisse". Our measurement of Swiss adverts backs this up: of those that state a level, 85% ask for professional working proficiency — so it is the first thing checked, and a stated B2 with evidence beats an unquantified claim.
Notice period: three months is the Swiss norm and can be unexpectedly long for international employers. Name it rather than letting it become a disappointment in the final conversation.
FAQ
- Do I have to apply in German if the advert is in German?
- Yes, without exception. Answering a German advert in English is almost always filtered out — not on linguistic principle, but because it suggests the working day, which will be in German, is going to be a problem.
- My German is imperfect — should I apply anyway?
- Yes. State your level honestly and have the letter read by a German speaker. A slightly stiff construction in an otherwise precise text is readily forgiven; an application never sent cannot be.
- Should I use Hochdeutsch or Swiss German?
- Standard written German, always. Swiss German is a spoken language and is not used in correspondence — writing it would be the mistake, not the courtesy. The only written Swiss conventions to observe are ss instead of ß and "Freundliche Grüsse" without "Mit".
- How do I write my degree in a German letter?
- Keep the original title, because it is the official one, and add the placement in brackets: level, standard duration, country. Translating literally usually produces a name that does not exist in the Swiss system, which creates a question instead of an answer.
- Should I mention that I am not a native speaker?
- No need to announce it — the letter and your name will show it. Address what actually follows from it instead: language level, permit, notice period. That is what the reader wants to know.
Write a cover letter from the job advert
Paste the advert, upload your CV — the generator writes a first draft that picks up the requirements from that specific posting. Then you edit it like any other document.
Create one now