Anyone interested in a Education in Germany When applying for an apprenticeship, you generally need more than just a resume. Companies offering apprenticeships often expect a cover letter, a clear, tabular resume, and school transcripts. For international applicants, there’s an additional question: Do foreign transcripts need to be translated—or even certified as accurate?
Quick Answer: A typical apprenticeship application includes a cover letter, resume, and relevant certificates. The cover letter should be tailored specifically to the apprenticeship program and the company. The resume should clearly outline your education, internships, work experience, language skills, and other relevant abilities. Foreign certificates should be understandable to the training company; whether a simple or certified translation is required depends on the specific recipient and intended use.
What documents are required for an apprenticeship application?
The documents required by a training company are often listed directly in the job posting or on the application portal.
A complete application typically includes the following:
- Cover letter,
- tabular resume,
- School report cards,
- proof of internships, if applicable,
- employment references, if applicable,
- Language certificates,
- other relevant certificates and
- a translation of foreign documents, if necessary.
Additional documents should be included, especially if they are relevant to the desired apprenticeship program.
What is particularly important when applying for an apprenticeship from abroad?
International applicants should ensure that a German training company can easily understand their educational background to date.
The following are particularly helpful in this regard:
- a clearly structured resume,
- understandable descriptions of foreign high school diplomas,
- Statement of actual language proficiency,
- clear and legible report cards,
- German or English translations, if applicable, and
- A brief explanation of particularly important foreign credentials.
A foreign high school diploma should not be referred to on its own as a „German Realschulabschluss,“ „Abitur,“ or any other German high school diploma unless it has been officially recognized as equivalent.
The Cover Letter for an Apprenticeship
The cover letter gives the training company a first personal impression.
In particular, it should make it clear that:
- which apprenticeship position you are applying for,
- why you want to pursue this career,
- why you are applying to this company,
- which strengths are a good fit for the apprenticeship,
- what practical experience you have already gained and
- why you are a good fit for the apprenticeship position.
The cover letter should not be sent to many companies as an identical, boilerplate text.
The more specific the connection between your experiences, your strengths, and the apprenticeship position being advertised, the clearer your motivation will be.
How do you start a cover letter for an apprenticeship?
If a specific contact person is listed in the job posting, you should contact that person directly whenever possible.
The entry point should lead directly to the company and the training program.
Instead of simply writing that you are „submitting an application,“ you could, for example, explain:
- what interests you about the profession,
- how you first learned about the company offering the apprenticeship,
- what practical experience you already have in this field, or
- Why this particular company is a good fit for your career goals.
What strengths should I mention in my cover letter?
The strengths you mention should be relevant to the specific job and, if possible, supported by a concrete example.
Depending on the trade being trained for, the following may be relevant, for example:
- Reliability,
- Care,
- manual dexterity,
- technical understanding,
- Communication skills,
- Ability to work as part of a team,
- Organization,
- mathematical understanding or
- An interest in working with people.
Instead of simply writing „I’m a team player,“ it’s better to provide a specific example—such as an internship, part-time job, school project, sports club, or volunteer work.
Should every company receive its own cover letter?
Yes, the cover letter should be tailored to the specific apprenticeship position.
Much of the basic information can remain the same. However, your motivation, how your experience relates to the company, and particularly relevant skills should be tailored to the specific position.
Therefore, before submitting any application, please check the following:
- What duties are listed in the job posting?
- What qualities does the company expect?
- Which of my experiences fit this particularly well?
- Why do I want to do my training there in particular?
What does a resume for an apprenticeship look like?
In Germany, resumes are typically organized in a clear, tabular format.
For international applicants to vocational training programs, the following areas may be particularly relevant:
- personal contact information,
- School education,
- if applicable, college education or previous training,
- Internships,
- Work experience and part-time jobs,
- Language skills,
- Computer and technical skills,
- Additional qualifications and
- any relevant interests or volunteer activities, if applicable.
Your resume should make it easy to see which experiences and skills are relevant to the training program you're applying for.
How long should a resume be?
A concise resume is a good idea when applying for an apprenticeship.
For young applicants, one page is often sufficient. If you have already completed several relevant internships, jobs, or educational programs, two pages may be appropriate.
A clear and well-organized layout is more important than a fixed page count.
What personal information should be included in a resume?
The following are particularly important:
- First and last name,
- Address or current place of residence,
- Phone number and
- a legitimate email address.
Additional personal information should only be included if it is relevant to or requested for the application.
Does a resume need to include a photo?
No.
A photo is not required with a job application in Germany.
It continues to be used on a voluntary basis in various industries. Anyone submitting a photo should use a professional, recent photo.
However, as a general rule, an application may also be submitted without a photo.
How do I list my foreign high school diploma on my resume?
The degree should be designated in a way that accurately reflects the original qualification, if possible.
For example, it makes sense to:
- official or translated degree title,
- Name of the school,
- City and state,
- Period of school attendance and
- Graduation year.
If an official German certificate of recognition already exists, the established German equivalence may also be specified.
Without a notice of recognition, one should not independently claim German equivalence.
How do I list my German language skills on my resume?
Language skills should be described as realistically and clearly as possible.
For German and other languages, for example, the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference can be used:
- A1 or A2,
- B1 or B2,
- C1 or C2.
If you have a recognized language certificate, you may also list it.
The information provided should reflect your actual language skills, as these will become apparent, at the latest, during the job interview or in the day-to-day routine of the training program.
How do I list internships and work experience?
Practical experience is particularly valuable when applying for apprenticeships.
In your resume, you should include the following information whenever possible regarding relevant internships or work experience:
- Period,
- Company or organization,
- Location,
- Activities and
- a few key tasks.
Internships abroad can also be relevant.
If an internship or employment reference is written in a foreign language, a translation may be helpful so that the training company can understand its contents.
What documents should be included in an apprenticeship application?
School transcripts are among the typical documents included with an application for an apprenticeship.
Depending on the situation, the following may be particularly relevant:
- High school diploma,
- current or most recent report card,
- any additional current school transcripts,
- Internship certificates,
- Employment references,
- Language certificates and
- Additional professional credentials.
The specific documents required are listed in the job posting or the company's guidelines.
Should I send original certificates?
For a standard apprenticeship application, copies or digital scans are typically used.
Original documents should not be sent by mail to training companies unless absolutely necessary.
If originals or specific certified copies are needed at a later date, the company or the relevant authority may expressly request them.
Do foreign transcripts need to be translated?
A translation can be very helpful if the training company does not understand the language of the certificate.
The official federal portal for international professionals recommends having foreign diplomas translated into German or English well in advance so that companies can understand the qualifications.
However, the decision on whether a translation is actually necessary should be made based on the specific job application.
Does the translation for a vocational training application need to be certified?
Not automatically.
For a standard job application with a private training company, a clear translation may be sufficient if the employer does not require a specific format.
A certified or authenticated translation, on the other hand, may be required if the documents are intended, for example, for:
- a credential evaluation agency,
- a school-based education,
- a government agency or
- another formal procedure
be used.
Therefore, before placing an order, it should be clarified who will receive the document and what format is required.
What is the difference between translating a diploma and having a diploma recognized?
These two processes should not be confused.
Translation of a Report Card
The content of a foreign transcript is translated into another language.
Recognition of Diplomas
A competent authority determines which German educational credential the foreign credential corresponds to.
A translation therefore does not determine whether a foreign high school diploma is equivalent to a German Hauptschulabschluss, Mittlerer Bildungsabschluss, or Abitur.
How are foreign musical notes handled in the translation?
The musical notation in the source document is generally reproduced accordingly in the translation.
A translator should not decide on their own which German grade corresponds to a foreign grade.
Such an assessment or conversion is the responsibility of the relevant institution.
What is important to keep in mind regarding certificates written in Arabic or other non-Latin scripts?
For documents written in non-Latin scripts, special attention should be paid to the spelling of names.
This applies, for example, to certificates in:
- Arabic script,
- Persian script,
- Cyrillic script,
- Greek script,
- Chinese characters or
- other writing systems.
If the name is already written in Latin script in the passport or residence permit, this spelling should be specified when requesting a translation, if possible.
Should I apply in German or English?
The language used in the job posting is an important guide.
If an apprenticeship position is advertised in German and no other language for the application is specified, submitting an application in German is usually the obvious choice.
For companies with an international focus, applications in English may also be accepted in some cases.
If in doubt, you should contact the company directly.
How do you submit an application for an apprenticeship?
These days, job applications are often:
- through an online application portal or
- by email
submitted.
The job posting should specify the preferred application format.
If the company provides an online portal, the fields and file formats specified there should be used.
Applying for an apprenticeship via email
When applying via email, the message itself should be brief and professionally written.
For example, the following are important:
- a descriptive subject line,
- the correct contact person,
- A brief note regarding the application in the attachment,
- a legitimate email address and
- Complete application materials.
Documents should generally be sent as PDFs so that the recipient can view them with their original formatting intact.
One PDF or multiple files?
When applying via email, it may be helpful to combine your cover letter, resume, and attachments into a single, well-organized PDF file.
On an online job application portal, however, documents are often uploaded individually.
The technical specifications of the respective company are always the deciding factor.
What should application files be named?
File names should be unique and professional.
Instead of:
bewerbung_neu_final2.pdf
For example, a clear label is helpful:
Bewerbung-Vorname-Nachname-Ausbildung.pdf
For individual attachments, terms such as „resume,“ „school transcript,“ or „language certificate“ may be used.
Does the cover letter have to be written in perfect German?
The cover letter should be carefully crafted.
Spelling and grammar errors can negatively affect the overall impression.
International applicants should therefore have their application reviewed by someone with strong language skills before submitting it.
At the same time, it is important that the text remains authentic and that the language skills listed reflect reality.
Can I use AI for my cover letter?
Digital tools can help you organize or edit the language of a cover letter.
However, the final text should always be reviewed and revised on a case-by-case basis.
In particular, the cover letter should:
- fit with the actual biography,
- do not contain any fictional experiences,
- may not be the same for every company, and
- be worded in such a way that you can explain these points during the job interview.
Common Mistakes in Apprenticeship Applications by International Applicants
- Send the same cover letter, unchanged, to many companies.
- Independently recognize foreign degrees as equivalent to German degrees.
- Oversell your language skills—make them sound much better than they actually are.
- Upload incomplete transcripts.
- Submitting foreign-language certificates without a comprehensible translation, even though the company cannot read them.
- Automatically ordering an expensive certified translation, even though the employer only needs a translation that is easy to understand.
- Forgot to include internships and practical experience on your resume.
- Failing to make the connection between one's own strengths and the chosen vocational training program.
- Ignore the company's preferred application method.
- Use unclear file names.
- Do not check spelling and grammar.
What should I check before submitting?
- Does the cover letter specify the correct apprenticeship position?
- Is the company name spelled correctly?
- Is the contact person correct?
- Does the cover letter explain my motivation?
- Does the resume match the apprenticeship position?
- Have you completed your schooling and internships?
- Are my language skills listed correctly?
- Are all the required certificates available?
- Are documents in foreign languages understandable to the recipient?
- Are all the PDFs readable?
- Are the file names professional?
- Was the application checked for spelling errors?
What types of application documents can StartDE translate?
StartDE can arrange for professional translations—and, if required for the specific purpose—certified translations of various educational and job application documents.
These may include:
- High school diplomas,
- Subject and Grade Summaries,
- Training certificates,
- Vocational diplomas,
- Internship certificates,
- Employment references,
- Proof of language proficiency and education, and
- Other relevant documents.
You can submit your request directly through our website Interpreting & Translation Services at StartDE transmit.
Express Translation for a Training Program Application
If an application deadline is approaching soon, a quick translation may be necessary.
Depending on the specific order, StartDE may consider expedited processing.
Depending on the document, language pair, length, and availability, a The certified translation will be completed the same day.
To ensure a prompt review, please submit the following as soon as possible:
- complete and clearly legible scans,
- all relevant front and back pages,
- Source language,
- Desired target language,
- Purpose,
- any requirements of the training company or the competent authority, and
- Desired completion date.
Translation as a PDF for the online application
Once the translation is complete, a PDF version or a scan of the finished translation can be provided initially.
This can be particularly convenient for email or online applications.
The respective receiving agency will determine whether a digital version is sufficient for a subsequent official recognition process.
Physical copy via DHL
If a hard copy of the translation is needed, it can also be provided upon request via DHL be shipped.
In urgent cases, express delivery may also be an option, depending on the appropriate DHL service.
The actual delivery time depends on the shipping service and the destination address.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for an Apprenticeship in Germany
- Select the right apprenticeship: Read the requirements and tasks carefully.
- Researching companies: Gather information for a personalized cover letter.
- How to Write a Resume: Clearly present your education, internships, language skills, and relevant experience.
- Customize the cover letter: Specifically link your motivation and relevant strengths to the position.
- Select certificates: Gather the documentation required by the company or otherwise relevant to the matter.
- Check for translation needs: Have documents in other languages translated into German or English, if necessary.
- Please note the application format: Use the online portal, email, or another form of communication that has been expressly requested.
- Check the documents: Check for spelling, completeness, and readability.
- Submit your application: Check all files again to make sure they are correct.
- Preparing for the interview: Be able to confidently explain your motivation, resume, and personal experiences.
Conclusion: Good apprenticeship applications are personalized and easy to understand
A successful application for an apprenticeship typically consists of a personalized cover letter, a well-organized resume, and the relevant transcripts.
For international applicants, it is particularly important to clearly outline their educational background to date. Foreign high school diplomas should be correctly identified and should not be equated with German diplomas without an official basis.
Certificates in foreign languages can be translated into German or English for the application so that the training company can understand the qualifications. However, a certified translation is not automatically required for a standard application. The decisive factor is always what format the respective training company or any government agency involved later on requires.
Do you need a professional or certified translation of your transcripts for a training program application? Please submit your complete documents to StartDE via our website, along with the source language, target language, and intended use. Professional and Certified Translations at StartDE.
Frequently Asked Questions About Applying for an Apprenticeship in Germany
What documents do I need to apply for an apprenticeship?
Typically, a cover letter, a resume in table format, and school transcripts. Depending on the training company, proof of internships, language certificates, or other documentation may also be required. Federal Employment Agency
Do I have to write a new cover letter for each apprenticeship position?
The cover letter should at least be tailored to the specific company and apprenticeship position. The Federal Employment Agency strongly recommends submitting a customized application rather than an unmodified, standard cover letter. Federal Employment Agency
Do I need to include a photo on my resume?
No. A photo for a job application is optional. It is still used in some industries, but it is not required. Federal Employment Agency
How long should a resume be for an apprenticeship?
It should be concise and well-organized. For young applicants, one page is often sufficient; if you have several relevant work experiences, two pages may be appropriate. Make it in Germany generally recommends a maximum of two pages. Make It in Germany
Do I need to have my foreign school transcripts translated?
For international applications, Make it in Germany recommends having certificates translated into German or English so that companies can understand the qualifications. Whether this is required in a specific case is up to the training company. Make It in Germany
Do I need a certified translation for my apprenticeship application?
Not automatically. For a standard application, the training company may accept a different format. Stricter requirements may apply for government agencies or formal recognition procedures.
Should I write my application in German?
Base your decision on the language used in the job posting. For a German-language apprenticeship posting, a German application is usually the logical choice; international companies may also accept applications in other languages. Make It in Germany
Can I submit my apprenticeship application by email?
Yes, if the company offers this application method. Many applications are submitted today via email or online portals. The instructions in the job posting take precedence. Make It in Germany
