If you are applying for a job in Germany, you may have come across the Deckblatt, a cover sheet that traditionally sits between the cover letter (Anschreiben) and the CV (Lebenslauf). It is a German peculiarity with no direct equivalent in Anglo-Saxon hiring markets. For most modern applications in 2026, the honest answer is: you do not need one, and including one can actively hurt your application. This guide explains why, when a Deckblatt still makes sense, and how to design one if you decide it is worth it.
If you are working on your application as a package, you can build your Anschreiben in the CareerKit cover letter editor first, then decide whether a Deckblatt adds anything. But let us start with whether you need one at all.
Why the Deckblatt rarely works today
The Deckblatt is the most contested page in the German application. Template-selling sites recommend it almost universally. Recruiters and HR specialists are increasingly sceptical. The honest answer sits between the two camps but closer to the second.
From standard to exception
Ten years ago, the Deckblatt was a standard element in classical paper applications, which were still printed and mailed in physical Bewerbungsmappe binders. The Deckblatt acted as a visual business card between the Anschreiben and the Lebenslauf. That world barely exists anymore. Indeed Germany's career guide on application design confirms that the Deckblatt is now rarely used and has become largely redundant in the era of online applications.
The shift is structural. In a typical online application via a company's career portal, you upload the cover letter and CV as separate or combined PDFs. An additional Deckblatt page only lengthens the document without adding value. Hiring managers usually jump straight to the CV.
What recruiters actually look at
Studies on application screening show how little time your documents get. An eye-tracking study by Ladders, reported by HR Dive, found an average of 7.4 seconds for the initial scan of a CV. In those seconds, the person behind the screen is checking whether you meet the professional requirements. A photo on a Deckblatt, followed by another photo in the CV, causes confusion rather than impact.
