If you are planning to apply for a job, Ausbildung, internship or working opportunity in Germany, one of the first documents you need is a well-prepared German CV, known as a Lebenslauf. Although the basic purpose of a CV is the same in most countries, the preferred structure, information and presentation can differ from one country to another.
A German-style resume is usually clear, structured and easy to scan. It normally presents your personal information, professional experience, education, language skills, technical skills and other relevant qualifications in a tabular or clearly organised format. German employment guidance recommends keeping the Lebenslauf concise, generally up to two pages, with recent experience listed first.
If you are applying from India, the UK, the USA or another country, you may therefore need to make some changes to your existing resume before sending it to a German employer. A CV that works well in another country may not be ideally structured for a German application.
Lebenslauf literally means "life course" in German. In a job application, it is the document that summarises your education, employment history, qualifications, skills and other relevant background.
It is broadly equivalent to a resume or curriculum vitae in English. When a German company asks you to submit a Lebenslauf, it generally expects a concise overview of your professional and educational background rather than a long personal biography.
The Lebenslauf is an important part of the German application process. Depending on the vacancy, an application may also include an Anschreiben or cover letter, educational certificates, employment references, professional qualifications and other supporting documents. The exact requirements should always be checked in the job advertisement.
A typical German CV is relatively simple in design. It should be professional, readable and logically organised rather than overloaded with graphics, colours or decorative elements.
A common structure is:
German employment guidance recommends a clear tabular structure, consistent formatting and a chronological presentation starting with the most recent experience.
For most applicants, one to two pages is a useful target for a German CV. The German Federal Employment Agency specifically recommends a maximum of two pages for the Lebenslauf.
This does not mean that every experienced professional must remove important information simply to make the document fit onto one page. A senior professional with many years of relevant experience may need more space, but unnecessary information should still be removed.
For students, recent graduates and applicants with limited experience, one page can often be sufficient. Experienced professionals may use two pages to explain their career properly.
The upper section of a German CV normally identifies the applicant and provides contact information.
Common information includes:
For applicants applying to Germany from abroad, make sure your telephone number includes the appropriate international country code and that your email address looks professional. German Federal Employment Agency guidance also highlights the importance of providing contact details where applicants can be reached easily, particularly when applying from abroad.
This is an area where German CV conventions can differ from practices in other countries.
Date and place of birth have traditionally appeared on German Lebensläufe and some German CV templates still contain these fields. However, they are not universally required.
The safest approach is to understand the expectations of the particular employer, industry and application. Do not automatically copy every field from an old German CV template simply because it appears there.
Similarly, information such as marital status, number of children or religion is generally not necessary for a modern job application. The Federal Employment Agency states that marital status and religious affiliation do not need to be included, subject to specific circumstances.
The Bewerbungsfoto or application photo, is one of the most noticeable differences between German CV traditions and resume practices in some other countries.
A photo is not mandatory for a German CV. However, photos are still encountered frequently in German applications and official German employment guidance notes that expectations can differ between industries.
If you decide to include one, use a professional photograph rather than a casual holiday photograph, selfie or social-media picture.
The photograph should look appropriate for a professional application and should fit naturally into the upper section of the CV.
For most professional applicants, Berufserfahrung, meaning professional experience, is one of the most important sections of the Lebenslauf.
List your employment in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent position. This is also the structure recommended by German employment guidance.
For each position, include:
For example:
03/2023 – 08/2026
ABC Technology GmbH, Berlin
Full-Stack Web Developer
Try to describe achievements rather than simply listing routine duties. Instead of saying "Responsible for website development", explain what you developed, improved or delivered.
German CVs commonly show employment periods using month and year, such as:
This provides employers with a clear picture of your career progression.
If there are significant gaps in your CV, do not attempt to hide them by manipulating dates. German employment guidance recommends addressing significant gaps openly and explaining what you were doing during those periods.
A career gap does not automatically mean that your application will be rejected. People may have gaps because of education, travel, family responsibilities, unemployment, health-related circumstances, relocation, career changes or other reasons.
What matters is that the timeline is understandable.
For example:
Only state information that is accurate and can be explained if an employer asks about it.
The education section is usually called Ausbildung or can be presented under headings such as "Education" or "Academic Background", depending on the CV language.
List your most recent qualification first.
For university education, you can include:
For international applicants, write the qualification in a way that a German employer can understand. You can retain the original official degree name and add a concise English or German explanation where useful.
Grades can be useful, particularly for graduates, students, Ausbildung applicants and positions where academic performance is relevant.
For experienced professionals, grades often become less important than professional achievements and relevant experience. Therefore, you should prioritise information that is useful for the particular vacancy.
If a job advertisement specifically asks for grades or academic results, include them.
Language skills can be particularly important for international applicants applying for jobs in Germany.
Use recognised CEFR levels such as:
For example:
Official German guidance recommends using CEFR levels when describing language proficiency.
Do not exaggerate your German level. If your actual ability is around B1, writing C1 can create serious problems during an interview or after joining the company.
Technical skills should be tailored to the position.
For example, a software developer could list:
An accountant could instead highlight:
Do not create an enormous list of every software package you have ever used. Focus on skills relevant to the job advertisement.
Words such as "team player", "hard-working", "motivated" and "excellent communicator" are common in resumes around the world. However, simply listing them does not necessarily demonstrate that you possess those qualities.
Instead, demonstrate relevant qualities through your experience.
For example, rather than writing:
"Excellent leadership skills"
You could write:
"Led a development team of five engineers and coordinated delivery across three client projects."
This provides evidence rather than simply making a claim.
You can include Interessen or hobbies at the end of your German CV, but they should normally be relevant or provide useful additional information.
Examples might include:
There is usually little value in filling valuable CV space with a long list of generic hobbies. German employment guidance similarly recommends focusing on interests that have some relevance to the position.
A traditional German Lebenslauf may finish with the place, date and signature. Modern digital applications do not always require a handwritten signature, but it can still appear in German CV formats.
If you are using a PDF CV, a professional digital signature can be included where appropriate. However, always follow the requirements of the employer if the job advertisement gives specific instructions.
The design of a German resume should support readability rather than distract from your qualifications.
Good design generally means:
The German Federal Employment Agency specifically recommends an uncluttered, readable layout and advises against overly playful designs and unnecessary colour changes.
Europass can be useful as a starting point, especially for applicants unfamiliar with European CV conventions. However, it should not be assumed that every German employer expects or prefers a Europass CV.
The official Make it in Germany portal explains that Europass can provide a useful standardised starting point, while also noting that German companies often appreciate an individual CV design.
Therefore, a better strategy can be to use a template as a framework and then customise the final CV for the specific vacancy.
Here is a simple structure you can use as the basis for a German-style resume:
FULL NAME
Job Title / Professional Title
Address | Phone | Email | LinkedIn
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
MM/YYYY – Present
Company Name, City
Job Title
MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY
Previous Company, City
Previous Job Title
EDUCATION
MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY
Degree, Subject
University Name, Country
LANGUAGE SKILLS
TECHNICAL / PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Place, Date
Signature where appropriate
A German CV and an international resume can contain much of the same information, but their presentation can differ.
| German CV | International Resume |
|---|---|
| Often tabular and structured | Format varies significantly |
| Usually concise | Length depends on country and profession |
| Recent experience first | Usually recent experience first |
| Photo may be encountered | Photo policies vary considerably |
| CEFR language levels useful | Language descriptions vary |
| Certificates may accompany application | Supporting documents depend on country |
Even a qualified applicant can weaken an application through poor CV presentation. Some common mistakes include:
The Federal Employment Agency advises applicants to use only information that can be verified and to maintain a clear, readable and consistent structure.
You do not necessarily need to redesign your entire Lebenslauf for every application, but you should adapt the content to the vacancy.
If a German employer is looking for a PHP developer, your PHP, Laravel, MySQL and web-development experience should be easy to find. If you are applying for an SEO position, SEO, analytics, content strategy and technical optimisation experience should receive greater attention.
This does not mean adding skills you do not have. It means presenting your genuine qualifications in the most relevant way.
German employment guidance also recommends tailoring your CV to the particular employer rather than using exactly the same document for every application.
The language of your CV should normally follow the job advertisement and the employer's expectations.
If a vacancy is advertised in German and requires German communication, a German-language Lebenslauf may be appropriate. For an international company where the vacancy is advertised in English, an English CV may be accepted or preferred.
If the employer specifically requests a German CV, do not simply translate your English resume word-for-word using an automatic translator. German professional terminology and job titles may require adaptation.
Before uploading or sending your Lebenslauf, check the following:
A German CV is called a Lebenslauf. It is one of the main documents used when applying for jobs, internships and training positions in Germany.
A German Lebenslauf is generally kept to one or two pages. The Federal Employment Agency recommends a maximum of two pages for a concise CV.
No. A photo is not mandatory. However, application photos are still common in Germany and expectations can vary by industry and employer.
Yes. A German CV is normally organised chronologically with the most recent education and professional experience presented first.
Yes, depending on the employer and vacancy. International companies and English-language vacancies may accept or request an English CV. If the job advertisement is in German, check whether the employer expects German application documents.
Yes, Europass can be used as a starting point, but it is not the only acceptable format. German employers may prefer a more individually designed CV, so adapting the template to the vacancy can be useful.
It is generally not necessary to include marital status. Modern German employment guidance does not require this information.
You can include relevant interests or voluntary activities, particularly when they provide useful information about your background. Avoid using valuable space for a long list of unrelated hobbies.
The Lebenslauf summarises your professional and educational background, while the Anschreiben is the cover letter explaining your interest in the position and why your experience is relevant.
A strong German CV or Lebenslauf does not need to be complicated. The most important objective is to make your relevant experience, qualifications and skills easy for a German employer to understand quickly.
Use a clean structure, start with your most recent experience, keep your descriptions concise and use recognised language levels. Include personal information carefully, treat the application photo as optional rather than mandatory and explain significant gaps honestly.
Most importantly, do not treat a German CV template as a document that should simply be filled in and sent to every company. A template is a starting point. Your final Lebenslauf should reflect your actual career, qualifications and the requirements of the specific job.
For international applicants, this combination of accurate information, clear formatting, relevant German terminology and targeted experience can make the application much easier for German employers to read and understand.
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