The German CV, the Lebenslauf, looks different from a US or UK resume. It is a factual, dated list rather than a narrative, and it traditionally includes more personal data. Applications also usually come as a package. These are conventions that vary by employer, and modern employers are loosening several of them.
A convention, not an official rule
There is no single official CV format for Germany. This page describes what employers commonly expect. Some public-sector and government applications, such as US federal jobs or EU institutions, do set a required format. If a job post gives one, follow it.
At a glance
| Length | One to two pages is typical. Some guides allow three pages for experienced professionals. |
|---|---|
| Layout | Tabular and factual: dates on the left, details on the right, most recent first. No narrative paragraphs. |
| Photo | Common and often expected by traditional employers, but not legally required. One university guide calls it not compulsory but appreciated. |
| Personal data | More detailed than elsewhere: name, address, phone and email, and often date of birth and nationality. Marital status is optional and increasingly left out. |
| Ending | Place, date and a signature are traditional, especially on printed or PDF applications. |
| Package | The CV usually goes with a cover letter (Anschreiben) and copies of certificates and employer references (Zeugnisse). |
| Language and file | Write in German if the job post is in German. PDF is the usual format. |
What to include
- Header and personal data (Persönliche Daten). Name, address, phone, email, and optionally date of birth and nationality.
- Profile (Profil). Optional. Two or three factual lines.
- Work experience (Berufserfahrung). Dates in MM/YYYY form, job title, employer and city, then short factual bullets.
- Education (Ausbildung or Studium). Dates, degree, institution, city.
- Skills and languages (Kenntnisse). IT skills, and languages with a level such as B2 or C1.
- Place, date and signature. A typed name works on a digital application if you have no signature image.
What to leave out
- Long narrative paragraphs and personality descriptions. Keep it factual.
- Unexplained gaps in the dates. Longer gaps need a short, honest explanation.
- A marital status line, unless you want it. It is optional and increasingly omitted.
If your resume was written for India
- Much carries over. A photo and personal data are acceptable in Germany, so you do not need to remove them as you would for Canada.
- Replace the declaration paragraph ("I hereby declare...") with place, date and a signature.
- Use a reverse-chronological, dated list with month and year, and keep it to one or two pages.
- Prepare the rest of the package: cover letter, certificates and employer references.
- Write the CV in German if the job post is in German. Otherwise English is common for international roles.
Template for Germany
A plain single-column template that follows these conventions. Replace the bracketed parts with your own details, and delete any optional line you do not need.
[Your Full Name] [Street and number], [Postcode City], [Country] | [Phone with country code] | [Email] | [LinkedIn URL] PERSONAL DATA (optional lines) Date of birth: [DD.MM.YYYY] Nationality: [Country] PROFILE (optional) [Two or three factual lines: your role, years of experience and main strengths.] WORK EXPERIENCE [MM/YYYY] to [MM/YYYY or today]: [Job title], [Employer], [City, Country] - [Task or responsibility, with a result or number if you have one.] - [Task or responsibility, with a result or number if you have one.] [MM/YYYY] to [MM/YYYY]: [Job title], [Employer], [City, Country] - [Task or responsibility, with a result or number if you have one.] EDUCATION [MM/YYYY] to [MM/YYYY]: [Degree], [Institution], [City, Country] - [Thesis topic or main focus, if relevant.] SKILLS AND LANGUAGES IT skills: [tool], [tool], [tool] Languages: [Language] ([level, for example C1]), [Language] ([level]) [City], [Date] [Signature or typed name]
Check your resume against these rules
The checker has a setting for Germany that flags the items on this page in your pasted or uploaded resume.
Common questions
Do I need a photo on a German CV?
It is common and often expected by traditional employers, but it is not legally required. Follow the employer's lead. If the job post or company site suggests a modern, international culture, it matters less.
Should I write my CV in German?
Yes, if the job post is in German. For roles posted in English, an English CV is usually fine.
Is a signature required?
It is traditional to end with place, date and a signature, especially on printed or PDF applications. On a digital form, a typed name is common.
How long should it be?
One to two pages for most people. Some guides allow a third page for experienced professionals.