German CV Guide: How to Write a Lebenslauf That Gets Interviews

Applying for jobs in Germany? Your American or British resume won't work here. German employers expect a specific CV format called a Lebenslauf, and getting it wrong signals that you don't understand German business culture.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the German CV format, from photo requirements to the signature at the bottom.

What Is a Lebenslauf?

A Lebenslauf (literally "course of life") is the German-style CV. Unlike the achievement-focused American resume, a Lebenslauf emphasizes:

• Complete career history in reverse chronological order
• Personal information including date of birth and nationality
• A professional photo in the top right corner
• Formal structure with clear sections and dates
• Your signature at the bottom

Think of it as a formal document that tells your complete professional story, not a marketing highlight reel.

Key Differences: German CV vs American Resume

The Professional Photo Requirement

Yes, German CVs include a photo. This surprises many international applicants, but it's deeply embedded in German hiring culture.

Photo requirements:

• Professional headshot, not a selfie or vacation crop
• Business attire appropriate to your industry
• Neutral background (white, light gray, or light blue)
• Size: approximately 4.5cm x 6cm
• Placed in the top right corner of the first page
• Recent (within the last 2 years)

Photo tips:

• Invest in a professional photographer (around 50-100 EUR)
• Dress one level above your target position
• Smile naturally but professionally
• Avoid heavy makeup or distracting jewelry

Some international companies in Germany are moving away from photo requirements, but traditional German companies still expect them. When in doubt, include it.

Personal Information Section

German CVs include personal details that would be illegal to require in the US or UK. At the top of your Lebenslauf, include:

Required:

• Full name
• Address (full street address, not just city)
• Phone number (with country code if international)
• Email address
• Date of birth
• Place of birth

Optional but common:

• Nationality (especially if you have EU work rights)
• Marital status (increasingly optional)
• LinkedIn profile

Example header:

Max Mustermann
Musterstraße 123
10115 Berlin

Tel: +49 123 456789
Email: max.mustermann@email.de

Geburtsdatum: 15. März 1990
Geburtsort: München
Staatsangehörigkeit: Deutsch

Education Section (Ausbildung)

List your education in reverse chronological order. German employers care deeply about formal qualifications.

Include:

• Degree name and field of study
• Institution name and location
• Dates (month/year to month/year)
• Final grade (if good: 1.0-2.5 range)
• Thesis title (for university degrees)

Example:

AUSBILDUNG

09/2015 - 06/2018    Master of Science, Informatik
                     Technische Universität München
                     Abschlussnote: 1.7
                     Masterarbeit: "Machine Learning Applications
                     in Predictive Maintenance"

09/2012 - 06/2015    Bachelor of Science, Informatik
                     Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
                     Abschlussnote: 2.1

Note on grades: German grades run from 1.0 (best) to 5.0 (fail). A 1.0-1.5 is excellent, 1.6-2.5 is good, 2.6-3.5 is satisfactory. Only include your grade if it's 2.5 or better.

Work Experience Section (Berufserfahrung)

This is the core of your Lebenslauf. List every position in reverse chronological order with no gaps.

For each position include:

• Exact dates (month/year to month/year)
• Job title
• Company name and location
• 3-5 bullet points describing responsibilities and achievements

Example:

BERUFSERFAHRUNG

01/2020 - heute      Senior Software Engineer
                     SAP SE, Walldorf
                     - Entwicklung von Cloud-native Microservices
                       mit Kubernetes und Docker
                     - Führung eines Teams von 4 Entwicklern
                     - Reduzierung der Deployment-Zeit um 40%
                     - Implementierung von CI/CD-Pipelines

06/2018 - 12/2019    Software Engineer
                     Siemens AG, München
                     - Backend-Entwicklung mit Java und Spring Boot
                     - Integration von REST APIs
                     - Agile Entwicklung im Scrum-Team

Handling Employment Gaps

German employers scrutinize gaps in your CV more than American or British employers. Every gap must be explained.

Acceptable explanations:

• Elternzeit (parental leave)
• Weiterbildung (further education/training)
• Sabbatical (with clear purpose: travel, volunteering)
• Job search after layoff (be honest)
• Illness (you can keep this vague: "aus gesundheitlichen Gründen")

How to list gaps:

03/2019 - 08/2019    Berufliche Neuorientierung
                     Weiterbildung im Bereich Data Science
                     (Online-Kurse bei Coursera)

Never leave unexplained gaps. German HR will assume the worst.

Skills Section (Kenntnisse)

List your skills with proficiency levels. Germans appreciate precision.

Language skills (use standardized levels):

• Muttersprache (native)
• Verhandlungssicher / C2 (business fluent)
• Fließend / C1 (fluent)
• Gut / B2 (good)
• Grundkenntnisse / A2-B1 (basic)

Technical skills:

• List specific tools, technologies, certifications
• Be honest about proficiency levels

Example:

KENNTNISSE

Sprachen:        Deutsch (Muttersprache)
                 Englisch (verhandlungssicher, C1)
                 Französisch (Grundkenntnisse, A2)

IT-Kenntnisse:   Python, Java, SQL (sehr gut)
                 AWS, Docker, Kubernetes (gut)
                 MS Office (sehr gut)

Zertifikate:     AWS Solutions Architect Associate (2023)
                 Scrum Master PSM I (2022)

The Signature and Date

German CVs traditionally end with your location, date, and handwritten signature. This is less common for digital applications but still expected for formal submissions.

Format:

Berlin, 15. Januar 2025

[Your handwritten signature]

Max Mustermann

For digital submissions, you can:

• Scan your signature and insert it as an image
• Use a digital signature
• Type your name (increasingly acceptable)

Formatting Guidelines

German employers expect clean, professional formatting:

• Font: Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (11-12pt)
• Margins: 2.5cm on all sides
• Length: 2 pages standard, 3 pages acceptable for senior roles
• File format: PDF (always)
• File name: Lebenslauf_Vorname_Nachname.pdf

Layout options:

1. Tabular format (most traditional): Dates on the left, content on the right in a two-column table
2. Modern format: Clean sections with dates integrated into entries

Cover Letter (Anschreiben)

A German job application always includes a cover letter (Anschreiben). Unlike American cover letters, the German Anschreiben follows a strict format:

• Formal salutation (Sehr geehrte Frau/Herr [Name])
• Reference to the specific job posting
• Why you're interested in this company specifically
• Your relevant qualifications
• Salary expectations (if requested)
• Earliest start date
• Formal closing (Mit freundlichen Grüßen)

The cover letter should be exactly one page.

Application Package Order

When submitting a German job application (Bewerbung), organize your documents in this order:

1. Anschreiben (cover letter) - 1 page
2. Deckblatt (cover page, optional) - with photo and key info
3. Lebenslauf (CV) - 2-3 pages
4. Zeugnisse (certificates and references) - all of them

German employers expect copies of all your degrees, certifications, and work references (Arbeitszeugnisse). Yes, all of them. A complete application package can be 10-20 pages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using an American-style resume - It signals you don't understand German business culture
2. Leaving gaps unexplained - Every month must be accounted for
3. Missing photo - Unless explicitly told it's not needed
4. Informal tone - German business communication is formal
5. Missing certificates - Germans want proof of qualifications
6. Wrong date format - Use DD.MM.YYYY (15.01.2025)
7. Forgetting the signature - It's still expected

Adapting Your Resume for Germany

If you're converting an existing resume to German format:

1. Add your photo (get one taken if needed)
2. Expand personal information section
3. Fill in all career gaps with explanations
4. Convert to strict chronological format
5. Add German proficiency levels to language skills
6. Gather all certificates and references
7. Add signature and date at the bottom

Final Checklist

Before sending your German CV:

• Professional photo in top right corner
• Complete personal information including DOB
• All dates in DD.MM.YYYY format
• No unexplained gaps in timeline
• Education with grades (if good)
• Skills with proficiency levels
• Signature and date at bottom
• Saved as PDF with professional filename
• Cover letter (Anschreiben) prepared
• All certificates ready to attach

The German job market values thoroughness and attention to detail. A properly formatted Lebenslauf shows employers you understand German business culture and take the application process seriously.

Need help formatting your CV for German applications? ResumeFast's templates can help you create a professional Lebenslauf that meets German employer expectations.