Resume & CV builder for Germany
In Germany the document is called a Lebenslauf (CV). Recommended length: 1–2 pages, strictly structured and tabular (up to 3 for very senior profiles). Below are the conventions that decide whether your application looks local and professional — or foreign and risky. Then build yours free, with Germany pre-selected.
Build my Germany resume — freeWhat to include for Germany
- Structured, tabular layout with clear dates (month/year)
- Work experience, education, skills, languages with CEFR levels
- Certificates matter: Germans value documented proof (Arbeitszeugnisse — work references)
- Date and signature are traditional on a German Lebenslauf, though increasingly optional online
What to leave out
- Religion, marital status and parents' professions (older formats included these — no longer appropriate)
- Salary expectations in the CV itself (they belong in the cover letter when asked)
Photo, language & spelling
Photo: Historically standard, but since the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) a photo is legally optional and many modern employers no longer expect one. Include a professional photo for traditional sectors; skip it for international tech companies.
Spelling: Apply in German where the posting is German; English CVs are accepted by international firms. Use CEFR levels (A1–C2) for language skills.
Documents employers commonly request
- Cover letter (Anschreiben) — still expected for most German applications
- Degree certificates and work references (Zeugnisse) attached as one PDF
- Europass CV is accepted for EU institutions and some public bodies, but a clean custom Lebenslauf is preferred by most private employers
Local insight
Order matters: one combined PDF (cover letter, CV, certificates) is the German standard.
The Europass format is useful when applying to EU institutions or cross-border EU programmes; for German private employers, a crisp tabular Lebenslauf performs better.
Sources
Conventions vary by employer, sector and role — always check the job ad's own instructions first.
- Make it in Germany — Applying for a Job (official portal) — Tabular CV, photo often expected but varying by industry, CEFR language levels, cover letter + CV + certificates
- Europass — How to self-assess your language skills — CEFR self-assessment for language skills