How to write a German CV
November 18th, 2024
Owner
A Step-by-step guide on how to format a German CV (curriculum vitae, or Lebenslauf in German) so that you capture the scanning systems and/or a quick review from a human recruiter. The average CV gets a 7-second review before being deleted. Most rejections happen even before that. Your CV needs to meet a minimum standard to avoid being rejected right away.
The formatting of a German CV should be made in a PDF format. Making the CV in German language is not a requirement, although you can make a copy of your CV in German if you wish. We cover how to make a German CV for German companies, German CV photo, & overall what does a German CV look like.
So, you’re looking to optimize your CV for German standards! There are some key points in how a German CV differs from other requirements around the world, and I will outline those to you in this article.
Overall, the main points include:
In Germany you will need to get to your point faster than you likely currently do. This means being very clear, organized, and able to back up your statements with data.
Ready to get started? How to format a German CV!
A standard German CV format includes the following: Title, Contact information, Work Permit Status, Languages, Desired Position, Short 2–3 sentences as a “Mission Statement”, recent experiences in reverse chronological order, Education, Online certifications, IT & soft skills, Hobbies/interests.
Title
CV section #1
Work Permit Status
Languages
Desired position
Mission statement
CV section #2
Previous roles in reverse chronological order
CV section #3
Education
CV section #4
Online certificates
CV section #5
IT & soft skills
CV section #6
Hobbies/interests
Big first & last name at the very top.
Include your address, city, email & phone number in the top right. Make sure this data shows at the top of all of your CV pages.
If required, you can place a professional photo of yourself under your contact details top right of the 1st page.
Work Permit status (If you have one, please note that very clearly)
Languages: If you speak B1 German and above, place that here. Otherwise, better to leave it off.
Desired position: (edit this for every application)
“Date-Date” on the left side, with company name, position, and core responsibilities & achievements on the right side. These should all be bullet points after & under your position title.
“Date – Date” on the left side again as always. This time with University name, City with the degree name under that. You can include key subjects, projects and achievements during University in this section. Include any additional study programs that might be relevant, such as further education or international studies.
Include IT skills & any relevant skills or requirements to the specific job ad. These can be bullet pointed.
Online courses or certificates: Include in a list format if you have them.
Interests: Personal hobbies & interests that you feel might increase your likeness.
Headings & Styles: Something easily readable and spaced will be just fine.
The differences between a German CV and an American resume are not massive, but there are some key points to make. First off, you’ll notice that education usually comes before experience on an American resume.
On a German CV, you’ll always place experience above education. Also, you won’t find many photos on applications in America. In Germany, that is still requested at times. My pro tip: just ask the employer!
Expectations: You should include your date of birth as customary. On the subject of including a photo, you can always ask the employer on the job ad. That way you do not have to play the guessing game. You should also include your contact details where you want to be contacted, and your location.
Length and detail: Please keep the CV to under 2 pages if possible. While keeping it short, make sure to be as precise as possible! Focus on highlighting key information, such as your most relevant professional experience, education, skills, and certifications, ensuring it’s clearly structured and easy to read. Use bullet points to outline your responsibilities and achievements, and avoid unnecessary details to maintain brevity while still being precise and informative.
Roles listed in reverse chronological order: Start with your most recent position/job first, then work your way older from there in order.
You should structure your writing in your CV as formal, with a professional tone throughout. Recommended to write your achievements from each role in order of importance; focusing on your top 3 or 4 responsibilities. Remember that these ideally tie into the role you are applying for. Spell check your CV multiple times before submitting. These are basics but easy reminders to make sure before finishing your application.
Use an appropriate tone for a business setting and be persuasive in nature. Statements should be confident but honest. The more precise and number-focused the better. Formal language should be used and documents should be spell-checked thoroughly.
You should make sure to include keywords from the job ad sprinkled in your CV so that you can capture the systems that they use to scan your CV. Furthermore, you should be very specific about the results you achieved during each job stint, and the starting-end point of how you moved the needle.
Lying on your CV and then being tested on it during an interview
Misspellings & grammar or punctuation mistakes
Being too boastful in your tone. Make sure to show gratitude where it is due to others who helped you along the way!
Here are a few checklist items to go over as next steps. Pay close attention to the details!
Make sure you have a .pdf
Document should be saved as Lastname_Firstname_CV.pdf
For a downloadable CV template, you can sign up here
(Comes to you in a few days)
If you forget everything else above, the most important parts of your German CV are as follows:
