Structure: tabular and reverse chronological
The tabular CV is standard in Germany: dates on the left, positions on the right, newest first, one to two A4 pages, in this order:
- Personal and contact details
- Short profile (three to four sentences)
- Work experience
- Education
- Skills and languages
- Training and certificates
- Interests (optional)
- Place, date and signature (optional)
Personal details
Name, address, phone and email are required. Date of birth, place of birth and nationality are optional; under the German AGG anti-discrimination law employers may not demand them, though many applicants still include them. Religion, marital status and parents' jobs do not belong in a modern CV.
The photo
A photo is optional but still expected by many German employers. If you use one, choose a recent professional portrait on a neutral background. For the UK, USA and Canada, leave it out.
Experience: results, not duties
Each position gets dates as MM/YYYY, employer, city and title, followed by three to five bullets that show results:
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As a rule of thumb, at least every third bullet should contain a number.
Education and foreign degrees
Translate degree titles meaningfully and mention recognition: if your university is listed as “H+” in the anabin database, say so; otherwise you can request a statement of comparability from the ZAB.
German employers often convert foreign grades with the modified Bavarian formula: grade = 1 + 3 × (best grade − your grade) ÷ (best grade − lowest pass). On a 4.0 scale with a pass mark of 2.0, a GPA of 3.10 gives 2.35, roughly a German 2.3. anabin lists the reference values for your country.
Languages
Use the CEFR levels A1–C2 instead of “good knowledge”, and name certificates such as Goethe, telc or TestDaF.
Gaps
Explain any gap longer than two to three months in one honest line, for example “Relocation to Germany and intensive German course (B1 → B2)”.
Common mistakes by international applicants
- Three or more pages.
- Only years instead of month and year.
- Untranslated degree and job titles.
- No line on your residence or work permit status.
- A file name like “cv_final2.pdf” instead of “Lebenslauf_First_Last.pdf”.
Put it into practice
Open the editor, pick a template and watch every change on the A4 page. The built-in check tests exactly the points from this guide.
Start for freeFrequently asked questions
How long should a German CV be?
One to two A4 pages.
Do I have to state my date of birth?
No, it is optional under the AGG.
How do I list languages?
With CEFR levels A1–C2 and any certificate.