Step 7: Preparing the German “Lebenslauf” (CV)

The CV is perhaps the most important part of an application portfolio or the application documents submitted online. It should provide particulars about one’s job history, education and acquired qualifications and also give insight into the personality of the applicant.

I consider a clear and well-organized layout to be a very important criterion for a CV. When potential employees screen application documents, they want to get the quickest possible overview of the candidate. For this purpose, the CV needs to be well-structured and clearly arranged. It is quite common that the cover letter is skimmed over and first attention is given to the CV.

First of all, in the first paragraph under the heading “Personal Details” (“Persönliche Daten”), this information is stated. This includes: first name and last name, date of birth, nationality, address, email address, telephone number.   

This already reveals some information about the person. It is common practice to disclose this information in Germany, but this is not undisputed.

Yes, this is the case. If you look at applications, for example, in the USA, there is absolutely no reference to age, gender, religion, race, and a photo is also taboo.  The General Equal Treatment Act, (Allgemeine Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG),  also known as the Anti-Discrimination Law, which contains similar provisions regarding CVs and applications to those practiced in the USA also applies in Germany. However, I would say when it comes to job applications in Germany, it is nearly impossible to apply for a position in compliance with this law because this would meet with a lack of understanding by practically all German companies.

It depends. If a cover page is part of the application, then the photo should appear there. If there is no cover page, then the photo is placed on the first page of the CV with the personal details. With regard to the photo, it should be as professional as possible; this means it should be made by a professional photographer.

Additional note from the Career Service in 2024: by now, we would recommend to integrate the photo (if necessary) in the first page of your CV and omit a cover page.

In addition, in respectively individually separate sections, details are provided on education, work experience, foreign language skills and data processing (computer) skills. Leisure activities and other personal activities may also be stated; however they should render a fitting personal image to the application.  

They are often sport activities, social engagement, or other activities.

CVs are exclusively in tabular form.   

Following the block with personal data, you are never wrong when you present further details concerning the above mentioned sections in two columns: in the left column, you enter the date or the duration, (i.e. from – to) and in the right column, the description of the respective stage of life. It is sufficient to state the month and year for begin and end of, for instance, your period of studies.  

Chronologically yes, but it should be in reverse chronological order. This is for a good reason: when a graduate applies for a job, then the employer is particularly interested in the study program, the degree and the major fields of study, and perhaps in connection with this, the thesis topic. And therefore this information should be the introduction to the CV.   

Then, after the personal details, the CV starts with information under the heading “Work Experience and Qualifications” or similar. 

There are virtually no conventions for this. The CV, unlike the cover letter, can be more than one page. Here, the rule of clarity also applies: a CV that is too long would not fulfill this requirement well.  

The contents of the CV can also be tailored to a specific job announcement, highlighting the qualification or work experience that is particularly relevant for the position. This is done by describing the respective stage in the CV more precisely with subsections.

It is essential to sign the CV and write the current place and date. Applicants often forget to include and update the latter, particularly when the CV has simply been taken over from a former application.   

If the CV is being sent per email, a facsimile signature looks good, but it is not a must. It is sufficient to just type your name in the usual way.

• Job Application Training – Tips on CVs, among other tips Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Labor Office): Akademiker - alles für die Karriere