German CV (Lebenslauf) template
A clean, German-style tabular Lebenslauf — the format employers expect (photo, structure, no gaps), with guidance for each section.
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What's inside
What you get
- A German tabular Lebenslauf template — reverse-chronological, with the photo placement employers expect.
- Section-by-section guidance: personal details, education, experience, skills and languages.
- Where to put your photo and what it should look like (this is normal and expected in Germany).
- How to present your grades and qualifications so a German reader understands them at a glance.
- Advice on handling gaps honestly — unexplained gaps make German recruiters uneasy.
- A skills and languages block with the CEFR levels (A1–C2) employers scan for first.
How to use it
Make it yours in four steps
- 1
Add a proper photo
A plain, professional headshot goes top-right or in the header — it's standard in Germany, not optional flair.
- 2
Work backwards
List education and experience newest-first, with clear month/year dates and no unexplained gaps.
- 3
Translate your grades
Convert your percentage or CGPA to the German 1.0–4.0 scale so recruiters can place you.
- 4
Keep it tight
One to two pages, then sign and date it at the bottom — a signed CV still signals care in Germany.
Keep going
Tools that pair with this template
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Good to know
Questions about this template
Yes. Unlike the UK or US, a professional photo on your Lebenslauf is normal and expected in Germany — leaving it off can look like an oversight. Use a plain, well-lit headshot in business attire, placed in the header or top-right. Our template has a marked spot for it.
A Lebenslauf is the concise, tabular German standard: reverse-chronological, one to two pages, photo included, often signed and dated. Europass is a longer EU-wide form that many German employers find bulky. For Ausbildung and German jobs, the tabular Lebenslauf is the safer, more expected choice.
Yes, briefly. German recruiters read unexplained gaps as red flags, so account for any period longer than a couple of months — language study, exam preparation, family reasons or work all count. One honest line is far better than a silent gap that invites doubt at the interview.
One to two pages. As a student or early applicant, one page is usually right; two is fine once you have real experience. Cut older, minor items before you spill onto a third page — German CVs reward relevance and clarity over completeness.
- Make it in Germany — official government portal — German Federal Government (BMAS / BMWK) (official)
- Ausbildung vacancy database (Ausbildungssuche) — Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) (official)
Figures are checked against these sources and reviewed each application intake. Last verified: 2026-07-20. Always confirm the current rule for your case with the official source before you act.
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