The German CV, called Lebenslauf, is known for being clear, complete and well organised. If you apply for a job, internship or apprenticeship in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, this guide shows what to include and how to create a PDF.
A photo is common in Germany but not required. Many applicants still add a professional one in the top right corner. If you include a photo, use a clear, friendly portrait with a plain background. The EuroTools Hub German CV Maker supports an optional photo.
Traditionally the CV ends with the place, the date and a signature. Many employers no longer require it, especially for online applications, but a date near the end is still common.
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In Germany, the CV usually goes together with a cover letter (Anschreiben). Also read our guides to the French CV and the Italian CV.
A typical German CV is a table. The left column holds the dates, the right column the details. A short example of the work experience section:
Education follows the same pattern: 10/2015 – 07/2019: Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Mannheim. Mention your degree, the institution and, if useful, your thesis topic or grade.
List languages with a level. Common German labels are Muttersprache (native), fließend (fluent), gute Kenntnisse (good knowledge) and Grundkenntnisse (basic knowledge). You can also use the CEFR scale from A1 to C2 and add certificates such as TestDaF, Goethe-Zertifikat or TOEFL.
A German application normally has three parts: the Anschreiben (cover letter), the Lebenslauf (CV) and the Anlagen (attachments, such as certificates and references). The CV lists facts in a table, while the cover letter explains your motivation. Combine everything into one PDF if the employer asks for a single file; our Merge PDF tool can do that for free.
German employers pay attention to gaps. If you took a break for travel, family, illness or a language course, write it briefly and honestly in the timeline. A short line is better than an empty space.
The EuroTools Hub German CV Maker creates a Lebenslauf as a PDF directly in your browser. You do not need an account, nothing is uploaded and there is no watermark.
First job or internship: put education first, then projects, volunteering, part-time jobs and languages. Even a student German CV (Lebenslauf) should show results, such as a class project you led or a society you organised. Keep it to one to two pages.
Career change: start with a short profile that explains your new direction and list the transferable skills that matter for the new role: communication, project management, data analysis, languages. Then show the experience that supports them.
Experienced professionals: focus on the last 10 to 15 years, give more space to recent roles and summarise older ones in one line. For a German CV (Lebenslauf), the key elements are a clear table of dates and details.
Save the final file as a PDF and keep it under 2 MB so it passes email and application portals. If it is too large, use Compress PDF. If you wrote the CV in a word processor, convert it with Word to PDF. To combine your CV, cover letter and certificates into one file, use Merge PDF.
A Lebenslauf is the German word for a CV. It lists your personal details, work experience, education and skills in reverse chronological order.
No. A photo is common but not required. You can leave it out.
One to two pages are standard. Shorter is better for early-career applicants.
Signing is traditional but optional today, especially for online applications.
Yes. It is free, works in your browser and needs no registration.