Resume and CV guide for Germany

Germany employers usually ask for a CV — commonly written as “Lebenslauf”. What that document looks like locally differs from the generic advice you will find elsewhere, so the details below describe practice in Germany specifically.

At a glance

• Document: Lebenslauf (CV)
• Typical length: 2 pages typical
• Date format: DD.MM.YYYY
• Phone format: +49 151 23456789
• Photo: optional
• Page size: A4 (210 × 297 mm)
• Most common language of application: de

Length expectations in Germany

Two pages is the standard expectation.

Photos

A photo is optional and increasingly uncommon, but still noticed in traditional industries.

Professional summary

Keep it short: three lines describing your specialty and years of experience.

Education

German employers often want your full educational path, including school-leaving qualification.

Work experience

Give exact month/year ranges — gaps invite questions.

Format and delivery

A4 paper, day/month/year dates, and city plus postcode in the address block.

Common sections used in Germany

• Summary
• Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Publications
• Interests

General career guidance based on common practice — not legal, immigration or hiring compliance advice. Expectations vary by employer, industry and seniority.

Build for this market

Pick Germany in the builder and the date format, address order, phone guidance and page size adjust accordingly. Section headings stay in your chosen language.