Build a tabular German CV (Lebenslauf) step by step
In Germany a CV is usually a table: the period on the left, and on the right what you did in that time. It is not a law, but it is the layout employers expect. Here is what goes in and how to build it step by step.
Methodhelm editorial teamLast updated: 2 min read
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What goes in a Lebenslauf
- Personal details: name, address, phone number and email. You may give your date and place of birth. Details about nationality or family are optional.
- Work experience: employer, position and tasks.
- Education: school or university, subject and degree, with the grade if it helps.
- Languages: by the European levels, for example "English: C1".
- Special skills and interests: for example internships, volunteer work or computer skills, as far as they fit the job.
Build it in five steps
- Set up the table
Set up the table. Two columns: the date on the left, the content on the right. Write in bullet points, not long sentences.
- Write periods the same way
Write periods the same way. Month and year is the usual form, for example 06/2014 – 07/2015.
- Most recent first
Most recent first. In work experience and education, start with the latest entry and go backwards.
- Add your languages
Add your languages. Write each language with its level from A1 to C2.
- End with place, date and signature
End with place, date and signature. The date should be the current one.
Photo, gaps and length
Photo. A photo is often expected in Germany, but how much depends on the field. It is not a requirement. If you use one, put it at the top right and choose a professional picture, not a selfie. If you have a cover page, the photo can go there.
Gaps. If there is a gap, explain it briefly. Everything you write must be true: false statements can later lead to dismissal.
Length. As a rule of thumb, about one A4 page. If it gets longer, shorten the older entries.
Matching documents
Your CV and cover letter should share the same style. If you do not want to design every file yourself, the German CV template kit has a Lebenslauf, Anschreiben and cover page in two layouts, in German and in English. There are also many unpaid templates online. What matters is that you check everything and that the details are your own.
For the other documents and a checklist before you send, see how to write a German CV from abroad.
If you apply in Austria, read CV and application in Austria.
More information from the German federal government is on Make it in Germany, on the page about applications.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to put a photo on my CV?
No. A photo is common but not required, and it depends on the field. Read what the job advert asks for.
Should I write the newest or the oldest entry first?
The newest first. The reader sees at once what you did most recently.
How long can a CV be?
As a rule of thumb, about one A4 page. Shorten older entries if space runs out.
What do I do about a gap in my CV?
Explain it briefly and honestly. False statements can have consequences later.
Related guides
How to write a German CV (Lebenslauf) if you apply from abroadA German application is usually one PDF: cover letter, tabular CV and certificates. See what to check before you send it.
CV and application in Austria: how to use our kitIf you apply in Austria, you can use the kit's CV, cover letter and cover page. See what carries over and what to check yourself.
Get the German CV kit
A Lebenslauf, cover letter and cover page in two layouts, in German and in English, ready to edit. See what is inside before you decide.