Use Our Online Editor to Create the Perfect German Resume

Impress employers and recruiters in Germany with our professional templates tailored in a German resume format.

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If you’re seeking work in a German-speaking country, it’s important to tailor your resume to local standards.

In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, a German resume or “CV”, known as a Lebenslauf, is viewed as a factual record rather than a marketing tool.

This guide will show you: 

• How to create a German-style resume that increases your chances of landing an interview 
• The correct German resume format
• German resume ATS optimization
• German resume examples

Along with this information, you can try our multi-language AI resume builder to quickly and easily craft a professional Lebenslauf.

Writing a Resume in German for International Jobs in Germany

A simple translation of your current resume will not be enough to land a job in the German market.

You should always be mindful of the differences between a resume in a German-speaking country in Europe and a U.S. style resume.

If your level of German is low, you can take advantage of our German resume builder and templates.

Follow the tips below to create the ideal Lebenslauf to personalize your German-style resume.

• Header with name: Begin with a header containing your name as the title. Do not use “Lebenslauf” as a title.
• Keep a professional layout: Use a clean, German-style design with consistent formatting. Avoid creative or overly decorative styles, multiple fonts, or colors.
• Think of cultural differences: Be mindful of German professional culture. For example, it is common to include a professional photo unless explicitly stated otherwise.
• Focus on the role: Research the company thoroughly. Align your resume with the company’s culture and expectations to present yourself as the ideal candidate.
• Stick to the facts: Be concise without making anything up. Include only information directly relevant to the job, avoiding exaggerated or unnecessary details.
• Avoid mistranslations: Use the correct German language editor or templates to make sure you have proper grammar, spelling, and formatting.

Create a Resume in German in Minutes With Our AI Tool

With our AI resume builder, you can create a German resume that meets the standards in German-speaking countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Try our AI editor to land a job in a German-speaking country that helps you:

•  Generate a resume in the German language
• Select templates that highlight your strengths
• Quickly add the information that hiring managers in German-speaking countries want to see

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German Resume Examples: Professional and Student Samples

One of the best ways to create a resume in German that attracts attention from a prospective employer is by studying German resume examples.

Take a look at the following resume in German to understand how you can format your own German-style resume:

German Resume Example

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Michael Jobseeker
123 Musterstraße, 10115 Berlin, Deutschland
michael.jobseeker@example.com | +49 151 23456789 | linkedin.com/in/michaeljobseeker

Geburtsdatum (Date of Birth): 15. März 1990
Geburtsort (Place of Birth): Boston, USA
Familienstand (Marital Status): Single
Nationalität (Nationality): Vereinigte Staaten

Berufserfahrung (Work experience)

Marketing Manager
ABC GmbH, Berlin, Germany
Januar 2020 – Heute

• Umsetzung von Digitalisierungsprojekten, einschließlich CRM-Integration, wodurch die Effizienz um 20 % gesteigert wurde.
• Entwicklung und Umsetzung strategischer Marketingkampagnen, die zu einer Steigerung der Markenbekanntheit um 35 % führten.
• Leitung funktionsübergreifender Teams zur Einführung von fünf erfolgreichen Produktlinien in ganz Europa.

Junior Marketing Specialist
XYZ AG, Munich, Germany
Juli 2016 – Dezember 2019

• Überwachung wichtiger Leistungskennzahlen und Berichterstattung von Erkenntnissen an Stakeholder.
• Unterstützung bei der Erstellung datengetriebener Marketingstrategien, die den Website-Traffic um 25 % erhöhten.
• Koordination regionaler Messen, was zu einem Wachstum der Kundenakquise um 15 % führte.

Ausbildung (Education)

Master of Science in Marketing
Universität Hamburg, Deutschland
Oktober 2014 – September 2016

• Abschlussarbeit: „Konsumentenverhalten in digitalen Marketingkampagnen“

Bachelor of Business Administration
Technische Universität München, Deutschland
Oktober 2010 – Juli 2014

Fähigkeiten (Skills)

Sprachen:

Deutsch (Muttersprache)
Englisch (C1)
Spanisch (B2)

Technische Fähigkeiten:

CRM-Systeme (Salesforce, HubSpot)
SEO- und SEM-Tools (Google Analytics, Ahrefs)
Fortgeschrittene Kenntnisse in Microsoft Office und Adobe Creative Suite

Professionelle Kompetenzen:

Strategische Marketingplanung
Teamführung
Datenanalyse

Hobbys und Interessen (Hobbies and Interests)

• Content Creation: Schreiben von Blogartikeln über Marketingtrends, um Fachkenntnisse im Content-Marketing zu zeigen.
• Reisen: Erforschung globaler Märkte, um internationales Konsumentenverhalten zu verstehen.
• Freiwilligenarbeit: Bereitstellung von Marketingberatung für lokale Non-Profits, was Führungsqualitäten und Engagement für die Gemeinschaft zeigt.

Zertifikate (Certifications)

• Google Ads-Zertifizierung
• HubSpot Inbound Marketing-Zertifizierung
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

German resume for students/internships

If you are just graduating from college or still studying and are looking for an internship abroad, you may put a higher focus on skills and education.

You can go over the following German student resume sample below to better understand what you should add:

German Resume Example

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Michael Jobseeker:
789 Maple Avenue, Job City, WA 98101, USA

E-Mail: m.jobseeker.example@email.com
Telefon: +1 555 555 0123
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaeljobseeker-example

Geburtsdatum: 14. Mai 2003 Geburtsort: Seattle, WA, USA
Familienstand: ledig
Nationalität: US-amerikanisch

Ausbildung

09/2021 – 06/2025

University of Washington, Seattle, USA

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

• Studienschwerpunkt: Digitales Marketing und Datenanalyse
• Abschlussnote: 3.8 GPA (US-System)
• Relevante Kurse: Marktforschung, Internationales Management, E-Commerce
• Abschlussarbeit: „Der Einfluss von Social-Media-Trends auf das Kaufverhalten der Generation Z“ (Note: A)

09/2017 – 06/2021

Seattle Central High School, USA

• Abschluss: High School Diploma (Grade: 3.9)

Praktische Erfahrung

06/2024 – 09/2024

Marketing Intern | Pacific Tech Solutions, Seattle

• Unterstützung bei der Planung und Durchführung von E-Mail-Marketingkampagnen.
• Erstellung von wöchentlichen Performance-Berichten mit Google Analytics.
• Recherche von Wettbewerbsstrategien im Bereich SaaS für den US-Markt.

09/2022 – 05/2024

Studentische Hilfskraft (Social Media) | UW Career Center

• Eigenständige Verwaltung der Instagram- und LinkedIn-Kanäle.
• Steigerung der Follower-Zahlen um 15 % durch zielgruppenspezifischen Content.
• Koordination von Terminen für Workshops und Karriere-Messen.

Fähigkeiten und Kenntnisse

Sprachen:

• Englisch: Muttersprache
• Deutsch: Fließend in Wort und Schrift (Niveau B2 – zertifiziert durch TestDaF)
• Spanisch: Grundkenntnisse (A2)

IT-Kenntnisse:

• Analyse-Tools: Google Analytics 4, Tableau (Fortgeschritten)
• CRM & Marketing: HubSpot, Mailchimp (Gute Kenntnisse)
• Design: Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Canva)

Zertifikate:

• Google Ads Search Certification (2025)
• HubSpot Content Marketing Certification (2024)

Interessen und Engagement

• Volunteering: Mentor für internationale Studierende an der University of Washington.
• Hobbys: Langstreckenlauf (Marathon-Teilnehmer), Fotografie, Reisen und interkultureller Austausch.

German Resume vs. American Resume

While there are a number of similarities, there are also some key differences between a German CV and a typical American resume.

Check out the table below to better understand how you should tailor your resume differently for international jobs in Germany.

Feature	German CV	American resume
Length	1–2 pages or up to 3 pages for senior roles.	Strongly preferred 1 page for most candidates (but can be more).
Photo	Standard and expected; professional headshot in top right.	Never included; strongly discouraged due to anti-bias laws.
Personal details	Includes date of birth, nationality, and often marital status.	Limited to name and contact details only.
Work experience	Focuses on detailed responsibilities and daily tasks.	Emphasizes quantifiable achievements and measurable impact.
Gaps in history	Must be explained; continuity and precision are vital.	Less emphasis on brief gaps; focuses on relevant roles.
Education	Often includes high school and specific thesis titles.	Typically only lists the highest degree earned.

German Resume Layout Guidelines

It’s important to know how to structure a German resume template as well as what to include. For example, you might find the inclusion of a photo surprising. The most common parts of a German resume are as follows:

Personal and contact details

Persönliches and Kontaktinformationen

This section should include a professional photo in the top-left corner. Your name and title will serve as a heading beside or below it. The contact details should include the following:

• Address – Adresse
• Phone number – Telefonnummer
• Email – Mail
• Website or professional online profile, such as LinkedIn

Next, include personal details:

• Date of birth of applicant, written simply as born – Geboren
• Nationality – Staatsangehörigkeit

Example

Anna Müller

Adresse: Musterstraße 12, 10115 Berlin, Deutschland
Telefonnummer: +49 30 12345678
Mail: anna.mueller@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anna-mueller
Geboren: 15. März 1992
Staatsangehörigkeit: Deutsch

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Anna Müller

Address: Musterstraße 12, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Phone number: +49 30 12345678
Email: anna.mueller@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anna-mueller
Born: March 15, 1992
Nationality: German

Including a photo or personal details is not a legal requirement, but adhering to the custom will prevent you from standing out in a negative way.

Education

Ausbildung

This section can be placed before or after the work experience section. For students or entry-level applicants, always lead with your education section.

The degrees, courses, certificates, and professional training should be listed in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent and relevant certification and working backward.

Use the following table to help you demonstrate your grade accurately.

USA	Germany
Letter grade GPA	Note Beschreibung
A 4.0	1,0 sehr gut
B 3.0	2,0 gut
C 2.0	3,0 befriedigent
D 1.0	4,0 ausreichend
F 0.0	5,0 nicht ausreichend

Example

Bildungsweg

2014 – 2018
University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Note: 1,3 (entspricht GPA 3.6, gut)

• Schwerpunktkurse: Social Psychology, Behavioral Data Analysis
• Abschlussarbeit: Untersuchung von Lernverhalten im digitalen Umfeld

Zusätzliche Qualifikationen

• TEFL / TESOL Zertifikat – Online-Kurs, 2021
• Kurs: “Digital Tools in Education” – Online Workshop, 2019

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Education

2014 – 2018
University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Grade: 1.3 (equivalent to GPA 3.6, good)

• Major Courses: Social Psychology, Behavioral Data Analysis
• Bachelor’s Thesis: Investigation of Learning Behavior in Digital Environments

Additional Qualifications

• TEFL / TESOL Certificate – Online Course, 2021
• Course: “Digital Tools in Education” – Online Workshop, 2019

Work experience

Berufserfahrung

Similar to the education section, when creating a resume in German, your job history should be laid out in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent work experience and working backward.

For each role, list the dates of employment on the left and the following information to the right:

• Job title
• Company name (sector optional)
• Location 
• Description – Bullet points describing your skills, duties, and accomplishments

If you have any internships or voluntary experience, include them as long as they are relevant to the vacancy. 

Here is an example of how to format your experience section:

Example

Berufserfahrung

Januar 2020 – Heute
Marketing Manager
ABC GmbH, Berlin, Germany

• Entwicklung und Umsetzung strategischer Marketingkampagnen, die zu einer Steigerung der Markenbekanntheit um 35 % führten.
• Leitung funktionsübergreifender Teams zur Einführung von fünf erfolgreichen Produktlinien in ganz Europa.
• Umsetzung von Digitalisierungsprojekten, einschließlich CRM-Integration, wodurch die Effizienz um 20 % gesteigert wurde.

—————————————————————————————————————————

Work Experience

January 2020 – Present
Marketing Manager
ABC GmbH, Berlin, Germany

• Developed and implemented strategic marketing campaigns, resulting in a 35% increase in brand awareness.
• Led cross-functional teams to launch five successful product lines across Europe.
• Implemented digitalization projects, including CRM integration, which increased efficiency by 20%.

Skills

Fähigkeiten

Use bullet points to list a mix of soft and hard skills that you possess and which relate to the vacancy or sector you’re looking to work in.

Take a look at the following sample skill section:

Example

Fähigkeiten

Technische Fähigkeiten:

• CRM-Systeme (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• SEO- und SEM-Tools (Google Analytics, Ahrefs)
• Fortgeschrittene Kenntnisse in Microsoft Office und Adobe Creative Suite

Berufliche Kompetenzen:

• Strategische Marketingplanung
• Teamführung
• Datenanalyse

—————————————————————————————————————————

Skills

Technical Skills:

• CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• SEO and SEM tools (Google Analytics, Ahrefs)
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite

Professional Competencies:

• Strategic marketing planning
• Team leadership
• Data analysis

Hobbies and interests

Interessen und Hobbys

Hobbies and interests are not commonly seen on American resumes, but it is typical in German resumes because it allows the potential employer to gain an understanding of the applicant’s character as a whole.

Make sure to only mention relevant hobbies, providing evidence of your experiences or skills. Take a look at how you can add this section to your resume:

Example

Hobbys und Interessen

• Content Creation: Schreiben von Blogartikeln über Marketingtrends, um Fachkenntnisse im Content-Marketing zu zeigen.
• Reisen: Erforschung globaler Märkte, um internationales Konsumentenverhalten zu verstehen.
• Freiwilligenarbeit: Bereitstellung von Marketingberatung für lokale Non-Profits, was Führungsqualitäten und Engagement für die Gemeinschaft zeigt.

—————————————————————————————————————————

Hobbies and Interests

• Content Creation: Writing blog articles about marketing trends to demonstrate expertise in content marketing.
• Travel: Exploring global markets to understand international consumer behavior.
• Volunteering: Providing marketing advice to local non-profits, demonstrating leadership skills, and community engagement.

Languages

A language section is optional, but it can be a powerful tool when applying for international or multilingual roles. List languages you can speak, read, or write, and describe your proficiency:

• Muttersprache – Native
• C1 / C2 – Advanced / Proficient
• B1 / B2 – Intermediate / Independent user
• A1 / A2 – Beginner / Basic

If you have any language certifications such as TOEFL, IELTS, HSK, or DELF, include them. Consider an example:

Example

Sprachkenntnisse

• Deutsch – B2 (Zertifikat Goethe-Institut, 2022)
• Englisch – Muttersprache
• Spanisch – B1 (DELE Zertifikat)

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Language skills

• German – B2 (Goethe-Institut certificate, 2022)
• English – Native speaker
• Spanish – B1 (DELE certificate)

FAQs

What is the difference between an American resume and a German CV?

Differences include information and format. In Germany, you’ll be asked to include more personal details and a photo. German resumes are fact-focused, detailed, and less self-promotional.

You’ll also notice that the standard German resume format often has two columns. References are generally required.

Does a German CV need a photo?

Yes, you should include a photo in your German resume. Use a professional headshot. Make sure you’re wearing professional attire and standing in front of a clean background. 

Including a photo is a common practice that helps build trust and makes your application more memorable.

Does Germany use the Europass CV?

Yes, Germany uses the Europass CV for academic programs (such as applying to a university) and EU initiatives like work/study programs. 

For private sector jobs, a personalized Lebenslauf is preferred.  Creating a Europass CV first can help you organize your information, which you can then put into a traditional German format.