CV for Germany (Lebenslauf)

Germany is the exception among these six places: date of birth is included, a photograph is still widely expected, and the CV ends with a date and signature.

Source. Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency), ZAV International Services, "Part 1 of the series on the application process in Germany: curriculum vitae", issue 01/2026, read on 12 November 2026: www.arbeitsagentur.de. This page summarises that official advice in our own words. It is careers advice, not law; employers differ, and the page may have changed since we read it.

The source

The Federal Employment Agency's international placement service (ZAV) published a series in English on applying for work in Germany. Part 1, on the curriculum vitae, is the basis of this page; the points below are from it, in our own words.

Length and order

• The CV should not be longer than two pages and should be divided into meaningful sections.
• Within each section, list experience and qualifications latest first.
• For each entry give start and end dates; month and year are sufficient.

Personal details

At the beginning, the agency says to include your full contact details together with your name, date of birth, place of birth and address. When applying from abroad, use the correct country code and give contact details at which you can easily be reached.

Marital status and religious affiliation are not required, the agency says, unless the employer is one that supports a particular religious affiliation.

Photograph

In the agency's words, a photo is not mandatory but is still expected by most employers. It should be placed at the top of the CV or on a cover sheet, and should be professional, leaving a welcoming and friendly impression.

Sections

1. Professional experience, starting with the most recent job. Name the employer and your position and describe your tasks in about three to five bullet points. Career starters can list internships, part-time jobs or volunteer work.
2. Education. The agency says stating your most recent or highest qualification is sufficient, with dates.
3. Further training: certificates relevant to the advertised position, with period, place and institute. Language certificates can go here; the highest level for each language is enough.
4. Hobbies and interests, briefly and only if relevant to the work. Volunteer work and membership of associations are welcome; travelling, meeting friends or computer games are described as rather irrelevant.

Soft skills such as teamwork or resilience, the agency advises, do not need to be listed in the CV and are better mentioned in the cover letter.

Date and signature

The agency says to conclude the CV with the date and your signature, which shows that it is up to date and accurate. An Indian applicant will recognise this from the traditional biodata; the difference is that there is no declaration paragraph, only the date and signature.

Further tips from the agency

• Do not give false information; list only references and experience you can verify.
• Keep the layout clear and consistent; avoid playful fonts and colour changes.
• The Europass template is described as a solid basis, though many employers prefer a more individual CV. See our Europass page.
• Have the CV proofread by a native German speaker.
• Explain gaps proactively in the cover letter or at interview.

Language

The agency notes that good German is an advantage and recommends applying once you have reached the language level the job requires, mentioning B1 or B2, since applications may otherwise be rejected. It also warns that employers in Germany often take time to reply.

Compared with an Indian biodata and an Indian resume

The article is the first of a series; the agency's later parts cover the cover letter, the application process and the interview. Recognition of foreign qualifications and visas for work are separate official processes.

Questions people ask

Other countries

CV guides

General guidance. This page gives general suggestions, reviewed in November 2026. If an institution, employer or country gives its own form, format or instruction, follow that. Every person, institution and publication in our examples is invented. Nothing here is legal, immigration or professional advice.