CV for Germany: what German employers expect

The short answer

The Lebenslauf

• Tabular and reverse-chronological: the most recent role first.
• At most two pages, according to the agency's guidance for international applicants.
• Contact details at the top, with the international dialling code if you live abroad. A date of birth is often given; family status and religion are usually left out unless the employer asks.
• Hobbies only if they relate to the job.
• German CVs traditionally end with the place, date and signature, and the agency's guidance still suggests it.

The photo question

A photo is not a requirement. The Federal Employment Agency describes it as no longer mandatory but still common in many industries, and notes that many hiring managers still like to see who they are dealing with. If you include it, use a professional headshot; if you leave it out, nothing requires you to explain why.

Cover letter and certificates

The cover letter (Anschreiben) is expected for most vacancies: one page, addressed to a named person where possible, explaining why this role and why you. Certificates (Zeugnisse) - degree certificates, relevant training and German employer references (Arbeitszeugnisse) - usually follow the CV. If you have no German-style references, include the documents you do have, such as reference letters or contracts, and do not invent an equivalent.

Applying from abroad

• Language: for a German-language role, apply in German. The agency's guidance for international applicants suggests waiting until you reach B1 to B2, and having a native speaker check the application.
• Qualifications: some professions are regulated in Germany and need formal recognition; the official portal Anerkennung in Deutschland explains which.
• Right to work: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can generally work without a permit; other nationals usually need one. State your status only if it is accurate.
• Gaps: the agency suggests explaining them proactively in the cover letter or at interview rather than hiding them.

Online portals

Many German employers take applications through an online portal. Keep the CV as a text PDF with ordinary headings; see what makes a CV ATS-friendly, and run the file through the ATS checker to see the text it yields. Polish readers can find a German-CV guide in Polish at CV po niemiecku.

Sources

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bewerbungsunterlagen; Bundesagentur für Arbeit (ZAV): Bewerbungsverfahren in Deutschland, 2026; Anerkennung in Deutschland. Conventions differ by sector and employer; the vacancy is always the final word.