A German CV, commonly called a Lebenslauf, often includes a few sections that an English-language CV commonly leaves out: a clear tabular layout with dates on the left, a personal details block near the top, and sometimes a signature and date at the bottom, though practice on several of these points varies by employer, industry and how international the company is, so none of it should be treated as a strict requirement. The tabellarischer Lebenslauf, or tabular CV, is the format most commonly expected, with reverse-chronological entries laid out in a clear left-column-for-dates structure rather than a narrative paragraph style, and getting that structure right matters more than any single section choice.
What "Lebenslauf" usually means in practice
"Lebenslauf" literally translates to "course of life", and in practice it refers to the same kind of document an English-language CV is: a structured record of education and work history used in a job application. The word itself carries slightly more formality than the casual sense of "CV" in English, and German hiring practice has historically leaned toward a document that reads as complete and precisely dated rather than punchy or heavily trimmed, though this has been shifting, particularly at companies with an international workforce, toward something closer to the shorter, achievement-led style common in English-language CVs. Applicants targeting a traditional domestic employer commonly lean toward the fuller, more formal version; applicants targeting an international or startup-style employer in Germany often find a leaner, more English-CV-like document is accepted just as readily.
A related document, the Anschreiben or cover letter, is commonly expected alongside a German application even when a specific job posting does not spell that out, more consistently than in some other markets, so it is worth treating the Lebenslauf as one half of a pair rather than the whole application on its own. Which of the two documents carries more weight in a given process varies, but many employers read the cover letter first for motivation and fit, then the Lebenslauf for the factual record of what the candidate has actually done.
Sections a German CV commonly includes
A German CV commonly opens with a personal details block, Persönliche Daten, giving name, address and contact details, sometimes including date of birth, though including a photo and a full date of birth is becoming less universal than it once was and is worth judging by the specific employer and industry rather than assumed as a fixed rule. After that, the tabular structure covers Berufserfahrung, work experience, and Ausbildung, education, each listed in reverse-chronological order with dates aligned in a left-hand column, a format that reads as more clearly and consistently dated than a narrative-style CV. A Kenntnisse und FÀhigkeiten, skills and competencies, section commonly follows, covering languages, IT skills and any relevant certifications. Many German CVs also close with a place, date and a signature line, a formality carried over from the traditional paper application era that some digital applications now drop and others still include.
Language proficiency is often stated more precisely than a simple "fluent" or "basic": a scale such as Grundkenntnisse (basic), gute Kenntnisse (good working knowledge) or verhandlungssicher (fluent enough to negotiate in) is common, and using one of those familiar terms rather than an invented description tends to read as more credible to a German reader used to seeing that scale. Where the language of the Lebenslauf itself should sit, German or English, depends heavily on the employer and the role, and checking the job posting's own language is usually the most reliable signal available.
Illustrative example: a Lebenslauf section outline
Illustrative outline for a mid-career applicant: "Persönliche Daten" (name, contact details) at the top; "Berufserfahrung" listing the two or three most recent roles, each with a date range in the left column, job title and employer, and a short description of responsibilities; "Ausbildung" listing the highest relevant qualification with institution and dates; "Kenntnisse und FÀhigkeiten" grouping language proficiency, for example "Englisch: verhandlungssicher", software skills and any certifications; and, for a more traditional application, a closing line with the city, the date and a signature. This is one common shape rather than a fixed template, and a leaner version that drops the closing signature line is just as common at less traditional employers.
What commonly stays the same as an English-language CV
Several fundamentals carry across regardless of format: work history reads in reverse-chronological order, dates should be accurate and consistent, and a CV tailored to the specific role and employer reads better than one generic version sent everywhere, which the general advice in how to write a resume covers in more depth. Length also tends to run a little longer than the tightly trimmed one-page norm some English-language markets favour, since the tabular format itself takes up more vertical space per entry, though a CV that runs past two pages is still worth trimming down for most applications.
Building one
Browse CVBuilderKit's templates for a layout with a clear tabular structure, and start building the document with the sections above as a starting checklist, adjusting the level of formality to match the specific employer rather than assuming every German employer expects the fullest, most traditional version.