German Lebenslauf: How a German CV Differs From English-Speaking Conventions

A traditional German Lebenslauf includes a professional photo in the top-right corner of the first page and the candidate's date of birth in the personal-information block. This is the opposite of US and UK conventions, where both are omitted for anti-bias reasons.

In recent years, large German tech employers (SAP, Siemens digital, Delivery Hero, N26, Trade Republic) and most foreign-headquartered tech companies operating in Berlin have shifted toward US-style anti-bias formats — photo optional, DOB omitted. But traditional German employers (Mittelstand manufacturers, banks, public-sector roles, law firms, consultancies) still expect the photo and DOB. When in doubt, include both for traditional employers and omit both for tech / startup employers.

The photo itself follows specific conventions: professional headshot, neutral background, business attire, smile or neutral expression (not the over-the-shoulder magazine pose), front-facing (not 3/4 angle), passport-photo proportions but with shoulders visible. Studio-produced photos are normal; selfies and casual photos are not. Cost is typically €30-€80 at a professional photographer; many candidates do this on arrival in Germany.

A German Lebenslauf uses a strict table-style layout with the date column on the left (typically narrower) and the content column on the right. Each section follows reverse-chronological order — most recent first. Standard section order:

1. Persönliche Angaben (Personal information) — the structured block described above

2. Berufserfahrung (Work experience) — usually 3-7 lines per role; less bullet-heavy than US format

3. Ausbildung (Education) — detailed; includes Abitur grade, university degree class (Note), and often the thesis title

4. Praktika (Internships) — separate section if relevant; included longer in your career than in US convention

5. Sprachen (Languages) — with CEFR levels

6. Kenntnisse / EDV-Kenntnisse (Skills / IT skills)

7. Sonstiges (Other) — voluntary work, hobbies, certifications, awards

Date format in the left column is always Month-Year ranges in German format: "03/2022 – 08/2024" or "März 2022 – August 2024". Current roles use "seit" (since): "seit März 2024." Avoid pure-numeric formats outside the dd.mm.yyyy convention.

German Lebenslauf bullets are traditionally more descriptive and less aggressively achievement-led than US resume bullets. A US resume bullet reads: "Increased revenue 47% through targeted outbound campaigns to enterprise prospects." A German Lebenslauf bullet for the same work might read: "Verantwortlich für Outbound-Vertrieb an Enterprise-Kunden mit Fokus auf den DACH-Raum und Steigerung des Umsatzes um 47% im Geschäftsjahr 2024."

Both are acceptable; the German pattern leads with responsibility scope ("Responsible for outbound sales to enterprise customers focusing on the DACH region") and then states the outcome ("and increasing revenue by 47% in fiscal year 2024"). The US pattern leads with the outcome.

Modern German tech companies have shifted toward US-style achievement-first bullets, but traditional Mittelstand and public-sector employers still expect the descriptive Responsibility-then-Result German pattern. When converting US bullets to Lebenslauf bullets, restructure each one to lead with the responsibility scope.

Avoid US marketing-speak in German bullets — "synergy," "results-driven," "rockstar," "ninja" all read as poorly-translated American English in German professional writing. Stick to plain, accurate German.