The German application is a package, not a document. A complete Bewerbung contains a cover letter (Anschreiben), a tabular CV (Lebenslauf) and scanned certificates and employer references (Zeugnisse) — and German employers genuinely read all of it. The Lebenslauf itself is factual and tabular rather than persuasive, which catches out applicants trained on American resume advice.
Germany Lebenslauf rules at a glance
Name: Lebenslauf. The full application package is a Bewerbung
Length: One to two pages, tabular
Photo: Traditionally expected and still common, though the AGG discrimination law means it is now optional
Personal details: Date and place of birth are still common; nationality and marital status are optional and declining
Structure: Tabular — dates in a left column, detail on the right. Not a narrative
Date format: MM/YYYY or DD.MM.YYYY
Signature: Traditionally signed and dated at the bottom, though this is fading
Attachments: Arbeitszeugnisse (employer references) and degree certificates are expected as attachments
Berufserfahrung — work experience, tabular, reverse-chronological
Ausbildung — education
Kenntnisse — skills, with language levels stated as A1–C2
Weiterbildung — further training and certifications
Place, date and signature
Mistakes that cost people interviews in Germany
Sending only a CV when the employer expects a full Bewerbung with Anschreiben and scanned Zeugnisse.
Writing a narrative American-style resume instead of the expected tabular Lebenslauf.
Describing language ability as 'fluent' rather than the CEFR levels (B2, C1) German employers actually screen on.
Omitting Arbeitszeugnisse, which German employers are legally obliged to provide and expect to see.
Leaving unexplained gaps — German CVs are expected to be chronologically complete (lückenlos).
Germany Lebenslauf questions
Do I need a photo on a German CV?
It is optional but still common. The Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) means employers cannot require one, and larger international firms increasingly prefer applications without. For traditional German companies a professional photo remains the norm, and its absence is occasionally read as an incomplete application.
What is a Bewerbung and what does it contain?
The complete German job application: a cover letter (Anschreiben), the tabular CV (Lebenslauf), and an attachment set of degree certificates and employer references (Arbeitszeugnisse). Submitting only a CV is one of the most common mistakes international applicants make in Germany.
Can I apply in English in Germany?
In international companies, startups and much of the tech sector in Berlin and Munich, yes. For Mittelstand firms, the public sector and client-facing roles, a German-language Bewerbung is expected. If the advertisement is in German, apply in German.