Country guides / Germany
German Lebenslauf Guide 2026 (English)
The German Lebenslauf is a tabular, gap-free chronology: dates in a left column, a professional photo top-right, personal data block, and traditionally a signature at the bottom. Precision signals competence.
The rules at a glance
Length
1–2 pages, strictly tabular
Photo
Expected: professional headshot, ~4.5×6 cm, top right
Personal details
DOB, place of birth and nationality are customary
Dates
03.2020 – heute (MM.YYYY)
Language
German if the posting is German; English otherwise
Signature
City, date + signature at the end is traditional
✓ Do
- Use a professional photographer's headshot, neutral background
- Account for every period; gaps must be explained (lückenlos)
- Dates left, content right, in strict tabular form
- Attach certificates (Zeugnisse) when a posting asks for them
- Sign and date the CV; it signals authenticity
✕ Don't
- Casual selfies or cropped vacation photos
- Unexplained gaps in the timeline
- Creative layouts; German recruiters want order
- Exaggeration; claims are checked against certificates
- Submitting English when the ad is written in German
💡 Photos aren't legally required (AGG anti-discrimination law), but most German employers still expect one, and a Lebenslauf without a photo can read as incomplete.
Quick answers
- How long should a Germany lebenslauf be?
- 1–2 pages, strictly tabular
- Should it include a photo?
- Expected: professional headshot, ~4.5×6 cm, top right
- Can I build one for free?
- Yes. The GlobeResume builder applies every rule on this page automatically, previews your lebenslauf live, and exports to PDF and Word. It runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Build my Germany Lebenslauf free
No sign-up. The builder pre-loads every Germany convention from this guide.