How to Write a German Resume: A Comprehensive Guide

German-speaking job markets today

Many German-speaking countries have strong, thriving job markets focusing on technology and finance. Let’s take a look at the most common job roles and industries in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Germany

The most prominent industries in the German working world are:

These are the focus in large cities, but if you’re considering smaller towns and rural areas, there are also opportunities in plumbing, electrical, and teaching.

Austria

Much like Germany, Austria has a thriving technology sector, but it also has a number of unique industries:

Switzerland

Switzerland has a powerful focus on tourism, service, and technology and a strong economy, making it an attractive country for many professionals. Here are the most popular industries:

Understanding the German resume format

A German resume, called a Lebenslauf, is very similar to a traditional American resume. It lists personal information, work experience, education, and skills. This document also typically uses a reverse-chronological structure to provide your most recent, relevant achievements first, making them easier for the hiring manager to review.

Much like American applications, German resumes are usually one page long. However, it’s a bit more common and acceptable to submit two-page resumes in countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. These documents should also be a bit more detailed than American resumes, but it’s still important to use concise language and avoid irrelevant topics and technical jargon.

Use a standard font, like Arial or Times New Roman, and choose a tidy, readable size. We recommend 11 to 12 points for body text and 14 to 16 for headers.

German resume example: Structure, length, and contents

German resumes typically start with a personal details section to tell the hiring manager about yourself. While some of the usual information, such as age and date of birth, may be strange for Americans to provide to potential employers, this is common in German-speaking countries, and applications may seem unfinished without it.

Optionally, you can continue into a resume summary like you usually would. This is a small paragraph describing your work experience and achievements, just like a traditional American resume. However, this isn’t strictly required or expected, so you can omit it if you need extra space.

The rest of the format is nearly identical to a standard resume. Include a reverse-chronological list of work experience, a section for educational degrees and merits, and a header for skills and language proficiency. 

You can also include sections for hobbies and interests, certifications, and volunteer work. However, we recommend you only include hobbies if they’re directly relevant to the open role and you lack an extensive work history, like a programmer who creates apps in their spare time. German hiring managers prefer a highly focused, professional resume and aren’t usually interested in your personal life.

While there are specific expectations and requirements, you won’t need a special German resume template to create this resume. As long as you have a flexible, adjustable resume layout, you can personalize it to different markets and languages.

How to prepare a resume in German

Let’s walk through the step-by-step process of creating a German resume. For more tips and actionable examples of how to describe achievements and education, check out our resume samples.

Personal information/Persönliche Angaben

First, include a section for personal details. Most German-speaking countries expect the following information:

These details are expected. The following information is common but not strictly required:

While this information is intended to help employers get to know you, it can also open opportunities for discrimination and bias. Feel free to exclude it if you aren’t sure.

Summary/Kurzprofil

Resume summaries aren’t mandatory in German resumes, but they’re rapidly gaining popularity and help the hiring manager quickly understand your relevance to their role. 

Build a short, two to three-sentence description of your professional experience and accomplishments. Mention strong, relevant skills and include a measurable achievement if possible.

Work experience/Berufserfahrung

This section is nearly identical to American resumes. Start with your most recent job role and work backward, providing only relevant job positions and omitting any unrelated work. For example, a sales professional should include their roles as a Sales Representative and Retail Associate but leave out their teenage job as a dishwasher.

For each work entry, provide your job title, the company name, location, date of employment, and a bullet list of achievements. Describe skills and accomplishments that align with the job description, and add metrics and percentages if possible.

Education/Ausbildung

Provide any educational degrees you possess, including your graduation dates and the name of the institution. Feel free to add relevant coursework, and include your GPA if it’s above 3.5.

Skills/Kenntnisse und Fähigkeiten

List five to 10 hard and soft skills relevant to the open role. A few examples include programming languages, time management, problem-solving, and computer skills. 

If you have a large number of technical skills it’s a good idea to create separate headers for hard skills and soft skills. For instance, an engineer resume should have a dedicated section for project planning, installation, and machine design.

Optional sections

These sections reinforce your qualifications and strengthen your application but aren’t required. Here are a few common examples:

• Hobbies and interests
• Volunteer work
• Certifications
• Languages

If you speak more than two languages, create a dedicated Languages section (called Sprachen) to organize the details. If you don’t, you can simply include your known languages in your Skills section.

“A German resume, called a Lebenslauf, is very similar to a traditional American resume. It lists personal information, work experience, education, and skills.”

Tips and best practices for writing a German resume

Here’s a summary of tips and tricks for writing a successful German resume. Use this as a quick reference as you’re building applications to ensure you check every box.

• Include a photo: German resumes typically expect a headshot in the personal details section. Be sure to include a professional photo of yourself wearing business attire from the shoulders or neck up.
• Tailor it to the job description: Read the job ad you’re targeting and note keywords like the job title, skills, and responsibilities. Frame your resume around this info and include key terms to ensure it aligns with the company’s expectations and passes the applicant tracking system (ATS).
• Research the company: While many German-speaking companies have similar requirements, it’s best to research individual organizations to gain insights into their culture and preferences.
• Be detailed yet concise: Try to strike a balance between in-depth and succinct. German hiring managers prefer detailed explanations of your history and skills, but they also want information to be tidy and efficient.

Create a German resume and succeed in a new market

While it may seem intimidating, creating a German resume isn’t too different from writing an American one. Knowing a few simple tactics, like writing out a detailed personal information section, helps you align with a new work culture and show hiring managers your professionalism and work ethic.

Ready to put your knowledge to use? Use CVwizard’s resume maker to customize your application to any job market effortlessly. Rename headers and drag-and-drop sections, making each resume a little different to ensure they suit your target industry and country.