German CV format: how to write a Lebenslauf in 2026

What tabular format means

The word 'tabellarisch' means tabular. German recruiters expect a two-column layout: the left column holds dates or labels, the right column holds the content. This is not a design preference; it is the default format taught in German schools and expected by HR departments across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

A typical Lebenslauf opens with a header block containing your name, address, phone, email and date of birth. Below that, sections run in this order: work experience, education, further training, language skills, IT skills and, optionally, hobbies. Each section uses the same two-column structure throughout.

• Left column: date range or label, right-aligned, usually 3 to 4 cm wide
• Right column: job title, employer name, city and bullet-point duties
• Section headings span the full width and are bold or slightly larger
• No horizontal rules between entries; white space separates them instead

Photo expectations

Attaching a professional photo is still standard practice in Germany in 2026, unlike in the US, UK, Canada or Australia where photos are discouraged or prohibited to prevent bias. German job ads rarely ask for one explicitly because it is assumed.

The photo should be a recent, professional headshot taken by a photographer, not a selfie or a cropped group photo. It sits in the top-right corner of the first page, typically 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm tall, with a white or neutral background. Dress as you would for the interview itself.

If you are applying from outside Germany and feel uncomfortable including a photo, you can omit it. Some larger international companies operating in Germany have dropped the requirement, but for traditional German employers and the public sector, including one remains the safer choice.

Date format and conventions

German CVs use the format MM/YYYY or the written form 'seit Oktober 2023' (since October 2023) for a current role. Day-level precision is not required for jobs or education, but your date of birth in the personal details block should be written in full: '14. März 1990' or '14.03.1990'.

Every entry must have a start and end date. If you are still in a role, write the start date followed by 'heute' (today) or 'bis heute', for example '03/2022 - heute'. Leaving a date blank or writing 'present' in English will look careless to a German recruiter.

Gaps between roles are taken seriously. If you have a gap of more than two or three months, label it honestly: 'Elternzeit' (parental leave), 'Weiterbildung' (further training) or 'Krankheit' (illness) are all acceptable. Leaving a gap unexplained invites questions.

1. Write dates as MM/YYYY, for example 06/2019 - 03/2022
2. Use 'heute' for your current role, not 'present' or 'now'
3. Include your full date of birth in the personal details section
4. Label every gap with a short, honest description

Personal details section

German CVs include personal information that would be unusual or even illegal to request on a US or UK application. The standard fields are: full name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, place of birth, nationality and marital status. Some candidates also add their LinkedIn URL.

Marital status and nationality are optional in a legal sense, but omitting them can look unusual to traditional German employers. If you are applying for a role that requires a work permit, stating your nationality and visa status upfront saves time for both sides.

Do not include your salary expectation in the Lebenslauf itself. If the job ad asks for a 'Gehaltsvorstellung', put it in the cover letter, which Germans call the 'Anschreiben'.

Length, language and file format

One page is acceptable for graduates and candidates with fewer than three years of experience. Two pages is the norm for most professionals. Three pages is only appropriate for senior roles with extensive publication lists or technical certifications. Unlike an academic CV, a German Lebenslauf is not exhaustive; it is selective.

Write in German unless the job ad is in English or the company is explicitly international. Mixing languages within the document looks unprofessional. If your German is not fluent, have a native speaker proofread it before you send it.

Save the file as a PDF to preserve your layout. Name the file clearly: 'Lebenslauf_Vorname_Nachname.pdf'. German recruiters often receive dozens of applications and a clearly named file makes their job easier.

• One page: graduates and early-career candidates
• Two pages: most professionals with three or more years of experience
• Three pages: senior roles with publications or extensive certifications only
• File name: Lebenslauf_Vorname_Nachname.pdf

Building your Lebenslauf with AI

If you are starting from scratch or translating an existing resume into the German tabular format, Break-In Bad can build a structured CV through a short conversation with its assistant Omar. She asks up to 20 questions about your experience, checks every answer against what you said and produces a formatted document you can adapt for the German market.

Building from scratch costs 30 credits; enhancing an existing resume costs 15 credits. You receive 50 free credits when you sign up, so either option is covered by your starting balance. Omar will not invent details or add experience you did not confirm, which matters when German recruiters expect precise, verifiable dates and facts.