A German Lebenslauf (CV) follows a more rigid, formal structure than the CVs common in India. German employers reviewing Ausbildung applications expect a specific format, and deviating from it can make an application look unprepared even when the candidate is strong. This guide follows the official structure recommended by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Germany’s Federal Employment Agency).
Use the tabular format
German CVs are written as a “tabellarischer Lebenslauf” — a tabular, chronological layout, not a narrative or paragraph-based résumé. Keep it to a maximum of two pages. Within each section, list entries in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent activity.
What to include, section by section
Personal details
Full name, address, phone number, email address, and date and place of birth. Official guidance specifically notes that information about your parents’ occupations is unnecessary — a detail some Indian applicants include by habit but that has no place on a German CV.
Practical/professional experience
List internships, part-time work, and any relevant experience, most recent first. For dates, month and year are sufficient — you don’t need exact days. For each entry, include the organisation, your role, and 3 to 5 short bullet points describing what you actually did.
Education
List the schools you attended, with dates, the type of school, and the qualification achieved or expected — for Indian applicants, this means your Class 10 and Class 12 (or equivalent) results, translated where relevant.
Special skills
Foreign languages (with your level — ideally referenced to the CEFR scale, e.g. “Deutsch: B1”), computer/software skills, driving licence if applicable, and relevant volunteering or hobbies that say something about you as a candidate.
Signature
A handwritten-style signature at the bottom is optional but is still common practice and signals that the document is current and personally submitted.
Should you include a photo?
A professional photo is common on German CVs and can strengthen an application, but official guidance is clear that it is not mandatory. If you do include one, it should be a proper professional photo — not a passport photo, a cropped holiday picture, or a selfie.
Formatting tips that matter
- Keep the layout clear and simple (“übersichtlich und schlicht”) — avoid decorative fonts, icons, or heavy graphic design.
- Use a plain, readable font throughout.
- Tailor the CV to each employer rather than sending an identical copy everywhere.
- If you have gaps in your education or work history, address them briefly and honestly rather than leaving them unexplained.
Specific tips for Indian applicants
Have your Class 10 and Class 12 marks translated and, where relevant, converted into terms a German employer will recognise (e.g. stating the grading system used). Keep your language proficiency level front and centre — many employers screen for a minimum of A2 or B1 German before reading further. See our guide on the full documents checklist for what else you’ll need alongside your CV, and our guide on writing the Anschreiben that should accompany it.
For the complete application process, see how to apply for Ausbildung in Germany from India, or browse programmes on our Ausbildung programmes page. Want a second pair of eyes on your CV? Contact us.
Where this comes from
This guide is based on the Bundesagentur für Arbeit’s official CV guidance, published at arbeitsagentur.de/bildung/bewerbung/lebenslauf (accessed via its planet-beruf.de guidance for school leavers and apprenticeship applicants).
