A German CV is usually two pages long and consists of a neatly arranged depiction of your professional biography. At the same time, it is a marketing tool that helps you to present yourself as a suitable candiate.
Below, you find some basic information about CVs in Germany. We are happy to check your CV in a counselling session and offer workshops that teach you everything you need to know.
The CV starts with your personal information (name, adress, nationality, mobile phone, e-mail) and a picture (!) Anonymous applications are not common in Germany.
It is common to structure you CV in categories which you can prioritize depending on the job you wish to apply for. Categories might be:
- Education
- Experience (rather than “Employment”): this can include voluntary work, student society roles, internships, paid work etc
- International Experience
- Language skills
- Further skills (Computer programs, driver's license, special certificates if relevant for the job)
Within the category, put the entries in anti-chronological order, i.e. your latest is on top! Each entry is supposed to include the following information:
- name of institution or employer
- location
- position
- tasks
The cv should ideally be without gaps. However, you omit entry that are not relevant for the job or took place a long time ago. Of course, all the things you mention have to be truthful.
End your CV with the date and your signature which you can insert as a scanned picture.
Compared to your cover letter, the design of your CV allows you much more creative freedom. However, the design should be clear and help the reader to find relevant information at once. Make sure that you have enough space between the categories. The font and other graphic elements should match your cover letter.
You can google many sample CVs. However, do not use templates. Employer expect university graduates to able to make their own CV!