German CV (Lebenslauf) — what's different from your home country?
The German CV has its own conventions that surprise people:
- Photo expected (yes, really — even in 2026, even though anti-discrimination laws exist)
- Personal info included (DOB, nationality, marital status — things forbidden in US CVs)
- Reverse chronological but with strict dates (month/year for every entry)
- Signed and dated at the bottom — old-school but standard
- PDF only — never Word, never plain text
- Cover letter (Anschreiben) is essential — never optional
What surprised YOU about German job applications? Any tips for newcomers? 👇
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Do not judge me, cuz I don't do the law