German CV templates
Ten Lebenslauf templates, made for German recruiters
Every design follows the format German employers expect: newest first, one to two pages, photo optional. Pick one, fill it in German or English, and download a PDF or Word file. Free for your first CV.
All ten German CV templates
Drawn by the builder itself, so what you see is what you download. Every colour works with every design.
Classic
The German tabellarisch CV: personal data as a table, dates in their own column.
- Any German employer
- Mittelstand and public sector
Modern
One clean column, dates on the right: the safest for applicant tracking systems.
- Applicant tracking systems
- Corporate and tech
Column
Two columns under strong rules: dense, for many skills and certificates.
- Lots of certificates
- IT and engineering
Banner
A colour band across the top with a round photo: confident, customer-facing.
- Sales and customer-facing roles
- Hospitality
Timeline
Your career on a line, current role marked: a clear upward path.
- A steady career path
- Mid-career moves
Elegant
An editorial serif with italic employers: law, finance, academia.
- Law, finance, academia
- Senior roles
Minimal
Swiss restraint: a label column, black and grey, no lines.
- Design and architecture
- Understated industries
Split
A solid column in your colour for photo, contact and skills: bold and modern.
- Startups and marketing
- A bold first impression
Duo
A full-width header, then two columns: your story left, skills in a tinted panel right.
- Students and graduates
- Ausbildung applications
Which template for which job
| Template | Best for | Layout |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Any German employer, Mittelstand and public sector | One column |
| Modern | Applicant tracking systems, Corporate and tech | One column |
| Sidebar | Many languages and skills, Photo up front | Two columns |
| Column | Lots of certificates, IT and engineering | Two columns |
| Banner | Sales and customer-facing roles, Hospitality | One column |
| Timeline | A steady career path, Mid-career moves | One column |
| Elegant | Law, finance, academia, Senior roles | One column |
| Minimal | Design and architecture, Understated industries | One column |
| Split | Startups and marketing, A bold first impression | Two columns |
| Duo | Students and graduates, Ausbildung applications | Two columns |
Applying through an online portal? One-column designs (Classic, Modern) are the safest for applicant tracking systems.
What every template already gets right
Newest first, dates as MM/YYYY
Every section runs from the current role back, with dates in their own place, the way a German recruiter scans them.
One to two pages
The page counter shows the real page count as you type, so you see when to cut an older role down to a line.
Photo optional
Add a professional photo or leave it off; each design looks complete either way.
German or English, CEFR levels
One switch changes every heading and date to German or English. Languages are listed on the A1 to C2 scale.
Readable by applicant tracking systems
Real text in a real PDF, never an image, so the software that screens CVs reads every line.
Checked before you send it
The CV score flags gaps over three months and the details recruiters look for first.
See the plans, and have your CV reviewed before you send it, on the German CV Builder page.
Questions
Are these German CV templates free?+
Yes. Every template, every colour and the CV score are free for one CV, with PDF and Word downloads. The Career plan adds unlimited CVs and AI import of the CV you already have.
Which template do German recruiters prefer?+
Classic is the safest choice for any German employer: it is the tabellarischer Lebenslauf most recruiters grew up with. Modern reads best in applicant tracking systems. Beyond that, match the industry: Elegant for law and finance, Banner or Split for customer-facing and startup roles.
Should a German CV have a photo?+
It is optional. Since the AGG (2006) no employer can require one, but many German CVs still carry a professional headshot. Every template works with or without a photo, and you can pick a round, square or rectangular crop.
Can I switch templates after I have filled in my CV?+
Yes, at any time. Your content stays as it is and the new design reflows it, so you can try all ten on your own CV before you send it.
Your Lebenslauf, ready to send tonight
Pick a template, fill it in, download it. Free for your first CV, no card needed.
