How to Write a Lebenslauf in German from Spain (2026)

If you are in Spain and thinking about crossing into the German job market, there is one thing you need to know from the start: your Spanish CV will not work as it is. In Germany, the Lebenslauf is used — a document with its own conventions, very different from Spanish ones, ranging from a mandatory photograph to a signature at the bottom. In this guide we explain exactly how to create it, section by section, so your application is not rejected before anyone even reads it.

What exactly is the Lebenslauf?

The term Lebenslauf literally means «life course». In practice, it is the standard CV of the German job market and almost always takes the form of the tabellarischer Lebenslauf (tabular CV) — that is, a reverse chronological structure with the most recent entries first, dates aligned on the left and descriptions on the right.

Unlike the Spanish CV, the Lebenslauf requires an extremely formal tone, the absence of personal pronouns (you do not write «I managed», but rather «Verantwortlich für die Verwaltung von…») and what Germans call a lückenloser Lebenslauf: a history with no gaps. Any period of more than two months without a recorded activity must be explicitly explained.

Lebenslauf structure: required sections

The standard order that German recruiters expect is as follows:

• Persönliche Daten (Personal details): full name, postal address, phone number, email address, date of birth (Geburtsdatum) and, usually, nationality (Staatsangehörigkeit). In Spain we would never include the date of birth on a CV; in Germany it is the norm.
• Berufserfahrung (Professional experience): company, job title, city and dates (MM/YYYY). Describe your responsibilities and achievements using action verbs in the infinitive or as nominalised forms. Highlight quantifiable results whenever possible.
• Ausbildung / Bildungsweg (Academic background): qualifications in reverse order, with the name of the institution, city, qualification obtained and dates. In Germany, dual vocational training (Ausbildung) is equivalent to a university degree; list it with the same rigour.
• Kenntnisse & Fähigkeiten (Skills and competencies): IT skills, tools, technical certifications.
• Sprachkenntnisse (Languages): include your level according to the Common European Framework (A1–C2). State whether you hold an official certificate such as the Goethe-Zertifikat or the TestDaF.
• Hobbys und Interessen (Hobbies, optional): a brief but valued section; it reveals personality and cultural fit.
• Ort, Datum und Unterschrift (Place, date and signature): at the end of the document write the city from which you are submitting the application, the date, and your scanned handwritten signature. Omitting it is a common mistake among foreign applicants.

The photograph: yes, it is customary and expected

In Germany, the professional photograph (Bewerbungsfoto) is placed in the upper right corner, next to the personal details. It must be a studio image with a neutral background, formal clothing and a friendly yet serious expression. Do not use social media photos or cropped group shots. Although legally a company cannot require it or reject you for not including it, the reality of the market is that its absence draws negative attention.

If you want to understand how the photo requirement varies drastically from country to country across Europe, you may find our analysis useful: Photo on your CV: yes or no?.

The Anschreiben: the cover letter that accompanies the Lebenslauf

A complete German Bewerbung (application) consists of three elements: the Lebenslauf, the Anschreiben (cover letter) and the Zeugnisse (copies of qualifications and employment certificates). The Anschreiben must not exceed one DIN A4 page and must be written in formal German. Explain why you are interested in that specific role at that specific company; generic texts are perceived negatively.

Common mistakes made by Spanish applicants

• Using the Europass directly: it is recognised, but it is not the preferred format. Adapt to the tabellarischer Lebenslauf.
• Writing in Spanish or English without the job posting explicitly allowing it.
• Omitting the date of birth out of Spanish habit; in Germany it is expected.
• Leaving gaps unexplained: a six-month blank period immediately raises suspicion. Explain travel, family care, training or active job searching.
• Exceeding two pages with large blocks of running text instead of concise bullet points.
• Forgetting the signature at the end of the document.

Language tips for writing in formal German

If your German level is not yet C1, consider these strategies:

• Use nominalised verbs: Durchführung von… (Execution of…) instead of first-person conjugated forms.
• Have your text reviewed by a native speaker or with specialised tools before sending it.
• Avoid translating Spanish expressions literally; look for functional German equivalents.
• Abbreviations for Spanish qualifications (such as «Grado en» or «FP de Grado Superior») should be accompanied by a brief description in German so the recruiter can understand them.

Length, design and file format

The Bundesagentur für Arbeit recommends a maximum of two DIN A4 pages. The design should be clean and structured, with a legible typeface (Arial or Calibri at 11–12 pt), margins of at least 2 cm and plenty of white space. Avoid eye-catching infographics: the German market values clarity over visual creativity, except in sectors such as design or advertising.

Always send the file as a PDF to preserve the formatting. Name the file with your surname and first name: Lebenslauf_SurnameFirstname.pdf. If the jobs portal accepts multiple documents, upload the Anschreiben and the Lebenslauf separately.

To understand how the tabular format improves readability for both human recruiters and ATS systems, see our guide on the tabular CV: structure and template 2026.

Ready to create your Lebenslauf? At ResumeHero you will find bilingual templates adapted to the German standard that you can personalise for free, export as a PDF and send directly to your applications in Germany — without starting from scratch.