CV & resume standards in Germany

Q: Should a CV in Germany include a photo?

Common — most applicants include one. Optional since AGG 2006 — employers may not demand one — but ~80% of applicants still include a photo and ~19% of recruiters sort out photo-less applications. Standard in the Mittelstand, fading in tech/startups.

This is the live market data our scanner applies when a resume targets Germany — not an opinion piece. The local document is the Lebenslauf; here is what employers there actually expect.

What the document is called

Lebenslauf

Paper size: A4

Expected length

1–2 pages, tabular

Photo on the CV? Common — most applicants include one

Optional since AGG 2006 — employers may not demand one — but ~80% of applicants still include a photo and ~19% of recruiters sort out photo-less applications. Standard in the Mittelstand, fading in tech/startups.

Personal data conventions

DOB common; marital status declining.

Market conventions

• Strict tabular layout; date + signature at the bottom traditional
• All gaps accounted for
• Full Bewerbung = cover letter + CV + Zeugnisse (certificates)

Check your resume against these standards

The free scan evaluates your resume against Germany's norms automatically — photo expectations, personal-data conventions, length, and the keywords your industry expects.

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Source: the country-standards engine of this site's resume scanner. When the engine's data improves, this page updates with it.