11 March 2026

How long should a German Lebenslauf be?

German recruiters rarely want a multi-page narrative. Here is how skilled migrants can decide what belongs on page one.

Many skilled migrants arrive with CVs written for markets that reward exhaustive timelines. German hiring teams usually expect a Lebenslauf that can be scanned in under two minutes. That does not mean deleting hard-won experience; it means ordering evidence so the reader finds role fit before biography.

For most specialist and mid-level roles, two pages is a practical ceiling. Early-career applicants can often stay on one page if education, internships, and language certificates are tightly written. Longer documents make sense for academic CVs or when a vacancy explicitly requests a detailed dossier.

Start by listing the duties in the vacancy. Keep bullets that prove those duties. Move older jobs into a short earlier-career block, and push hobbies or soft skills to the end unless they directly support the role. Dates should use a consistent format — month and year is enough for most German applications.

Photo expectations still vary by sector. When you include a photo, keep it professional and current; when you omit one, ensure the rest of the document follows local structure so the absence does not look unfinished. If you are unsure, ask during coaching which convention fits your target employers.

Finally, treat the Lebenslauf as a living file. After each interview or rejection, note which sections recruiters asked about. Those notes are more useful than copying generic CV templates from another country.