Firstday · CV Check
How will a German recruiter read your CV?
Upload yours to see how a German recruiter reads it — format, gaps, photo, signature, language levels — and what to fix. Free, no account.
Processed for the check, not stored. Nothing is used for training.
Common questions
- Do I need a photo on my German CV?
- No. A photo is optional — German law does not require one, so leaving it out is safe. Because a photo shows your age, sex and ethnic background, an employer who asks for one and then rejects you can face a discrimination claim under the AGG. Many German applications still include a professional shot; tech and English-speaking employers increasingly don’t.
- Does a German CV need a signature?
- Yes. A German Lebenslauf ends with place, date and signature (Ort, Datum, Unterschrift), and you update the date for each application — it signals the document is current. An English-language CV drops this line.
- How long should a German CV be?
- One page early in your career, two once you have a few years’ experience, and three only for senior or academic profiles. Longer is unusual and works against you.
Verified claim: German CV photo — legally optional; demanding one is an AGG discrimination risk, source Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG)Verified claim: German CV photo — how common it is and how to decide, source skill-sprinters.de — Bewerbungsfoto 2026 (convention)
Verified claim: German CV signature line, source erfolgo.de — Tabellarischer Lebenslauf 2026
Verified claim: German CV length, source erfolgo.de — Tabellarischer Lebenslauf 2026
Ready to build the whole thing? Build the full application →