Der Lebenslauf
A German CV (Lebenslauf) follows a fairly fixed structure, different in tone from an English-language resume - more formal, chronological, and typically includes a photo (Bewerbungsfoto). This reuses vocabulary from Lesson 19 (work) and Lesson 41 (dates) in a real document format.
| die Persönlichen Daten | personal details (name, address, birthdate) |
| der Werdegang / die Berufserfahrung | career path / work experience |
| die Ausbildung | education/training |
| die Kenntnisse | skills (languages, software, etc.) |
Quick check: what's the German word for "work experience"?
seit 09/2025 - Deutschkurs, Berlin (seit + dative, Lesson 18 - "since," ongoing)
2020-2024 - Studium, Bangkok (a finished period - just a date range, no verb needed in list form)
Lebenslauf entries are typically written in note form (no full sentences, no verbs) - a genuine exception to everything you've learned about full sentence structure. Just date, location, and title.
Quick check: does a Lebenslauf entry normally need a full sentence with a conjugated verb?
Deutsch: A1 (useful to state your exact level - this course's whole purpose!)
Englisch: fließend (fluent)
MS Office: gute Kenntnisse (good knowledge/skills)
Quick check: what does "fließend" mean on a skills list?
1. What's the German word for "education/training" on a CV?
2. What preposition signals an ongoing period on a CV (e.g. "seit 09/2025")?
3. Is a German Lebenslauf typically written in full sentences?
Format based on standard German Lebenslauf conventions; vocabulary cross-checked against the "Arbeit" topic in the official Goethe-Zertifikat A1 Wortliste.
Want help drafting your real Lebenslauf in German? Ask your teaching agent to go through it section by section.