Literal translation traps
“Manager” in one country may mean people leadership; in another, it means owning a process. German ads distinguish carefully between Fachkraft, Specialist, Lead, and Führungskraft. Choosing the wrong label confuses salary bands and interview panels.
Evidence beats title vanity
If you led a team of four, say so in the bullet — do not hide behind a inflated title, and do not hide the team under a modest title either. During CV and cover letter adaptation we often keep the original title in parentheses once, then use the German-facing description in the body.
Research the ladder
Read three similar Stellenausschreibungen at your target level. Note recurring nouns: Verantwortung, Budget, Personalverantwortung, Schnittstelle. Those words should appear where they are true for you.
Positioning first when unsure
If several ladders could fit, book a career positioning consultation before rewriting documents. Title choices are cheaper to test in conversation than in a finished Lebenslauf.