The ten-second pass
Most recruiters do not read your Lebenslauf like a novel. They confirm identity details, check that employment dates run cleanly backwards, and look for the job title vocabulary from the Stellenausschreibung. If those fail, your carefully worded bullet points never get a hearing.
Personal details without oversharing
German conventions still often include address city, phone with country code, and sometimes date of birth or nationality — sector norms vary. If you are unsure, ask whether the employer’s industry still expects a photo. Creative agencies and international tech teams may differ from traditional Mittelstand manufacturers.
Chronology over creativity
Functional CVs that hide dates raise questions about gaps. A reverse-chronological Lebenslauf with month/year ranges lets readers place your experience against the role’s seniority. Gaps are better explained briefly than disguised.
Mirror the vacancy’s verbs
If the ad asks for “Kundenberatung im Außendienst,” do not bury that work under a vague “stakeholder engagement.” Employment consulting in Germany often starts by aligning your wording to the employer’s, not inventing a new personal brand paragraph.
Next step
If your current document still follows a one-page English resume template, consider a full CV & cover letter adaptation rather than patching headings alone.