Applying for jobs in Germany: CV, cover letter, references and interviews

According to the Federal Employment Agency (BA), a complete application usually includes:

• a cover letter (Anschreiben), at most one A4 page;
• a CV (Lebenslauf), at most two A4 pages;
• certificates (Zeugnisse): your highest degree or vocational qualification, relevant training certificates and employment references from previous employers;
• optionally a cover sheet (Deckblatt) with your name, the position and a photo.

For online applications, the BA recommends combining everything into one PDF with a meaningful file name, so your formatting stays intact. Send copies, never originals. If a company uses an online portal, fill in the fields as well as uploading your documents.

Many international companies and start-ups ask only for a CV, or make the cover letter optional. Follow the ad: if it asks for a motivation letter, salary expectations or a portfolio, include them.

German CVs are usually tabular and in reverse chronological order, with the most recent position first. Typical sections:

• Personal details: name, address, phone number and email. A professional profile link is fine.
• Work experience: dates (month and year), job title, employer, place, and two to four bullet points on responsibilities and results.
• Education: degrees with institution, dates and field of study, and the German equivalent if you know it.
• Further training and certificates.
• Skills: languages with CEFR levels (for example "German B1, English C1"), IT skills and other specialist skills.

Photo, date of birth, nationality and marital status were traditionally part of German CVs. None of them is required. The BA describes the photo as no longer mandatory but still customary in many sectors, and the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency advises employers not to ask for photos, age, date of birth, place of birth or marital status at all. If you decide to include a photo, use a professional application photo rather than a selfie or passport picture.

Keep it to two pages. Explain longer gaps briefly and neutrally (for example "relocation to Germany and German course"), and make sure the dates in your CV match your certificates.

The cover letter is a formal letter with your address, the company's address, the date and a subject line naming the position. The BA recommends that it:

• is addressed to the correct contact person, by name where possible;
• says how you found the vacancy (the ad, a job fair, a personal recommendation);
• explains concretely why your professional and personal qualifications fit this particular role;
• mentions your possible start date if the ad asks for it;
• mentions salary only if the ad asks for your expectations;
• closes politely, asking for an interview.

Use active, direct sentences and avoid tentative phrasing. A generic letter sent to many employers is easy to spot; tailor at least the opening and the paragraph on why you fit. If the ad is in German, write in German unless it says English is fine. If you are asked for salary expectations (Gehaltsvorstellung), give a gross annual figure based on research in the BA's Entgeltatlas.

German employers like to see written proof of qualifications and experience. Besides degree certificates, many expect employment references from previous jobs.

In Germany, every employee has a legal right to a written reference (Arbeitszeugnis) when an employment relationship ends (§ 109 of the Trade Regulation Act). There are two types:

• a simple reference (einfaches Zeugnis) states only the type and duration of the work;
• a qualified reference (qualifiziertes Zeugnis), which you can request, also assesses your performance and conduct.

The law requires references to be clear and understandable and forbids wording designed to say something different from what it appears to say. In practice, references are written in conventional, positive-sounding phrases, and German readers pay close attention to nuances. If you receive one and are unsure how it reads, ask a union or an advice centre to look at it. A reference can be issued electronically if you agree.

References from abroad: German-style references are uncommon in many countries. Include what you have, such as reference letters, employment confirmations stating job title and dates, or contact details of referees, with a translation where needed. For foreign degrees, a recognition notice or statement of comparability helps employers understand your qualification; see the recognition guide.

The General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG) protects applicants against discrimination on grounds of ethnic origin or race, gender, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual identity. It applies from the job ad onwards. According to the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency:

• job ads must be neutral; "German applicants only", gender-specific job titles or unjustified age limits are not allowed, and demanding native-level German can be indirect discrimination if the job does not require it;
• in interviews, questions about religion, pregnancy, health, sexual orientation or similar protected characteristics are not permitted, and you are not obliged to answer them truthfully;
• if you believe you were rejected for a discriminatory reason, you must claim compensation in writing from the employer within two months of receiving the rejection, and then file a lawsuit within three months. You need indications of discrimination, such as the wording of the ad or remarks made in the interview.

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency offers free initial advice. In Berlin, the advice centres listed in the employment rights guide can also help.

The BA notes that selection usually involves interviews and, for some roles, an assessment centre. A common sequence is a short phone or video screening, one or two interviews with the team and manager, sometimes a case study, test task or presentation, and finally an offer.

Practices that newcomers commonly report:

• Punctuality matters; join video calls a few minutes early and arrive at in-person interviews on time.
• Formal address: in German, use Sie and surnames until you are invited to switch to first names. Many start-ups use first names from the start.
• Preparation: interviewers often ask you to walk through your CV and give concrete examples. Be ready to explain your motivation for the company and for moving to Germany.
• Questions to ask: about the team, the first months in the role, working hours and remote work, probation period and, if not covered, the salary range.
• Residence status: if you are not an EU citizen, be ready to explain your current permit and what the employer needs to do. This is a legitimate question; your nationality as such is not.
• Trial days (Probearbeit): if you are invited to work for a day, clarify beforehand whether it is paid. Non-EU nationals should only do so if their residence status allows it.

After the interview, a short thank-you email is welcome but not expected. If you receive an offer, ask for the contract in writing and read it before signing; the employment rights guide explains what it must contain.