For internationals applying in Germany
Your German job application, CV and cover letter, made with AI
Employers in Germany expect a Bewerbung: a tabular CV known as a Lebenslauf, a one-page Anschreiben, and your references. The AI builds the first two from the job ad, either in English or German. You are responsible for including your references.
- Lebenslauf + Anschreiben
- Photo optional by law
- PDF for applicant portals
Your first PDF download costs nothing. No account, no payment details.
What goes into a German application
A Bewerbung usually has three parts, often sent as one PDF through the employer's portal. Two of them are made here; the third comes from you.
- Lebenslauf (tabular CV)Built here
Your roles in reverse order with month and year, plus a short profile aimed at the job ad. Rewrite any line on the page yourself, or hand it to the AI as an instruction.
- Anschreiben (cover letter)Written by the AI
One page with sender, recipient, date, subject line and salutation, in the order German readers know from DIN 5008. The content answers what the ad asks for, using what is in your CV.
- Zeugnisse (references, certificates)You attach these
Employer references (Arbeitszeugnisse), degree certificates and course certificates come from other people, and KILebenslauf does not create them. Scan them and attach them after the CV and the letter.
Four tools behind one German application
An AI CV maker for the German Lebenslauf
The editor turns your résumé into a tabular Lebenslauf, with month and year on the left and employer, location, and duties on the right. Then you edit directly on the page or ask the AI to name any gaps, translate job titles, or highlight your degree.
- Each role's month and year are specified; a gap gets a name, not a blank
- Abitur, Ausbildung or Studium explained with place and year
- Under the AGG, you are free to skip a photo; adding your signature is optional. The PDF goes to the portal
ATS check: does your CV match the German job ad?
Large German companies often use a Bewerberportal to receive job applications, with an applicant tracking system (Bewerbermanagementsystem) then screening the submitted documents. The ATS check places your CV beside the job posting, flagging which terms are included, which are missing, and how often each term appears in the ad.
- How often the ad repeats a term hints at Muss and Kann criteria
- Whether the job title from the ad appears on your CV
- Portal readability: contact details, headings, one column, consistent dates
The Anschreiben, written from the job ad
A German Anschreiben fits on a single page, written by the AI from the ad and your CV. It answers the requirements rather than listing them, with a Betreff (subject line) and the formal Anrede.
- Laid out the way DIN 5008 readers expect: Betreff, Anrede, Grußformel
- Add the start date and notice period yourself; only state pay when the ad asks for it
- Works for an Ausbildung, a Werkstudent position or an academic program; exports PDF or Word
Jobs across the 16 Länder, many in English
The list comes from employer career platforms and LinkedIn, checked daily. More than half of the ads are in English, mostly in Berlin and Munich; about a third of the titles include (m/w/d).
- 10,000+ live listings
- Filter by state, sector and home office
- English-speaking roles in Berlin and Munich via the language filter
- Ausbildung and Werkstudent openings on our list too
The German CV format, explained for newcomers
German hiring managers read a tabular CV, with the latest role at the top, usually covering one to two pages. Four things that often trip up people used to an English résumé:
- The photo questionUnder the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), an employer cannot require a photo. Plenty of German applicants still add one, and leaving it off is just as acceptable.
- Contact block at the topName, address, phone and email. Date of birth, marital status and nationality are optional, so you can leave them out.
- Your education, in German termsMention the degree, institution, place, and year; give the grade when useful. Recruiters are familiar with Abitur (school exit exam), Ausbildung (vocational training), and Studium (university).
- Signed and datedMany German CVs end with city, date, and signature. This step is not required, and for digital applications a typed name is enough.
You control all four in the editor: show or hide the photo, add details, move sections around.
A CV for the Agentur für Arbeit and the Jobcenter
If you're signed up with the Agentur für Arbeit or a Jobcenter, chances are you're sending many applications in quick succession. To keep track later, save a separate CV and tailored cover letter for each job posting.
KILebenslauf is a private service. It does not have any connection to the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenters.
Where are you on the German job market?
Each route below opens the same editor at a different stage: school leaver, student, career changer, or new arrival.
Your first Ausbildung or first job
Still no Arbeitszeugnis, just school, internships, and possibly a Minijob. Given the lack of work experience, school ranks higher on the Lebenslauf; mention that briefly to the AI.
Start a first LebenslaufStudying: Werkstudent role or internship
For a Werkstudent role, state your course of study, semester, and weekly available hours in your application letter. The AI then drafts it from the advertised role and your CV.
Write a Werkstudent letterExperienced and changing field
Put the German job posting next to your current CV. This comparison shows which terms from the ad are missing, guiding your first rewording efforts.
Compare with the adMoving to Germany from abroad
Upload your existing résumé, PDF or Word, and turn it into the tabular German format. If your qualifications have been recognised through Germany's recognition process (Anerkennung), note this beside your degree.
Upload my résumé
Openings in every one of the 16 Länder
In our list, Berlin, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, and Hesse lead, while Berlin and Munich have the most vacancies. Only 7 % state a salary in the ad, and about 15 % offer hybrid work.
Browse jobs in Germany- Baden-Württemberg
- Bavaria
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Hamburg
- Hesse
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Lower Saxony
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Thuringia
Cost
Sign-up waits until you want to store something.
| Access | Included |
|---|---|
| As a guest | 1 CV with 3 AI requests, a match against one job ad, and a free first PDF export. |
| Free account | A weekly allowance of 10 CVs, kept in your account. |
| Trial, 7 days | Kicks in at your second download: unlimited CVs, Anschreiben, checks and AI requests. |
| Subscription | €15 a month or €95 a year; you can stop whenever you like. |
The trial asks for card details up front and turns into the €15 monthly plan unless you end it.
Applying in Germany: questions
- How is a German Lebenslauf different from an English résumé?
- This document is laid out as a table, with dates on the left side, listing your education along with your degree. It can include a photo and a signature. It is also expected to go with an Anschreiben and your references.
- How long should an Anschreiben be?
- One page is the norm in Germany, and the AI keeps to it: Betreff, Anrede, body, Grußformel.
- Should I sign my CV?
- You can, but nobody requires it. For portal or email applications your typed name at the end is enough.
- Can a German employer ask for my photo?
- No. The AGG protects applicants from discrimination, so a photo is voluntary. Add one in the editor, or keep that space blank.
- Does the tool write my Arbeitszeugnis or references?
- No. References are issued by your employers and educational institutions. KILebenslauf handles the CV and the cover letter; you simply attach the references yourself.
- How do I explain gaps in my CV?
- Give the gap a name and dates: parental leave (Elternzeit), caring for a relative, a course, a stretch of job hunting. The AI will phrase that line neutrally if you ask it to.
- Hardly any ads show pay. What do I write?
- Few listings with us name a salary. When an ad asks for a Gehaltsvorstellung (expected pay), Germans usually state it in the Anschreiben as a yearly gross figure. Enter the figure yourself, in the editor.
- Should I apply in English or in German?
- Mirror the ad: English ad, English CV; German ad, German CV. The DE switch in the header makes the AI write in German.
- What does a German application cost here?
- Starting is free: a single CV with 3 AI requests and the first PDF export need no account. Further downloads come with the 7-day trial.
- Can I close my account later?
- Yes, in the account settings, including every CV and stored letter. The privacy policy explains how data is processed.