Your guide to a successful application
A convincing CV is laid out in table form, 1–2 pages long and follows reverse chronological order (most recent entry first). It contains personal details, work experience, education and skills, and is sent as a PDF in the DIN 5008 format.
A CV is your personal calling card. It is often the first impression a potential employer gets of you. That is why it is crucial that your CV is professional, clearly structured and compelling. In this guide, you will learn how to create a convincing CV that highlights your strengths and maximises your chances of landing an interview.
A professional CV follows a clear structure that allows recruiters to quickly grasp the most important information. The typical structure includes:
Name, address, phone number, email and, optionally, a professional photo. Important: The email address should be professional (e.g. firstname.lastname@email.com).
List your professional positions in reverse chronological order (most recent position first). For each, state the company name, position, time period and your main responsibilities.
School qualifications, university studies, vocational training – likewise in reverse order. Mention any special distinctions or relevant areas of focus.
Languages, IT skills, soft skills and relevant certificates. Assess your skills honestly (e.g. basic, advanced, fluent).
Use clear headings, plenty of spacing and an easy-to-read font. A maximum of 2 pages for entry-level candidates, 3 pages for experienced professionals.
Tailor your CV to the specific position. Emphasise the experience and skills that are particularly relevant to the role.
Always keep your CV up to date. Update it regularly with new qualifications and experience.
Provide only truthful information. Exaggerations or false statements can quickly be exposed and ruin your chances.
Always have your CV proofread! Spelling and grammar errors leave a very unprofessional impression.
Larger gaps in your CV should be communicated transparently. Parental leave, further training or a sabbatical are perfectly legitimate reasons.
If you use a photo (common in Germany), it should be professional. Holiday snaps or selfies have no place in a CV.
Focus on what matters. Hobbies are optional and should only be mentioned if they are relevant to the position or underline your personality.
The design of your CV should match your industry. For creative professions it can be a little more unconventional, while a classic design is recommended for conservative industries (finance, law).
Use our editor with professional templates and create a convincing CV in just a few minutes!
Create CV nowBegin your task descriptions with strong verbs such as "developed", "led", "optimised" or "implemented". This makes your achievements more tangible and demonstrates initiative.
Numbers and facts are convincing! Instead of "increased sales figures", write "increased sales figures by 35% within 6 months".
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS). Incorporate relevant keywords from the job advert into your CV to get past the automatic pre-selection.
Always send your CV as a PDF. This ensures that the formatting is displayed correctly on every device and that the recruiter sees your CV exactly as you designed it.
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland a professional application photo in the CV is common – but it is not mandatory. If you use a photo, have it taken by a photographer and place it in the header next to your personal details. A good application photo strengthens the first impression on the employer; holiday or selfie shots weaken your application.
A CV is usually one to two pages long. Career starters often manage with a single page, while experienced professionals with a lot of work experience may use up to three pages. What matters is that every entry in the CV adds value to the application.
A CV should contain personal details, work experience, education as well as knowledge and skills. Optional are an application photo, voluntary work and hobbies relevant to the role. It is best to leave out unnecessary details so the employer quickly grasps the essentials.
With CVwerk you choose a CV template, enter your data and adjust the design, colours and font in the live preview. Creating and previewing are free; you get the finished Premium PDF without a watermark for a one-time 5.99 € – no subscription.
Always send your CV as a PDF. This keeps the formatting intact on every device and the employer sees the document exactly as you designed it. CVwerk exports your CV as a high-quality PDF in DIN 5008 format.