CV writing guide in Germany: insights from 6 tech recruiters

What does it take to create a CV that catches a recruiter’s attention? I thought I would go directly to the source, so I approached six recruiters with over 70 years of combined experience who have collectively hired thousands of candidates.

Initially, I planned to interview dozens of recruiters, but I soon realised that their answers all go in the same direction. I don’t think we’d get completely different insights. So, follow this advice, and you and your CV are good to go. To see what the hiring managers think, go here.

Check our guide to create CVs with AI: no subscriptions, just results!

What matters most in your CV in Germany?

Format & length

• two pages are the standard recommendation; three pages are acceptable only for senior roles with extensive experience,
• use reverse chronological order (newest to oldest),
• stick to standard fonts, such as Calibri, Cambria, Georgia, Helvetica, Arial and Times New Roman,
• maintain consistent spacing and alignment throughout,
• submit in PDF format (avoid any other formats).

Photos & personal info

• photos are not recommended by two recruiters (the rest didn’t comment),
• exclude personal details like religion, marital status, or full address.

Content structure

• for multiple roles at one company: List company name, total tenure, then break down roles by years,
• include a few words about each company’s industry/domain,
• for employment gaps: Add brief explanations directly in the timeline,
• focus on achievements and impact rather than task lists,
• use neutral colours (greys or blues) for any highlighting or emphasis,
• skip the columns, images, and fancy designs unless you are applying for creative roles (include most of the fancy stuff in your portfolio).

How do you present metrics instead of a task list in your CV?

• Instead of: “Managed social media accounts,” write: “Grew Instagram following from 5K to 25K in 6 months”
• Instead of: “Led engineering team,” write: “Led 12-person engineering team, delivering 3 major features that reduced customer churn by 23%”
• Instead of: “Responsible for sales targets,” write: “Exceeded quarterly sales targets by an average of 15%, generating €2.3M in new revenue”

But the format won’t be enough, so I encourage you to get inspired by the following questions.

How long do recruiters actually look at a CV?

Not long! Typically between 30 seconds to 3 minutes for the first review of a CV. That’s why it’s important to get straight to the point and make it as easy as possible.

However, promising candidates may receive additional review time, with some CVs being revisited multiple times throughout the hiring process.

What do recruiters look for first in a CV?

1. Location and work authorization: Are you eligible to work where the role is based?
2. Relevant experience/skills: How well does your background match the role requirements?
3. Clear structure and format: Is information presented in an easily digestible format?

Should I write different CVs for different jobs?

Well… sorry to say this, but yes. The recruiters strongly agree that you need to tailor your CV for different roles, even when applying for positions with similar titles.

For example, Lucia says, “You can’t possibly highlight your best qualities and match all roles with a single CV, even if they’re all for ‘Senior Software Engineer.’”

While you can’t customize every application when applying at scale, I like Mathieu’s idea of focusing on your top 10-15 priority companies. The key is to carefully read job descriptions and align your experience with specific requirements, ensuring you highlight relevant achievements and skills for each position. This targeted approach, according to Matt, will help you “stand out from the crowd and align to the requirements of the job.”

One great tip is to have a list of metrics/achievements maintained separately. You can then easily adapt your CV for each role by choosing the most relevant metrics/achievements and copy-pasting them to your adapted CV.

What does a well-formatted CV look like?

Key points:

• keep it simple and clean,
• use reverse chronological order (newest to oldest),
• be consistent with spacing and alignment,
• use standard, readable fonts (e.g. Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman),
• avoid multiple columns (!), excessive colours, or complex designs,
• for technical roles, formatting is less crucial than content,
• for design roles, poor formatting can be an immediate disqualifier.

What are common CV mistakes to avoid?

• generic, AI-generated content,
• walls of text without a clear structure,
• task lists without achievement metrics,
• spelling and grammar errors,
• inconsistencies between CV and LinkedIn profile,
• excessive length (more than 2-3 pages),
• including personal information like religion, marital status, or full address.

Do recruiters still read CVs, or is it all automated?

Yes, they review all CVs; applicant tracking systems (ATS) mainly help with organisation. Also because of this, avoid complex formatting that might confuse ATS (for example, graphical skill ratings!)

Nobody mentioned it, but you can test if your CV is machine-readable by copy-pasting your PDF to any text editing software. If you can still read it, the machine will be able to read it, too.

How important is my online presence (GitHub, LinkedIn)?

The importance varies by the role, but most recruiters consider it increasingly relevant in today’s job market. While LinkedIn profiles are generally expected, other platforms matter more for specific roles—portfolios are essential for designers, and GitHub contributions are valuable (but not mandatory) for engineers.

A key point is consistency: your CV and LinkedIn profile should align, as discrepancies can raise concerns. Remember that the quality of your online presence matters more than quantity—as Mathieu suggests, a well-crafted PDF portfolio is better than a poorly designed website.

Do I need to write a cover letter in Germany?

The recruiters have mixed views on cover letters in Germany, with some reading them and others ignoring them completely. I have previously strongly argued that a good cover letter will make you stand out in cases when people read it, and that still holds true. If the recruiter didn’t read it, the hiring manager still might!

So, if you decide to write one, make it brief, personalized, and focused on explaining your specific interest in the role and company. Avoid generic, GEN AI-created content or repeating your CV in the cover letter.

Cover letters are most valuable when changing careers, applying for competitive positions, or having a compelling story about why you’re the right fit.

How to explain employment gaps in a CV?

Recruiters widely accept employment gaps, but they unanimously recommend addressing them proactively in your CV.

Be transparent about what you did during this time, whether it was studying, caring for family, travelling, or personal development.

Focus on what you learned or gained during these periods, as this can turn a potential concern into a positive talking point.

What makes my CV stand out from others?

1. You show your impact, not your tasks.
2. You made sure it’s clean, clear, consistent and readable.
3. You initially used buzzwords but then replaced them with no BS facts.
4. You checked twice: there are no typos or grammatical mistakes.
5. You nailed most requirements by adapting your CV to the specific role.
6. Your career progression is easy to understand.
7. You explained potential employment gaps proactively.

Check our guide to create CVs with AI: no subscriptions, just results!

How do I stand out in the market?

The easy way is to go to LinkedIn and apply. But that is what everyone does. You can do more. Here is a collection of ideas in different areas: some easy, others harder. One of the most rewarding ideas long-term is to build your network—if you know the right people, everything is easier.

Networking ideas:

• connect with former colleagues and friends (ask for referrals!),
• attend industry meetups and events,
• join and participate in professional communities,
• reach out directly to decision-makers,
• get mentored by industry professionals,
• help others in your field.

Application strategy:

• identify your top 10-15 target companies,
• tailor applications for each priority company,
• look beyond LinkedIn: check company career pages directly, look at niche job boards, join industry-specific platforms,
• reach out to people/companies, even if they are not currently hiring,
• focus on quality over quantity of applications.

Personal development:

• keep upskilling in your field,
• stay updated with industry trends,
• consider career coaching,
• be open to alternative roles that match your skills,
• get out of your professional echo chamber.

CV and presentation:

• create a clean, error-free CV,
• maintain consistent online profiles,
• write authentic, non-AI-generated content,
• prepare concrete examples of achievements/metrics - you can re-use them in different applications,
• know your business impact numbers.

Professional presence:

• research and share industry insights on social media, mostly LinkedIn,
• engage with relevant content (get into the habit of daily commenting on relevant content),
• contribute to professional discussions (see the point above),
• build a portfolio (if relevant to your field),
• stay active in your professional community.

Looking for a new role could be extremely soul-crushing. That’s why it’s important to stay resilient and proactive rather than waiting for opportunities. It also makes sense that you are open-minded about different roles and prepared to step out of your comfort zone.

What are the main CV misconceptions?

Length:

• Myth: CV must be one page
• Reality: Two pages are standard, and three are acceptable for senior roles
• Caveat: Junior CVs should not be 3-4 pages

Photos:

• Myth: Every CV needs a photo
• Reality: Photos are generally unnecessary (include if specifically requested)

Design:

• Myth: Creative “design CVs” are more appealing
• Reality: Simple, clean formatting is preferred
• Exception: Design roles may require portfolio-style presentation (which should be a separate PDF, profile or website)

Content Strategy:

• Myth: One CV works for all applications
• Reality: CVs should be tailored for each role (ok, on scale, at least for the jobs you really want to land!)

Experience Presentation:

• Myth: Must include every job and detail
• Reality: Focus on recent, relevant experience (early career experiences & education can be summarized or left out). Older, irrelevant experiences can be omitted (nobody cares about your primary school or your first internship 20 years ago)

How does a good CV look like? A template!

Here is a template based on the feedback from recruiters and hiring managers. In the same article, you will also find the idea of an Experience library which will help you adjust your CV to different positions much faster.

Check our guide to create CVs with AI: no subscriptions, just results!

Conclusion

The perfect CV combines clarity, relevance, and impact. Focus on achievements over tasks, keep formatting clean and professional, and always tailor your application to the specific role.

Remember that your CV needs to impress a recruiter with 30 sec to 1 minute to decide if they will give it another look.

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• CV template for Germany
• Create a great CV that stands out
• What do hiring managers look at in CVs
• How to write a good cover letter
• The best questions to ask at a job interview

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About this summary

This analysis synthesizes insights from interviews with six senior tech recruiters: Andreea Lungulescu, Anastasiia Gusieva, Mathieu Ritter, Amanda Lamont, Lucia Nikolaou, and Matthew Goddard. Combined, they represent over 70 years of recruitment experience and thousands of successful hires across the tech industry.

Next: Read about what is important to hiring managers!