2026 · Germany · Austria · Switzerland CV format
Free Lebenslauf Builder
Create a tabellarischer Lebenslauf in the format German, Austrian, and Swiss employers expect. Photo-ready, DACH-standard sections, ATS-friendly, and free to download.
Lebenslauf Templates
Every design keeps the tabellarischer structure German recruiters look for — photo, dates on the left, strict reverse-chronological order — while staying clean enough to pass employer ATS systems. Pick one and edit it free.
Lebenslauf
German Lebenslauf format. Centered formal title with a wide-tracking 'LEBENSLAUF' heading, photo top-right, German-labeled contact key/value block.
Lebenslauf Modern
Modern tabellarischer Lebenslauf for the DACH region. Dark left sidebar carries the photo, contact details, and skill/language rating bars; the main column keeps the tabular date-left / description-right convention German, Austrian, and Swiss employers expect.
Lebenslauf Kompakt
Ultra-ATS-safe single-column Lebenslauf built for online application portals. Plain labeled rows replace heavier styling while keeping the tabular, dates-left convention German recruiters expect, plus the standard photo.
Lebenslauf Formal
Traditional Austrian/Swiss-style Lebenslauf for conservative employers. Centered formal header with photo, plus the closing 'Ort, Datum, Unterschrift' (place, date, signature) line still expected by more traditional Mittelstand companies.
Lebenslauf Akzent
Lebenslauf with a coloured accent rail down the left edge for visual distinction, while keeping the standard tabellarischer structure and photo German employers expect.
A Real Lebenslauf Example
A mechanical engineer's Lebenslauf built for a Berlin-based role — photo, tabular work history, and DACH-standard personal details filled in exactly as a real applicant would.
Lebenslauf
Lukas Hoffmann
Maschinenbauingenieur | Produktentwicklung · Automatisierung
Kenntnisse
SolidWorks · AutoCAD · Catia
SPS · TIA Portal · Siemens S7
Sprachen
Interessen
Hobbyprojekte
Profil
Maschinenbauingenieur mit 8 Jahren Erfahrung in Produktentwicklung und Automatisierungstechnik in der deutschen Fertigungsindustrie. Spezialisiert auf CAD-gestützte Konstruktion, SPS-Programmierung und Lean-Production-Methoden. Nachweisliche Erfolge bei der Reduzierung von Produktionskosten und der Einführung neuer Fertigungslinien.
Berufserfahrung
Verantwortlich für die Konstruktion automatisierter Prüfzellen für die Fertigungslinie Berlin-Spandau.
Reduzierung der Zykluszeit um 22% durch Optimierung der SPS-Steuerung.
Leitung eines interdisziplinären Teams aus 5 Ingenieuren und Technikern.
CAD-Konstruktion (SolidWorks) für Hydraulikkomponenten im Automobilbereich.
Einführung von Lean-Production-Prinzipien, wodurch Materialverschwendung um 15% reduziert wurde.
Ausbildung
Schwerpunkt: Produktionstechnik und Automatisierung.
Zertifizierungen
Auszeichnungen
What Is a Lebenslauf?
Lebenslauf ("course of life") is the German word for CV, and it refers to a specific format: the tabellarischer Lebenslauf, a strictly tabular, reverse-chronological account of your education and career with no unexplained gaps. It's the standard across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and — unlike in the US or UK — a professional photo is still very much part of the convention.
The Lebenslauf Format at a Glance
Photo (Lichtbild)
A professional photo, usually top-right, is strongly expected in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland — even though it's not legally required.
Tabellarischer Lebenslauf
German CVs use the tabular format: dates in a left column, description on the right, in strict reverse-chronological order with no gaps.
Personal details
Date of birth and nationality are commonly included, placed near the top. Marital status is optional and increasingly left out.
Length & signature
One to two pages. Many applicants still add a place, date, and signature line at the end — a formality some employers still expect.
Lebenslauf vs. Europass CV
Both are accepted in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. A Lebenslauf is the traditional, strictly tabular German CV — dates on the left, description on the right, photo top-right. Europass is the pan-European format with fixed sections and explicit skill ratings, more common for EU institution roles, study, and cross-border applications.
Most private-sector employers in the DACH region prefer a well-designed Lebenslauf over the generic Europass form. With MyLiveCV you can build both from the same profile.
Lebenslauf — Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Lebenslauf?
Lebenslauf is German for "curriculum vitae" — the standard CV format used across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (the DACH region). It follows a strict tabular, reverse-chronological structure and typically includes a professional photo.
Do I need a photo on a German CV?
It's not legally required, but a professional photo (Lichtbild) is still expected by most employers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, usually placed in the top-right corner.
What is a tabellarischer Lebenslauf?
It's the tabular CV format German employers expect: a two-column layout with dates on the left and the role, employer, or qualification on the right, listed in strict reverse-chronological order.
Is the Lebenslauf format the same as Europass?
No. Europass is the EU-wide standard format, while Lebenslauf is the specifically German-style tabular CV. Both are accepted in Germany — MyLiveCV offers dedicated templates for each.
Is the Lebenslauf builder free?
Yes. Building and downloading a Lebenslauf as a PDF with MyLiveCV is free.
Build Your Lebenslauf Free
Create a DACH-standard, ATS-friendly Lebenslauf in minutes — with photo and tabular structure included — and download it as a PDF.