Free German CV Template (Lebenslauf & Anschreiben)
Get the CV (Lebenslauf) and cover letter (Anschreiben) templates German recruiters expect. Each one is ready to edit and pre-filled with a real DevOps example, together in a single ZIP download. Free, made for DevOps engineers applying in Germany.
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CV template (Lebenslauf, DOCX)
The tabular, reverse-chronological format German recruiters expect, with DevOps-specific sections for cloud platforms, IaC, and CI/CD tooling. It comes pre-filled with a complete example so you can see exactly how the finished Lebenslauf should look.
Cover letter template (Anschreiben, DOCX)
The one-page structure German hiring managers still read, pre-filled with a realistic DevOps example so you can see exactly what belongs in each paragraph before you edit it into your own.
Why German CVs are different
It’s a table, not a story
German recruiters scan a Lebenslauf as a reverse-chronological fact sheet: role, employer, dates, responsibilities. Long narrative profiles and buzzword summaries read as noise here.
The Anschreiben still matters
Unlike many markets, a tailored one-page cover letter is still expected with most German applications. It is where motivation and fit belong, so the CV can stay factual.
Precision beats self-praise
Exact month-and-year dates, explained gaps, and named tools carry more weight than adjectives. “Kubernetes on EKS for 40 services” beats “passionate about the cloud”.
DevOps keywords get screened first
German tech recruiters filter for concrete platforms: cloud providers, Terraform or other IaC, CI/CD systems, monitoring stacks. The template puts them where screeners look.
Template previews
Frequently asked questions
Is the German CV template really free?▾
Yes, both the Lebenslauf template and the Anschreiben template are completely free. You only need to sign in to download them; there is no payment step.
What file formats do I get?▾
Two editable Word files (.docx): one for the CV (Lebenslauf) and one for the cover letter (Anschreiben), delivered together as a single ZIP download. Each one is pre-filled with a real DevOps example that you edit into your own, and both open in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice.
Why do I need to sign in to download?▾
Signing in gives you a personal download area, lets us email you the pack, and keeps automated scrapers away from the files. Creating an account is free.
How is a German CV (Lebenslauf) different from other CVs?▾
A Lebenslauf is a factual, reverse-chronological table of your experience and education: precise dates, no marketing fluff, usually two pages. Most German applications are also expected to include a tailored cover letter (Anschreiben).
Is the template only for DevOps engineers?▾
The structure works for any tech role in Germany, but the skills sections, wording, and the worked-in example are written specifically for DevOps, SRE, and platform engineering applications.
Do I need a photo on my German CV?▾
Photos are still common on German CVs but no longer required. Under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), applications without a photo must not be penalised. The template works with or without one.
Ready to write a CV German recruiters actually read?
Get the free template pack