A German CV for an Ausbildung looks different from the CV most people write in Cameroon. In Germany it is called a Lebenslauf (literally “course of life”): a short, tabular, error-free document. It is often the first thing a training manager looks at. If it is confusing or badly translated, your application can be set aside before anyone reads your cover letter. Here is how a good Lebenslauf is built, with an annotated template.
What a company expects from your Lebenslauf
A company hiring an Azubi (a trainee in an Ausbildung) is not looking for an expert. It wants to know three things:
- Who are you and how can they reach you?
- What is your school and practical background?
- Is your German good enough for the Berufsschule (vocational school) and the job?
The Lebenslauf answers those questions in one or two pages. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) recommends a CV in table form, no longer than two pages, with the most recent entries first. It also warns that a straight word-for-word translation of a foreign CV is often not enough, because German formal expectations are different.
The structure of a Lebenslauf
These are the usual sections, in order:
| Section (German) | What goes in | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Persönliche Daten (personal details) | Name, address, phone with +237, email, nationality | Use a serious email address with your name |
| Foto (photo) | A professional photo, if you include one | Not required, but still common |
| Schulbildung (education) | Your certificates, most recent first | Keep the original name of each certificate |
| Praktische Erfahrung (practical experience) | Internships, holiday jobs, help in the family business | Anything that shows you can work |
| Sprachkenntnisse (languages) | German with level and certificate, English, French, local languages | Give the CEFR level |
| EDV-Kenntnisse (computer skills) | Word, Excel, email, useful software | Stay honest |
| Interessen (interests) | Two or three real activities | Team sport, volunteering, music |
| Ort, Datum (place, date) | For example “Bamenda, 15.10.2026” | A signature is optional and common |
German date format is day.month.year or month/year: “09/2023 bis 07/2026” (“bis” means “to”).
Annotated template: a fictional candidate
The example below is entirely fictional. The name, address and background were made up for illustration. Our candidate, whom we will call Divine Ngwa (example), is aiming at an Ausbildung as Kfz-Mechatroniker (automotive mechatronics technician).
Lebenslauf
Persönliche Daten
- Name: Divine Ngwa (Beispiel)
- Adresse: Nkwen, Bamenda, Kamerun
- Telefon: +237 6XX XX XX XX
- E-Mail: divine.ngwa@beispiel.com
- Staatsangehörigkeit: kamerunisch
Schulbildung
- 09/2024 bis 06/2026: High School (Bamenda), Abschluss: GCE Advanced Level (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry)
- 09/2019 bis 06/2024: Secondary School (Bamenda), Abschluss: GCE Ordinary Level (7 Fächer)
Praktische Erfahrung
- 07/2025 bis 09/2025: Praktikum in einer Autowerkstatt, Bamenda. Aufgaben: Ölwechsel, Reifenwechsel, Hilfe bei der Fehlersuche
- seit 2021: Hilfe bei Reparaturen im Familienbetrieb
Sprachkenntnisse
- Englisch: Muttersprache
- Französisch: Grundkenntnisse
- Deutsch: B1 (Goethe-Zertifikat B1, 2026)
EDV-Kenntnisse
- Microsoft Word, Excel (Grundkenntnisse), E-Mail
Interessen
- Fußball, Reparatur von Motorrädern, Chor in der Kirchengemeinde
Bamenda, 15.10.2026
Why this template works
- The original certificate names are kept (“GCE Advanced Level”, “GCE Ordinary Level”). Do not write “Abitur”, because equivalence is not automatic. List the A-Level subjects so the reader sees what you studied. Francophone candidates do the same with “Baccalauréat, Série D” or “BEPC”.
- The practical experience is concrete. A garage internship is gold for an automotive Ausbildung. The tasks are described with simple verbs.
- The German level is precise. “B1 (Goethe-Zertifikat B1, 2026)” beats “good German”.
- It fits on one page. For an Ausbildung, one page is usually enough.
How to present Cameroonian certificates
A German recruiter will not necessarily know the Cameroonian school system. Your job is to make your background easy to read, without inventing equivalences.
| Certificate | How to write it in the Lebenslauf |
|---|---|
| GCE Ordinary Level | “GCE Ordinary Level, number of subjects” |
| GCE Advanced Level | “GCE Advanced Level, subjects and grades” |
| BEPC | “BEPC (Abschluss der Sekundarstufe I, Kamerun)” |
| Baccalauréat | “Baccalauréat, Série ..., grade ...” |
| Technical or vocational certificate | Original name, then the trade in German in brackets |
Three simple rules:
- Always keep the official name. The translations of your certificates attached to the file will carry that name. If your CV says something else, the mismatch shows.
- Add the subjects or series. A-Levels in Mathematics and Physics, or a Série C, D or E, matter to a technical company.
- Do not claim an equivalence you do not have. If you hold an official recognition, mention it. Otherwise stay factual. Our page on diploma recognition explains when one is needed.
Your CV and your visa file must tell the same story
Once a training contract is signed, your visa file repeats your background: certificates, language certificate, sometimes internship letters. The German embassy in Yaoundé can refuse a visa over false documents. Even without fraud, dates that do not match between your CV, your certificates and your form raise needless questions. Before your Lebenslauf goes out, check every date against your original documents.
The photo: should you include one?
A photo is not required in Germany. Make it in Germany says a picture is welcome but optional. Many applicants still add one. If you do, pick a recent photo with a plain background, neat clothes and good lighting. No selfies, no cropped wedding pictures.
Mistakes that get applications rejected
- German errors. A CV full of mistakes sends a bad signal about your language level. Have every line checked.
- Copying a British or Cameroonian template. A “Career objective” paragraph, three pages of school prizes and references listed at the bottom are not German practice.
- Unexplained gaps. If you spent a year learning German, say so: “10/2025 bis 09/2026: Deutschkurs A1 bis B1”. It is a real step in your project.
- Lying. A fake certificate will be found out and can lead to a visa refusal. Your certificates will be checked and translated for the file.
- An unreadable file. Send a clean PDF with a simple name: “Lebenslauf_Ngwa_Divine.pdf”.
Europass or classic German CV?
The European Union offers a free Europass CV tool, and the Federal Employment Agency mentions it as an option. For an Ausbildung, though, many companies are used to the shorter German tabular Lebenslauf. Both are possible. What matters is a clear document, in correct German, tailored to the job.
How ILC prepares your Lebenslauf
You do not write your application alone. At ILC, we prepare your Lebenslauf with you: we go through your background, pick out the experience that matters for the job, write it in correct German and check that it matches your translated certificates. Then our team sends your applications to companies. To see the full process, read how it works.
A Lebenslauf always comes with a cover letter. Our article on the Ausbildung cover letter shows how the Anschreiben completes your CV. For the full list of papers, see our page on Ausbildung documents.
Frequently asked questions
Does my CV have to be in German?
Yes. For an Ausbildung in Germany, your Lebenslauf should be in German, since the company and the Berufsschule work in German.
Should I include my date of birth and marital status?
Neither is required. Many applicants give their date of birth. Marital status and religion have no place in an Ausbildung CV.
How many pages should a Lebenslauf be?
Two pages at most. For a young Ausbildung applicant, one page is often ideal.
Do I need references or referees?
German CVs do not usually list referees. Certificates and, where you have them, short work references (Arbeitszeugnisse or internship letters) go in the application file instead.
Sources
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit: how to find a job in Germany (CV, cover letter, interview)
- Make it in Germany: finding a vocational training place
- Europass: create your Europass CV
- German Embassy Yaoundé: visas for training and employment
Last checked: 19 October 2026.