Auto-apply to jobs in Germany

The German Lebenslauf: what's different

A German CV, the Lebenslauf, is traditionally a clean, tabular document: dates in a left column, roles and details on the right, in reverse chronological order. It is usually one to two pages and more factual than a US résumé, with fewer adjectives and more precise dates.

Match the language of the posting. A German-language ad expects a German application, and a German-language role with an English CV usually signals your German isn't strong enough. English-language postings, common in tech and at international firms, are fine with an English CV in the international style.

Anschreiben and Zeugnisse: do you still need them?

A classic German application, the Bewerbungsmappe, has three parts: a cover letter (Anschreiben), the Lebenslauf, and copies of certificates and employer references (Arbeitszeugnisse). An Arbeitszeugnis is a written reference German employers give when you leave, and German recruiters read them closely.

Online forms have relaxed this. Many companies now make the cover letter optional or skip it entirely, and most forms take a single CV upload with an optional field for further documents. If a form asks for a cover letter, write a short, specific one. Applysent writes short cover letters only when a form asks for one; our guide on cover letters on application forms explains when they matter.

Questions German forms ask

• Gehaltsvorstellung (salary expectation): almost always gross annual salary in euros (Bruttojahresgehalt), for example "65.000 €". Don't give a net or monthly figure unless asked.
• Kündigungsfrist (notice period): the statutory minimum for employees is four weeks to the 15th or end of a month, but contracts often set longer periods such as three months to the end of a quarter. Give what your contract says.
• Frühestmöglicher Eintrittstermin (earliest start date): follows from your notice period.
• Arbeitserlaubnis (work permit): whether you can work in Germany, and whether you need a visa.

Salary questions are common on German forms because many postings don't publish pay. Our guide on salary expectations on application forms helps you set a defensible number.

Working in Germany as a non-EU citizen

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Germany without a work permit. Most other nationals need a residence permit that allows work. Common routes for skilled workers include the EU Blue Card for qualified professionals with a job offer above a salary threshold, and the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), which lets eligible people come to Germany to look for work. Some professions also need formal recognition of foreign qualifications.

The German government's official portal for skilled workers is Make it in Germany (make-it-in-germany.com). Visas are issued through German missions abroad, and permits in Germany by the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde). This page is general information, not legal advice.

Unlike some countries, German employers don't usually "sponsor" a visa in the US sense, but a job offer is central to most work permits, and some employers are more practised at hiring internationally. How to find jobs that sponsor visas covers how to spot them.

Hiring systems in Germany

Third-party tracking of European employers shows Recruitee, Workable, SmartRecruiters and Teamtailor among the widely used international systems. Many German companies also use local systems such as Personio, JOIN and softgarden.

Applysent applies today on Recruitee, Teamtailor, Workable, SmartRecruiters, Lever, Ashby, Greenhouse, Workday, Oracle Recruiting Cloud and JazzHR. Applysent doesn't currently apply through Personio, JOIN or softgarden, nor through LinkedIn Easy Apply or Indeed.

Setting Applysent's filters for Germany

1. Choose Germany, then cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt or Cologne for on-site or hybrid work.
2. Use remote with Germany as the country for remote roles. Some employers allow remote work only from within Germany for tax and social insurance reasons.
3. Set a salary floor in EUR only if you're happy to skip roles without published pay, since postings without pay in EUR are skipped when a floor is set.
4. Turn on visa sponsorship if you are a non-EU national without a permit.
5. Upload a CV in the language of the roles you want. If you target both, add job title keywords in German and English.

Start in review mode so you can check each tailored CV, especially for German-language roles, before anything is sent.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a photo on my CV for Germany?

No. It's traditional but optional, and employers can't require it. For English-language roles at international companies, leaving it out is normal.

Should I give my salary expectation as monthly or annual?

Annual gross in euros, unless the form asks otherwise. That's how German employers compare salaries.

Can I apply in English to German companies?

Yes, when the posting is in English. If the posting is in German, apply in German unless it says English is fine.

How long is a typical notice period in Germany?

The statutory minimum is four weeks to the 15th or end of a month, but contracts often set longer periods. Check your own contract.

Does Applysent apply through Personio?

Not currently. Applysent applies on Lever, SmartRecruiters, Ashby, Workable, Recruitee, Greenhouse, Workday, Oracle Recruiting Cloud, Teamtailor and JazzHR today, with BambooHR and Paylocity coming soon.