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Briefly explained
How should your CV look?
The CV is the figurehead of your application. Recruiters look at it first - usually only for 2-3 minutes. Make sure that it is clearly organised and structured.

The CV should be reverse chronological, 1-3 pages and consistently formatted throughout. Important: Adapt your CV and cover letter to the respective job advertisement. This allows you to put relevant tasks at the centre of your CV.

Link to covering letter tips  Link to tips on negotiating salary

Link to application photo tips Link to interview tips
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Video
Tips for your CV

This short explanatory video outlines the key dos and don'ts for creating a compelling CV, from the introduction as the 'core of the application' to selecting and structuring content effectively, and providing clear checklists to guide you through each step.

Content
What should be on your CV?
There are various bullet points in a CV that you can adapt to your personal situation and the job advert in question. Make sure that each bullet point is only included if you can fill it with relevant information.

The most important points include:

Personal data
  • Includes all relevant information about yourself for the company, especially contact details (address, email, telephone)
  • You can also place your contact details in the header. If you choose a smaller font size and a grey font colour, you can also use this as a kind of letterhead for the cover letter
  • Additional information: Date and place of birth, marital status, children, nationality
  • Denomination and details of parents are not mentioned
Professional experience/ current employment (not for students)
  • Not applicable for young professionals
  • Here you can indicate the scientific activity you are pursuing as a doctoral candidate in addition to your doctorate
  • A current activity/further training at this point can conceal gaps
Study
  • Includes university, location of the university, degree programme, degree, stays abroad at a foreign university
  • It may be useful to provide further information if it is relevant to your application, for example, topic of the Master's thesis, specialisation subjects, focus areas, exceptionally also seminars
Practical experience
  • Includes all your internships and qualifying part-time activities
  • If you have a lot of practical experience, you can list internships and qualifying part-time activities as separate bullet points
  • Depending on the scope of your professional experience and CV, you can thin out and shorten this section. This applies in particular to applicants with professional experience and doctoral candidates
  • Internships as part of the degree programme, i.e. curricular practical exercises, are generally not considered practical experience in the narrower sense and are therefore not listed in the CV
Social year, military service, alternative service
Be brief and to the point, also to avoid a gap in your CV.
School education
  • Name your degree and the name and location of the school
  • If applicable, your stay abroad
  • Do not mention your primary school
  • You can list your school education separately from your studies here to create more space on the first page of your CV for relevant practical experience or similar
Optional: Further training
Further education programmes that do not fit under the heading of studies can be listed here. This item is often omitted for students.
IT skills
  • In order to organise your IT skills more clearly, it can be useful to subdivide them, e.g. into programming languages, operating systems, other software, etc.
  • An assessment of your IT skills is not absolutely necessary, but can be useful depending on the position and department. In this case, give an honest self-assessment
Language skills
An assessment is required. If you do not have any certificates, try to make an honest assessment. If a foreign language is important for the position, you should expect to be asked questions in the relevant foreign language during the interview.
Indicate TOEFL test or similar
Native German speaker: usually not mentioned. Language and IT skills can also be listed at the ‘Other skills’ level

The following gradations are possible:
  • Mother tongue
  • Business fluent: Discussion of complex topics possible
  • Fluent (written and spoken): Communication possible without problems
  • Very good
  • Good
  • Basic knowledge
  • A1 and A2 - Elementary language use
  • B1 and B2 - Independent language use
  • C1 and C2 - Competent language use
Optional: Publications (for doctoral candidates & post-docs)
  • You can mention a maximum of 3-4 publications directly in your CV.
  • Other relevant publications should be presented in a separate document (e.g. ‘Publications’).
  • Be careful to select publications according to their professional relevance and relation to the topic of the desired position - a long list of unimportant publications is not recommended.
  • If you are applying for a job in business, it is optional to list selected publications (unlike in science).
  • The number of publications you list depends on the type of position you are applying for.
  • Publications are particularly important if the position you are applying for is close to basic research.
  • For applications for research departments, (relevant) publications are expressly desired. Employees in research departments usually have a doctorate and are well placed to assess the relevance of publications.
  • Publications that are only relevant to a limited extent but have been published in renowned journals can also be included.
Commitment
  • University groups, describe activities if applicable
  • Active club memberships, e.g. chairperson, trainer, etc.
Scholarships/ Awards
E.g. Deutschlandstipendium scholarship holder
Personal interests
  • See this point as an opportunity: your interests can be the hook for a casual introduction to a personal conversation
  • Private interests make your CV more personal
References
  • References in business are optional (in contrast to science), but can be an advantage.
  • They are particularly helpful if the reference provider is known in the company.
  • References are usually expected for applications abroad and for a career in science.
  • Name the reference in your CV.

The reference itself can be provided in various ways:
  • Provide the contact details of the referee if he or she has agreed to this procedure. Be sure to clarify this with the person beforehand!
  • Name, title etc. & ‘on request’ or
  • Name, title etc. & attach a letter of recommendation (comparable to a certificate)

Who can be the referee?
  • Former supervisor
  • Supervisor:in the thesis/doctoral thesis
Place, Date, Signature
  • By providing your handwritten signature (a photo is sufficient) with the current date and place, you show that you have updated your CV especially for the position.
  • You guarantee the accuracy of your information.
Application photo
A good photo can make all the difference. A professional, likeable picture can have a positive impact on the assessment of your application, even if company representatives will not say so openly.
  • Placement: Alternatively on cover page or CV (not twice)
  • Black and white or colour: both possible
  • Choose appropriate clothing
  • Friendly facial expression

Tip: Take advantage of our regular photo shoot dates - check our course catalogue regularly.

Design
How do you make your CV clear and easy to understand?
Make sure that your CV is clearly structured and uniformly formatted. Layout and formatting are crucial to making your CV clear and understandable for recruiters.
Sometimes applicant management systems check your application documents instead of a person. These systems use so-called CV parsers, which automatically search for certain terms in your CV and match them with the job advertisement. It is important to pay attention to certain points so that this system and, of course, the recruiters take your application into consideration:

Multi-page CV instead of one-page CV
A multi-page CV is better suited for CV parsers. Single-page CVs usually have more than two columns, which are often formatted differently. It is better to use a clear structure with a maximum of two columns (e.g. one for time information, one for content) so that the information can be captured correctly.
Positions with the same employer
If you have worked in different functions at a company, list each position and your respective tasks separately.

Beispiel:
10.20XX - 09.20XX ABC GmbH
04.20XX – 09.20XX Masterand im Bereich QRS
10.20XX – 03.20XX Praktikant im Bereich XYZ


Bessere Darstellung:
04.20XX – 09.20XX ABC GmbH
Masterand im Bereich QRS
- Simulation von GHI

10.20XX – 03.20XX ABC GmbH
Praktikant im Bereich XYZ
- Analyse von DEF
Synchronize date formats
Always use the same date format (e.g. MM/YYYY) so that it is clearly recognized. For current activities without an expected end date, only enter the start date, e.g. “since 04/2021”.
Clearly state final grades
State grades clearly, e.g. "Final grade: 2.1", instead of separating them from the previous text with commas.
Abitur, grade 2.1 Abitur Final grade: 2.1
Avoid abbreviations
Spell out terms to avoid misunderstandings. Unless they are also abbreviated in the job advertisement. Example: KI Artificial intelligence
Evaluate language skills
Write your language skills in full, e.g. “English: fluent” instead of “English C1”. Avoid combinations of letters and numbers, as they are difficult for CV parsers to read.
Avoid graphic elements
Avoid bar charts, dots or asterisks to evaluate knowledge. A textual description (“very good knowledge”, “good knowledge”) is better recognized by CV parsers.

Templates
Sample CVs and examples
There is no such thing as the perfect CV - it differs depending on the applicant, job advertisement or company. Nevertheless, we will give you a few examples and suggestions that you can adapt to your needs. The open template can help you format your CV.

Variations 1

Example: Starting after Graduation 1
Example: Starting after Graduation 2
Example: Starting with little experience
Example: Starting as a post-doc
Example: Entry with promotion
Template: Well formatted CV 1 (Word-Datei)
Template: Well formatted CV 2 (Word-Datei)

Variations 2

Example: Starting after graduation
Example: Internship with little experience
Example: Entry with promotion

Applying in English
What you need to bear in mind for your CV abroad
In general, the same rules apply for an English-language CV as for a German one. You should be aware of a few special features when applying to an English-speaking country:What you need to bear in mind for your CV abroad

CV or résumé
  • A CV contains all the stages of your career and is mainly used for academic positions in English-speaking countries.
  • Résumé is required for applications to companies in the USA and also in the majority of other English-speaking countries. A résumé is a short summary of the most important information for the position.
  • Note that in the UK it may be referred to as a CV, but a résumé-style CV is still required.
Scope
  • A résumé should not be longer than one page for students or graduates. Doctoral candidates or applicants with professional experience can use up to 2 pages if necessary.
  • A CV, like a German CV, can be 2-3 pages long.
Layout and formatting
  • CVs and résumés are generally kept simple and reduced to the essentials. Emphasis is possible, for example, by using italics, bold or underlined text, larger fonts or capital letters.
  • Page margins should be at least 2 cm wide and the same size everywhere.
  • Use the “Letter” format, the standard size of documents in the USA (not the A4 standard) - You can set this in Word under Page layout Format Letter.
Contents
Name, contact details:
  • Your name serves as a heading and is larger than the rest of the text.
  • Contact details directly below (e-mail, telephone number, with country code if applicable, online profiles such as LinkedIn if applicable). The postal address does not necessarily have to be given
  • Do not add a photo or any personal data such as date of birth or marital status.
    [L]

    Education:
    [L]
  • Only enter the graduation date (month, year). If you have not completed your studies, enter “expected” + month/year of expected graduation.
  • Indicate the subject of the thesis and course content such as seminars/lectures (“relevant coursework”) if they match the position.

If you would like to state your current grade point average, please also enter any conversions in the grading system of the respective country to avoid any misunderstandings. Your school education is no longer listed from the Master's degree onwards.


Practical experience:
  • Practical experience can be summarized in the résumé under a heading, e.g. “Experience”. Depending on the position, a more specific subdivision is also possible, e.g. “Work experience”, “Leadership experience”. CVs can also contain additional sections, comparable to the German CV.
  • Tailor your content in the résumé specifically to the position! You can explain your experience and skills in more detail and with examples if necessary.
  • Describe your activities very specifically using action verbs instead of the nominal style. Often mention concrete figures or results, especially when it comes to successes.
  • Do not use complete sentences or personal pronouns.

The following structure would be possible:
  1. (action verb) conducted
  2. (project) research on competitive products in the electrical drives industry
  3. (result) to serve as a benchmark for (company xy)'s e-drive development


Skills and interests:
  • Specify your language and IT skills.
  • Hobbies and commitments can also be added here, or listed separately.

References:
Do not attach references.
  • You can instead list references (“Referees”) with name, position and contact details at the end of the document.
  • This is often no longer necessary for applications outside academia. Nevertheless, have references ready that you can refer to if asked. If no referees are named in the CV, the note “References available upon request” can also be omitted.


Further content:
  • “Career Objective” / “Personal Profile”: If there is space, you can add a short summary of your profile or the objective of your application at the beginning of the résumé.
Examples

Applying with a promotion
Your CV for the economy
If you are doing or have done a doctorate and want to apply outside academia, it is important to demonstrate skills that are relevant to companies. When applying for a job in business, show above all that you can also work successfully in a non-scientific environment. In addition to specialist knowledge, important skills include project management, strong communication skills and entrepreneurial thinking, naturally adapted to the industry and position.

Extra tips for PhD students
Basically, the same principles apply to your CV with a doctorate as for students. The structure of a CV can be very different.
A possible, sensible structure for you as a doctoral candidate could look like this:
  • Personal data
  • Professional experience
  • PhD
  • Studies
  • Internships & part-time jobs
  • Social year, military service, alternative service
  • School education
  • (Selected) publications
  • Honorary/voluntary or extramural activities
  • Scholarships/awards
  • Private interests/hobbies
  • Optional: References
The bullet points in bold supplement the CV of doctoral candidates:

Professional experience:
You can fill in the professional experience section with the relevant tasks and responsibilities of your doctorate. This allows you to show relevant practical and professional experience in relation to the job advertisement.

You can mention the following points, for example:
  • Scientific activities during the doctorate
  • Project work / project management experience
  • Research collaborations
  • Leadership responsibility
  • Budget responsibility

Example:
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe
Research assistant
  • Development of materials for XYZ
  • Project manager “XYZ” in cooperation with Beispiel AG
  • Budget responsibility
  • Coordination of project staff
  • Personnel responsibility: Supervision of Master's students
  • Close cooperation with industrial partners

Doctorate:
Here you enter the title of the thesis, the topic of the doctorate and, if applicable, the final grade and supervisor.

Example:
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe
Doctorate on the topic “ABCDEFG”
Grade: Magna cum laude
  • Modelling and optimization of materials
  • Participation in and presentations at international conferences

Alternatively, you can combine the items “Doctorate” and ‘Studies’ under “Education”.

(Selected) publications
The indication of publications is optional for an application in business. If you wish to list selected publications, please note the following:
  • You can list a maximum of 3-4 publications directly in your CV.
  • Other relevant publications should be presented in a separate document (e.g. “Publications”).
  • Be careful to select publications according to their professional relevance and relation to the topic of the desired position - a long list of unimportant publications is not recommended.
  • The number of publications you include will depend on the type of position you are applying for.
  • Publications are particularly important if the position you are applying for is close to basic research.
  • For applications for research departments, (relevant) publications are expressly desired. Employees in research departments usually have a doctorate and can assess the relevance of publications well.
  • Publications that are only relevant to a limited extent but have been published in renowned journals can also be included.

References
References in the business world are optional, but can be an advantage. Especially if the reference is known within the company. References are usually expected for applications abroad and for an academic career.


You can specify the reference in different ways:
  • Include contact details of the person providing the reference, provided they have agreed to this procedure
  • Name, title etc. & “on request” or
  • Name, title etc. & attach a letter of recommendation (comparable to a certificate)


Who can be the reference? E.G.:
  • former:r supervisor:r
  • supervisor:in the doctoral thesis
  • cooperation partner:inside

Important: Clarify in advance whether the person is willing to provide a reference about you.