The perfect CV for tradespeople

Nobody likes paperwork, especially not if you have a practical profession. (Craftsmen, of course!) But in Germany it is customary to apply with a CV and cover letter - and unfortunately this applies to all jobs! Even as a craftsman , a convincing CV is the key to success when applying to a company. Fortunately, the cover letter is no longer a requirement, but only a plus for your application.

Even though everyday life as a tradesperson is often practical and hands-on, a well-structured CV is important to present your skills and experience in a professional manner. To be clear: No one needs poetry, long explanations or pretty design in it, but a good CV must contain the most important information and be structured schematically. We have compiled all the information and tips from our recruiters here to help you create your perfect CV quickly.

What should be included in a craftsman's CV?

A CV is more than just a list of your previous jobs. It should clearly present your professional career and show employers at a glance why you are the perfect candidate for the job. It is important to include relevant information such as your actual duties and skills. 

Attention! There are a few details that used to belong in your CV, but should no longer be included! This includes, for example, your parents' occupation , your marital status or your children. Religion, politics and salary are also none of your future employer's business. You can also remove old work experience and school qualifications from your CV if they were gained more than 15-20 years ago - these no longer need to be included in a modern CV.

Your CV should include these points:

• Personal data: Name, contact details (telephone number and e-mail address!), date and place of birth. A photo is still welcome in Germany, but is not mandatory.
• Work experience: Your previous jobs in anti-chronological order, i.e. starting with your last job. Briefly describe your tasks and achievements. You can use some of these from the job description in your employment contract. Key points are preferred here, but even uniformly longer sentences are not a minus point.
• Training and qualifications: List your technical training and further education. Courses and special certificates are also important here to convince recruiters that you are the right person for the job!
• Skills and knowledge: Everything you are good at and that is relevant to the job, such as special tools, machines or software knowledge.
• Language skills and other skills: Any foreign language skills or soft skills that may be useful for your work as a tradesperson.

Structure of a CV

A well-structured CV is the be-all and end-all. The structure should be clear and logical so that the reader can quickly find the most important information. Here is a tried-and-tested structure for your CV:

1. Header with your personal data
2. Professional experience
3. Training and qualifications
4. Skills and knowledge
5. Other information (e.g. driver's license)

Our tip: Keep the information precise and avoid long texts. This is quicker and also helps recruiters to see your tasks at a glance. Overall, your CV should fit on a maximum of two pages.

Example of a CV as a craftsman

Here is our example of what a CV as a craftsman could look like:

As you can see here, we have kept the example CV rather general. If you are an electrician or mechatronics technician, check out our articles Tasks of an electrician and Mechatronics technician tasks to see which typical tasks you are currently doing and can include them directly in your CV. But remember - the more specifically you describe your tasks, the better!

Don't have the time? Then here is the solution!

Create a CV and find jobs with WorkerHero

As a craftsman, you often don't have the time to spend hours working on applications. This is exactly where WorkerHero comes into play! On WorkerHero you will not only find customized job offers for tradespeople in your area, but you can also have your CV created automatically in a short time, which can be shared immediately. WorkerHero also offers personal consultations to provide you with the best possible support in your job search. Are you looking for exciting vacancies? Take a look at our jobs in Munich - the platform has the right job for everyone, whether in Munich or anywhere in Germany!

Use WorkerHero and find your next skilled trades job easily - with a CV that impresses!

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