Language skills on a German CV: how to state your level
On a German CV, list your language skills in a section of their own, with a CEFR level from A1 to C2 for each language: "Deutsch B2", "Englisch C1". Instead of vague words like "good" or "fluent", state the level and, if you have one, your certificate.
Where do language skills go on a German CV?
Germany's Federal Employment Agency lists foreign languages under "special skills" (Besondere Kenntnisse), next to IT skills and a driving licence. If you speak several languages or the job asks for a specific one, a section of its own is clearer. On German CVs it is usually called Sprachkenntnisse (language skills) or simply Sprachen (languages).
The order is simple: your native language first, then the others by level, strongest first. A language at A1 rarely helps an employer, so you can leave it out. German is the exception: if you apply in Germany, list your German even at beginner level.
For the general rules, see the German CV guide.
CEFR levels: A1 to C2
Across Europe, language levels use one shared scale: the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFR (in German: GER). Its six levels form three groups. The descriptions in the table follow the Council of Europe's global scale.
- A1
- Basic user
- Understands familiar everyday expressions and can introduce themselves; gets by if the other person talks slowly and clearly.
- A2
- Basic user
- Communicates in simple, routine tasks that need a direct exchange of information.
- B1
- Independent user
- Understands the main points on familiar matters met at work, school or leisure, and copes with most everyday situations.
- B2
- Independent user
- Interacts fluently and spontaneously enough that a conversation with native speakers works without strain for either side.
- C1
- Proficient user
- Uses the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes; speaks fluently without much searching for words.
- C2
- Proficient user
- Understands with ease virtually everything heard or read; expresses themselves very fluently and precisely, with fine shades of meaning.
| Level | Group | In short |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Basic user | Understands familiar everyday expressions and can introduce themselves; gets by if the other person talks slowly and clearly. |
| A2 | Basic user | Communicates in simple, routine tasks that need a direct exchange of information. |
| B1 | Independent user | Understands the main points on familiar matters met at work, school or leisure, and copes with most everyday situations. |
| B2 | Independent user | Interacts fluently and spontaneously enough that a conversation with native speakers works without strain for either side. |
| C1 | Proficient user | Uses the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes; speaks fluently without much searching for words. |
| C2 | Proficient user | Understands with ease virtually everything heard or read; expresses themselves very fluently and precisely, with fine shades of meaning. |
How to pick your level honestly
With a certificate: name it; most certificates carry the level in their name, for example "Deutsch B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2)".
Without a certificate: compare yourself honestly with the descriptions above. If you sit between two levels, state the lower one.
Don't overstate. Write C1 and speak B1 in the interview, and the rest of your CV loses credibility too.
Verhandlungssicher: C1 or B2?
The word verhandlungssicher appears often on German CVs and in job ads and means: confident enough for business meetings and negotiations. It is not an official level, though; the scale from A1 to C2 has no such term. On its own, every reader interprets it differently.
Going by the level descriptions, negotiating at work is closer to C1: C1 describes using the language "flexibly and effectively" for professional purposes, B2 an easy conversation. The safest choice is to write both, level first: "Englisch C1 (verhandlungssicher)".
Muttersprache, fließend, Grundkenntnisse
These are not official levels either, but you will see them on German CVs and in ads.
Muttersprache (native language): no level needed for your native language.
Fließend (fluent) and Grundkenntnisse (basic knowledge): every reader takes them differently. Add the level: "Spanisch A2 (Grundkenntnisse)".
Example: the language section
In TalentVP's CV templates the language section is already set up; you only pick the language and the level.
Sprachkenntnisse
- Türkisch
- Muttersprache
- Englisch
- C1 (verhandlungssicher)
- Deutsch
- B2 (Goethe-Zertifikat B2)
- Spanisch
- A2 (Grundkenntnisse)
How TalentVP checks your languages
TalentVP's ATS check reads the language section too. If there is none, it tells you, and it checks that every language has a CEFR level. If a level is only a word, such as "Deutsch verhandlungssicher", it suggests adding the code: "Deutsch C1 (verhandlungssicher)". It also reminds you to sort languages by level, native language on top.
Before you send your CV, run the free ATS check.
Keep reading
FAQ
Do I have to state my language level on my CV?▼
No, but if the ad asks for a language, leaving the level out reads like dodging the question. Stating it makes the recruiter's job easier.
What do I write without a certificate?▼
Set your level by the CEFR descriptions and be honest. You can state a level without a certificate, as long as it holds up in the interview.
Can I write my German as "fließend"?▼
Yes, but add the CEFR level: "Deutsch C1 (fließend)". On its own, "fließend" can be read in different ways.