🙏🗣️📄➡️🙋

How to Say ‘Please tell me a bit about your CV.’ in German

Erzählen Sie bitte etwas über Ihren Lebenslauf.

air-tsehh-len ZEE BIT-tuh ET-vahs UE-ber EE-ren LAY-bens-lowf

[air-tsehh-len ZEE BIT-tuh ET-vahs UE-ber EE-ren LAY-bens-lowf]

💬 Usage Tip: After über "about", Ihr picks up -en before a der word: Ihren Lebenslauf. Same with über Ihren Job "about your job".

🇩🇪 In Germany: This is the classic opening question in a German interview. Interviewers expect you to walk through your CV in order, so have a short chronological summary ready.

Phrase Breakdown

Erzählen Sie bitte etwas

air-tsehh-len ZEE BIT-tuh ET-vahs

Please tell (me) something

A polite, formal request often heard in job interviews. Stress: er-ZÄH-len.

Example

Erzählen Sie bitte etwas über sich.

Please tell me something about yourself.

Words in this phrase

Erzählen

[air-tsehh-len]

tell

To communicate information, a story, etc.

Example

Ich erzähle eine Geschichte.

I tell a story.

Sie

[ZEE]

You (formal)

Formal way to address someone.

Example

Sind Sie bereit zu bestellen?

Are you ready to order?

bitte

[BIT-tuh]

please

A polite word meaning 'please,' and sometimes also 'you're welcome.'

Example

Bitte sagt mir den Termin.

Please tell me the date.

etwas

[ET-vahs]

something

Refers to an unspecified object or thing.

Example

Ich habe etwas für dich.

I have something for you.

über Ihren Lebenslauf.

UE-ber EE-ren LAY-bens-lowf

about your CV / résumé

'über' means 'about'. 'Lebenslauf' literally means 'life course', i.e. a CV. Stress: LE-bens-lauf.

Example

Ich schicke Ihnen meinen Lebenslauf.

I'll send you my CV.

Words in this phrase

über

[UE-ber]

about

Preposition meaning 'on the topic of'.

Example

Wir sprechen über das Projekt.

We are talking about the project.

Ihren

[EE-ren]

your

Formal possessive article in the accusative masculine form, used with 'Besuch'.

Example

Auf Ihren Besuch am Freitag freuen wir uns schon.

We are already looking forward to your visit on Friday.

Lebenslauf

[LAY-bens-lowf]

CV / résumé

Masculine noun (der); document listing education and work history.

Example

Ihr Lebenslauf ist sehr interessant.

Your CV is very interesting.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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