Joblumi vs Europass CV: the EU format or the German format?
The Europass CV is a public service. The European Commission runs it, it costs nothing, and its FAQ says you will never be asked for bank details. So the question on this page is not about price. It is about format: Europass gives you one common European CV that looks the same in every country. Joblumi builds a CV that follows the conventions employers in Germany are used to, and explains them in English.
Which one fits depends on where you apply, how many languages you need and how much help you want with each application.
Two ideas of a CV
Europass starts with a profile. You record your education, work, language skills, digital skills, projects and volunteering in one place. From that profile you create as many CVs as you want: you choose which information goes in, pick a template, and Europass builds the document. Sections can be moved, removed or added with your own titles. For job titles you can choose from ESCO, the EU's list of occupations. The idea is a lifelong record that travels with you across Europe.
Joblumi starts with one German application. You build a CV in the layout German recruiters expect, then make a version of it for a specific job ad and write the cover letter for that job. The idea is that each application in Germany is as close to the job ad as possible.
Where the formats differ
| Point | German conventions in Joblumi | Europass CV |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Tabular CV (tabellarischer Lebenslauf), newest first, dates as MM/YYYY | Common Europass layout; you can reorder and add sections; its tips recommend reverse chronological order |
| Photo | Optional field, your choice | Photo upload possible (PNG or JPG, under 20 MB) |
| Language levels | CEFR levels (A1 to C2), the scale German employers read | Language skills recorded in the profile |
| Job titles | Your own wording | Your own wording or a title from the ESCO list |
| Designs | 10 designs (3 on the free plan) | Several Europass templates |
| Download | PDF; Word with a pass | "Europass PDF version" (FAQ) |
Europass describes its format as familiar to employers and education institutions. A German-style CV follows the tabular layout common in Germany. Neither format is required by law.
The facts side by side
| Feature | Joblumi | Europass CV |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan; pass €14.90 for 30 days or €34.90 for 90 days, VAT included | Free; you cannot buy anything from Europass (FAQ) |
| Account | Free account needed to download and to buy a pass | Not needed for the editor; guests can edit and download. Registered users sign in with EU Login and get the Europass Library |
| Free plan | 1 CV in 3 of 10 designs with PDF and up to 5 changes, (G)ATS Score with all fixes, 1 job version with language check, 1 cover letter, 1 job saved as a list entry | All tools free |
| Job versions | A CV version for each job with a language check (1 free, no fixed number with a pass, fair use) | Several CV versions from your profile |
| CV check | (G)ATS Score against German CV rules, with all findings and fixes | Writing tips on its CV and cover letter pages |
| CV check against the job ad | Job match from 0 to 100: must-haves, words of the ad, languages, years and degree, with fixes (1 job free) | Writing tips on its CV and cover letter pages |
| Cover letter | German layout (DIN 5008), written for a specific job | Cover letter editor with templates and step-by-step guidance |
| CV languages | English and German; translation German ↔ English with a pass | 31 languages for the service; you write the content yourself, Europass does not translate it (FAQ) |
| Interface | App in English and German, website in English | Many languages, English and German among them |
| Job search | Board with stages and reminders (pass) | Suggestions for jobs and learning opportunities; sharing with EURES |
| Provider | Nick Schäfer, sole proprietorship, Frankfurt am Main, Germany | European Commission (DG EMPL) |
| Data | Stored in the EU (Cloudflare D1); AI by Anthropic in the USA, not used for training | On European Commission servers |
Sources: Europass about, FAQ page 1, FAQ page 2, create a CV, create a cover letter, Europass profile, data protection, all retrieved 31 Oct 2026. Joblumi: pricing, terms, privacy policy.
Consumers in the EU have a statutory right of withdrawal for paid services.
All facts about Europass come from its official pages, retrieved 31 Oct 2026. Europass is a service of the European Union. Joblumi is not affiliated with the European Union and names Europass here only to compare. If something has changed, write to hello@joblumi.com and we will correct it within 5 working days.
Cover letters: Europass editor or DIN 5008
The Europass cover letter editor guides you step by step. You choose the language and the date format, and you fill in your name, a subject line and the greeting. Its own advice is one page and three paragraphs: why you want the job, why you fit, and why the company fits you.
Joblumi writes the letter in the German business letter layout DIN 5008: sender and recipient blocks, date, a subject line, a formal greeting and a formal closing. It starts from the job ad you saved, so the letter refers to that role. If your German is not strong yet, you can work in English in the app and create the German version with a pass.
Languages and translation
Europass covers many more languages: the service names 31. Its FAQ is clear that it does not translate what you write, so a German CV in Europass means writing the German text yourself. Joblumi has two languages, English and German, and with a pass it translates your CV and letters between them. If you also apply in France or Poland, Europass covers that and Joblumi does not.
Account, guest use and your data
You can use the Europass editor as a guest. Its FAQ says a guest's information stays available for 48 hours after the last visit, so download your file before you leave. With EU Login you keep your profile and documents in the Europass Library and can delete the profile fully or in part (Europass, personal information, retrieved 31 Oct 2026). There is nothing to cancel, because Europass has no paid plans.
In Joblumi you need a free account to download. Your documents stay there after a pass ends, as PDF.
What a 3-month search costs
| Feature | Joblumi | Europass |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan only | €0 | €0 |
| With paid features for 90 days | €34.90 (one 90-day pass, VAT included) | No paid features exist |
| 3 passes of 30 days | €44.70 (calculated) |
Europass is free with no limit on CVs. The Joblumi free plan covers one complete application; the pass adds job versions and cover letters with no fixed number (fair use), Word, translation and the board.
When Europass is the better choice
- You want a CV at no cost, with no limit on versions.
- You apply in several EU countries and want one format that looks the same everywhere.
- You need your CV in a language other than English or German.
- You want a lifelong profile with your diplomas in the Europass Library, connected to EURES.
When Joblumi is the better choice
- You apply in Germany and want your CV and cover letter to follow German conventions, explained in English.
- You want your CV checked against German CV rules, with a (G)ATS Score and the fixes.
- You want each application checked against its job ad, with Job match and the fixes.
- You want a German version of your English CV without translating it yourself (with a pass).
- You want to practise assessment tests and interviews in the same app.
Build a German CV · Free (G)ATS Score check
In short
Europass is a free, multilingual record of your career with one European CV format. Joblumi is a tool for applications in Germany: German CV layout, DIN 5008 letters, a version for each job and tools for the search around it. You can also use both: Europass as your long-term record, Joblumi for the applications you send in Germany.
FAQ
Is a Europass CV accepted in Germany?
Yes. It is a known format in Germany, and no law asks for a specific CV layout. Some recruiters are more used to the tabular German CV. A German-style CV follows the tabular layout common in Germany.
Can I turn my Europass CV into a German CV?
There is no automatic import from Europass into Joblumi. You can copy your entries from your Europass profile into the Joblumi editor and then apply the German conventions: MM/YYYY dates, CEFR levels, a tabular structure and an optional photo.
Does Europass translate my CV into German?
No. Its FAQ says Europass does not translate the information you enter. You choose German as the CV language and write the text yourself.
Do I need an account for Europass?
Not for the editor. Guests can edit and download a CV, and their data stays for 48 hours after the last visit. For the profile and the Library you register with EU Login.