Ever not realize you don’t know something? Confusing question – let me ask it a bit differently. Have you ever learned something super valuable that you didn’t even know you needed before learning it?

That’s how I felt when reading How to Write a German CV, the very first ebook offering by my friend Graham from All Things German.

I consider myself fairly knowledgeable when it comes to career advice. Not only do I maintain this site, with career advice specific to freelance writers, but I’m also one of the bloggers over at JobMonkey, a leading website for job-hunters.

And I had no clue that I didn’t know how to write a CV for a German employer.

Writing CVs and resumes has been a topic I’ve covered in the past, but because my audience is primarily American, I never gave it much thought. I suppose, if pressed, I would have recommended that the person use the same CV or resume they use in the United States – and man, would I have been wrong!

If you’re considering job-hunting in a foreign country, especially Germany, How to Write a German CV is a guide that you need. Graham covers the writing process point by point. Did you know that you should include your parents’ information? Did you know that your CV needs a picture? These are just a few of the things that I learned through reading his ebook.

The advice is solid, but more importantly for me, it was easy to follow. I sometimes find that step-by-step guides aren’t arranged logically or assume that the reader has more than a 101-level understanding of the topic. It’s always frustrating to buy a book that makes you feel stupid. Graham’s does not. He explained every CV creation step clearly, while also not speaking down to the reader.

I understand that this ebook may not be everyone here at After Graduation, as many of you are moving toward freelance writing and international clients, rather than looking for a job in Germany, but I think this ebook raises an interesting point: clients from other countries are looking for different things when it comes to hiring a freelancer. Understand that you have to approach clients from different countries in different ways.