vita / CV
Loading your saved state.
CV / résumé
A written summary of a person's professional and educational background, typically used for job applications. Synonymous with Lebenslauf or curriculum vitae (CV).
Bitte fügen Sie Ihrer Bewerbung eine aktuelle Vita bei.
Please attach an up-to-date CV to your application.
'Vita' is a Latin word and means 'life.' This origin explains both meanings in German: the summary of a professional life (CV/résumé) and a person's life story in general.
In seiner Vita finden sich Stationen in drei verschiedenen Ländern.
His vita includes stops in three different countries.
You can tell which meaning is intended from the context. In connection with applications, careers, and work, it refers to a CV/résumé. In biographical or literary texts about a person, it means their entire life story.
Für die Stelle wird eine lückenlose Vita erwartet.
A complete CV is expected for the position.
In the sense of 'Lebenslauf' (CV/résumé), 'Vita' is a somewhat more formal and elegant variant. It is often used in academic and highly qualified professional contexts.
Der Professor hat eine beeindruckende wissenschaftliche Vita vorzuweisen.
The professor has an impressive academic CV to show.
profile
'das Profil' and 'die Vita' can both contain information about a person, especially in a professional context. 'Profil' is broader: it shows data, characteristics, interests, or areas of focus, for example on a platform or in a short description. 'Vita' more often means a person's CV / résumé or their life path so far, especially their education and career. The words can be confused because both appear in applications or introductions. If it is about strengths and a short overall picture, 'Profil' fits. If it is about stages in someone's life or career, 'Vita' is more precise.
Für die Bewerbung schickt er heute seine Vita an den Verein.
For the application, he is sending his CV to the association today.
Auf der Webseite beschreibt Hannah ihr Profil als Projektleiterin.
On the website, Hannah describes her profile as a project manager.