Everyone, who wants to apply for a job, knows that careful preparation is required. This preparation becomes even more extensive when you apply for a position in a foreign country, with a different business culture. To help you face this challenge, we created the following guide containing everything you need for a successful job interview in Germany – from interesting tips to useful vocabulary and essential phrases.

Vorstellungsgespräch – 3 most important tips

Before you even get to the job interview make sure you dress properly. The first impression matters a lot in Germany, and a formal business outfit is usually expected. Of course, there are companies with a more modern and relaxed organizational culture, like startups or creative marketing agencies, where you can adapt your dress code accordingly. But, as a rule of thumb, it is always better to choose formal attire, which is a sign of respect and professionalism.

Most likely the recruiter will print out your CV and any other attached documents, and bring them to the interview. However, having your own set of copies at hand, just in case, gives an impression of being well prepared and organized – and this is exactly the impression you want to make on your German interviewer.

The following fact, although very stereotypical, is also extremely true – Germans do expect you to arrive on time. When being invited to a job interview in person, aim to reach the location around 15 minutes in advance, which will give you a safety margin in case you struggled to find a parking spot, entered the wrong building, or found an “außer Betrieb” sign on the elevator door (you never know!).

Sometimes, unfortunately, no level of preparedness is going to be enough. Should you still be late, it is important to let your meeting partner know. Here’s an example phrase that you could use in that situation: 

🇩🇪 Ich bitte um Verzeihung, aber ich werde mich um 10 Minuten verspäten, da auf meiner Bahnstrecke eine Baustelle ist.
🇬🇧 I’m very sorry, but I will be 10 minutes late, as there is a construction site on my railway line.

Arriving to the interview in Germany – do’s and don’ts

Making a good first impression is essential to the success of your interview. Below you will find a short roleplay that will give you an idea of what the first minutes of your meeting could look like.

Let’s assume that you are on time and enter the door to the reception area of ​​your future company. The next step is that you introduce yourself to the reception staff and say who you have an appointment with.

🇩🇪 Guten Tag, mein Name ist Max Müller und ich habe heute ein Vorstellungsgespräch bei Frau Gruber.
🇬🇧 Hello, my name is Max Müller and I have an interview with Mrs Gruber today.

The receptionist will greet you and tell you:

🇩🇪 Guten Tag Herr Müller, herzlich willkommen bei uns, ich werde Frau Gruber benachrichtigen und sie wird in den nächsten Minuten zu Ihnen kommen. In der Zwischenzeit können Sie gerne hier Platz nehmen.
🇬🇧 Hello Mr Müller, welcome to our company. I will inform Mrs Gruber and she will come to you in the next few minutes. In the meantime, you are welcome to take a seat over there.

A few minutes pass, you hear approaching footsteps, and see a woman walking towards you. Mrs Gruber greets you and says:

🇩🇪 Guten Tag Herr Müller, es freut mich Sie persönlich zu treffen, ich hoffe Sie haben gut hergefunden und der starke Wind heute hat Ihnen nichts ausgemacht.
🇬🇧 Hello Mr Müller, I’m happy to meet you personally, I hope you did not have a hard time getting here and you didn’t mind the strong wind today.

Mrs Gruber shakes your hand as a greeting. In Germany, people tend to keep physical distance, especially in the business environment. Hugging, touching and kissing cheeks is reserved for close friends, and is an absolute no-go in business culture. Return a firm handshake, while keeping eye contact with the person to project self-confidence.

Next, the recruiter asks you:

🇩🇪 Hatten Sie schon Zeit die Stadt zu besichtigen?
🇬🇧 Did you already have time to visit the city?

Germans usually maintain factual discussions in their working life. Work discussions are to the point, and after a short small talk you can get down to business. Nevertheless, if you want to use small talk, focus on sports, travelling, weather, cooking, etc. Avoid politics, religion or other controversial topics. Avoiding small talk can sometimes cause Germans to be perceived as rude – it is not so. They simply prefer to jump at the important topics right away.

When meeting someone for the first time, always use formal language. Address your partner by using their surname with the title Frau (Ms/Mrs) or Herr (Mr) and the salutation “Sie”. Only when a person introduces her or himself with the forename, you can use it as a sign to switch to the informal salutation – “du”. However, remember, that this decision is never your call.

On the way to the meeting room, Mrs Gruber asks you whether you would like anything to drink:

🇩🇪 Möchten Sie etwas zu trinken? Wir haben Wasser, Tee, oder Kaffee.
🇬🇧 Would you like to drink something? We can offer you water, tea or coffee.

After getting your coffee, the official part of the interview is about to begin.

Job interview in German – 60+ helpful phrases

German job interviews are often started with the question:

🇩🇪 Was führt Sie zu uns? / Warum haben Sie sich bei uns beworben? / Wie sind Sie auf uns aufmerksam geworden?
🇬🇧 What brings you to us? / Why did you apply to us? / How did you hear about us? 

Recruiters are interested in why you applied for the position and want to see that you’ve done your research about their company. Here’s a list of most typical German business interview questions, which you can use as a guideline:

🇩🇪 Erzählen Sie uns etwas über sich.	🇬🇧 Tell us something about you.
🇩🇪 Welche Kenntnisse bringen Sie für die ausgeschriebene Position mit?	🇬🇧 What knowledge do you have for the advertised position?
🇩🇪 Warum sind Sie der perfekte Kandidat für diesen Job?	🇬🇧 Why are you the perfect candidate for this job?
🇩🇪 Wodurch heben Sie sich von den anderen Bewerbern ab?	🇬🇧 What makes you stand out from the other applicants?
🇩🇪 Warum möchten Sie bei uns arbeiten?	🇬🇧 Why do you want to work for us?
🇩🇪 Was erwarten Sie sich von uns / vom Job?	🇬🇧 What do you expect from us / from the job?
🇩🇪 Wie organisieren Sie ihre Arbeit?	🇬🇧 How do you organize your work?
🇩🇪 Welche Eigenschaften sind für diese Position besonders wichtig?	🇬🇧 Which qualities are particularly important for this position?
🇩🇪 Was sind Ihre Stärken und Schwächen?	🇬🇧 What are your strengths and weaknesses?
🇩🇪 Sind Sie kritikfähig?	🇬🇧 Are you capable of criticism?
🇩🇪 Welche Position nehmen Sie in einem Team ein?	🇬🇧 What is your position in a team?
🇩🇪 Können Sie eine schwierige Situation aus Ihrer beruflichen Laufbahn beschreiben und wie Sie damit umgegangen sind?	🇬🇧 Can you describe a difficult situation in your professional career and how you dealt with it?
🇩🇪 Wo sehen Sie sich in 5 Jahren?	🇬🇧 Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

To help you prepare your answers to the questions above, we listed out some example German phrases that are usually used in this context. When giving your response, always make sure to have good eye contact with your interviewer. This shows respect and confidence about your own skills.  

🇩🇪 Ich interessiere mich für die Produkte, die Ihr Unternehmen herstellt.	🇬🇧 I am interested in the products your company makes.
🇩🇪 Ich habe Maschinenbau an der Universität in Oxford studiert. Ich habe mehrere Jahre Erfahrung als internationaler Projektmanager.	🇬🇧 I studied mechanical engineering at Oxford University. I have several years of experience as an international project manager.
🇩🇪 Ich bin zuverlässig, arbeite strukturiert und habe nachweisliche Kenntnisse im Bereich Projektmanagement.	🇬🇧 I am reliable, work in a structured manner and have proven knowledge of project management.
🇩🇪 Ich habe einige Jahre in China gearbeitet und kenne daher die Marktverhältnisse sehr gut.	🇬🇧 I worked in China for a few years and therefore know the market conditions very well.
🇩🇪 Ich bringe die benötigten Fachkenntnisse mit und bin bereit zu reisen.	🇬🇧 I have the necessary expertise and I am ready to travel.
🇩🇪 Ich besitze großes Verhandlungsgeschick.	🇬🇧 I have great negotiating skills.
🇩🇪 Ich bin bereit mehr Verantwortung zu übernehmen.	🇬🇧 I am ready to take on more responsibility.
🇩🇪 Ich bin teamfähig	🇬🇧 I’m a team player.
🇩🇪 Meine beruflichen Ziele sind…	🇬🇧 My professional goals are…
🇩🇪 Ich habe gute analytische Fähigkeiten und weiß, wie man vorausplant.	🇬🇧 I have good analytical skills and know how to plan ahead.
🇩🇪 Ich bin kommunikativ, aber höre meinem Gegenüber auch genau zu.	🇬🇧 I am communicative, but I also listen carefully to my counterpart.
🇩🇪 Ich bin offen für neue Ideen.	🇬🇧 I am open to new ideas.
🇩🇪 Ich kann unter Druck arbeiten.	🇬🇧 I am able to work under pressure.
🇩🇪 Ich bin bereit etwas Neues zu lernen.	🇬🇧 I am open to acquiring new skills.
🇩🇪 Ich besitze ein gutes analytisches Denkvermögen.	🇬🇧 I have good analytical thinking skills.
🇩🇪 Ich bin in der Lage mich durchzusetzen.	🇬🇧 I am able to assert myself.
🇩🇪 Ich habe eine Affinität zu Zahlen und arbeite mit einem hohen Maß an Genauigkeit.	🇬🇧 I have an affinity to numbers and work with a high degree of accuracy.
🇩🇪 Ich bin flexibel.	🇬🇧 I am flexible.
🇩🇪 Ich bin fähig aus komplexen Zusammenhängen die richtigen Schlüsse zu ziehen.	🇬🇧 I am capable of managing complexities and drawing the right conclusions.
🇩🇪 Ich habe Erfahrung in der Lösung von Problemen und der Entwicklung von Lösungen, die auf individuelle Anforderungen zugeschnitten sind.	🇬🇧 I am experienced in solving problems and finding solutions tailored to individual requirements.
🇩🇪 In der Arbeit mit Menschen zeige ich großes Einfühlungsvermögen und Engagement.	🇬🇧 When working with people I show great empathy and dedication.
🇩🇪 Ich habe ein zielorientiertes und unternehmerisches Denken.	🇬🇧 I have a goal-oriented and entrepreneurial work approach.
🇩🇪 Mein Fachwissen ist auf dem neuesten Stand.	🇬🇧 My professional knowledge is up-to-date.
🇩🇪 Ich möchte mich in Zukunft stärker auf … spezialisieren.	🇬🇧 In the future I would like to further specialize in …
🇩🇪 Durch diese Position hätte ich die Möglichkeit, …	🇬🇧 This position offers me the possibility to …
🇩🇪 Ich engagiere mich für meine Arbeit.	🇬🇧 I am committed to my work.
🇩🇪 Ich bin ein kreativer Mensch.	🇬🇧 I am a creative person.
🇩🇪 Ich bin in der Lage selbstständig zu arbeiten.	🇬🇧 I am capable of working independently.
🇩🇪 Ich arbeite gerne mit neuen Systemen und Anwendungen.	🇬🇧 I am open to working with new systems and applications.
🇩🇪 Was Probleme betrifft, so habe ich ein gutes Gespür für Urteilsvermögen und Sensibilität.	🇬🇧 Concerning problems, I have a good sense of judgment and sensibility.
🇩🇪 Ich arbeite gerne in Teams.	🇬🇧 I like to work in teams.
🇩🇪 Bei Problemen suche ich ein offenes Gespräch.	🇬🇧 If I have any problems, I look for an open conversation.
🇩🇪 In schwierigen Situationen behalte ich einen kühlen Kopf.	🇬🇧 I keep a cool head in difficult situations.
🇩🇪 Ich arbeite lieber alleine, aber stimme mich regelmäßig mit den Kolleginnen ab.	🇬🇧 I prefer to work alone, but coordinate with my colleagues on a regular basis.
🇩🇪 Ich bin auch bereit Aufgaben und Verantwortlichkeiten zu delegieren.	🇬🇧 I am also ready to delegate tasks and responsibilities.
🇩🇪 Ich bin manchmal etwas ungeduldig.	🇬🇧 I’m a little impatient at times.
🇩🇪 Ich bin ein Kontrollfreak.	🇬🇧 I’m a control freak.
🇩🇪 Ich bin es gewohnt gewissenhaft zu arbeiten	🇬🇧 I am used to working in a conscientious way.
🇩🇪 Ich scheue mich nicht davor Entscheidungen zu treffen.	🇬🇧 I’m not afraid to make decisions.

At the end of the interview, it is your time to pose questions. It is a good practice to have a couple of questions in mind, even if you already know the answers. This shows the recruiter that you are serious about the job, and really interested in becoming part of the company. Here are some examples of questions you could ask:

🇩🇪 Wie groß ist mein Team?	🇬🇧 How big is my team?
🇩🇪 Wie wird die Arbeit strukturiert?	🇬🇧 How is the work structured?
🇩🇪 Gibt es flexible Arbeitszeiten?	🇬🇧 Are there flexible working hours?
🇩🇪 Gibt es die Möglichkeit Home Office zu machen?	🇬🇧 Is it possible to work from home?
🇩🇪 Ich habe mir die Vertragsbedingungen angesehen und hätte folgende Anmerkungen.	🇬🇧 I have looked at the terms of the contract and have the following comments.
🇩🇪 Welche Aufgaben haben aus Ihrer Sicht höchste Priorität?	🇬🇧 In your opinion, which tasks have the highest priority?
🇩🇪 Gibt es ein Budget für Weiterbildungen?	🇬🇧 Is there a budget for further training?
🇩🇪 Wie werden Mitarbeiter bei Ihnen gefördert und entwickelt?	🇬🇧 How are employees promoted and developed in your company?
🇩🇪 Welche zusätzlichen Leistungen, neben dem Gehalt, bieten Sie Mitarbeitern an?	🇬🇧 What additional benefits, in addition to salary, do you offer to your employees?
🇩🇪 Wie würden Sie Ihre Unternehmenskultur beschreiben?	🇬🇧 How would you describe your corporate culture?
🇩🇪 Hat Ihr Unternehmen vor, in der nächsten Zeit zu expandieren?	🇬🇧 Does your company plan to expand in the near future?
🇩🇪 Wie sieht bei Ihnen die übliche Einarbeitungsphase aus?	🇬🇧 What does the usual induction phase look like for you?
🇩🇪 Muss man in dieser Position viel reisen?	🇬🇧 Do you have to travel a lot in this position?
🇩🇪 Wie würden Sie meinen typischen Arbeitstag beschreiben?	🇬🇧 How would you describe my typical working day?
🇩🇪 Wie erklären Sie den bisherigen Erfolg Ihres Unternehmens?	🇬🇧 How do you explain the success of your company to date?

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of the interview! Mrs Gruber shakes your hand goodbye, and tells you:

🇩🇪 Vielen Dank für das nette Gespräch. Wir werden uns nächste Woche bei Ihnen melden. Auf Wiedersehen.
🇬🇧 Thank you for the good conversation. We will be in touch next week. Goodbye.

Bonus: 50 most important Business German words for a job interview

To make you even better equipped for your interview, we prepared a comprehensive list of German vocabulary for the topic. Make sure to learn the following words to understand every question correctly, and to answer even the most difficult questions with ease.

🇬🇧 interview	🇩🇪 Interview
🇬🇧 experience	🇩🇪 Erfahrung
🇬🇧 bachelor’s degree	🇩🇪 Bachelor-Abschluss
🇬🇧 master’s degree	🇩🇪 Master-Abschluss
🇬🇧 field	🇩🇪 Bereich
🇬🇧 proficiency	🇩🇪 Fachkenntnisse
🇬🇧 professional	🇩🇪 beruflich
🇬🇧 CV	🇩🇪 Lebenslauf
🇬🇧 achievement	🇩🇪 Leistung
🇬🇧 to apply	🇩🇪 sich zu bewerben
🇬🇧 to be familiar	🇩🇪 vertraut sein
🇬🇧 further	🇩🇪 weiter
🇬🇧 to offer	🇩🇪 anbieten
🇬🇧 to match	🇩🇪 anpassen
🇬🇧 set of skills	🇩🇪 Fähigkeiten
🇬🇧 weakness	🇩🇪 Schwäche
🇬🇧 confidence	🇩🇪 Vertrauen
🇬🇧 strength	🇩🇪 Stärke
🇬🇧 teamwork	🇩🇪 Teamarbeit
🇬🇧 lack	🇩🇪 Mangel
🇬🇧 mistake	🇩🇪 Fehler
🇬🇧 suitable	🇩🇪 geeignet
🇬🇧 to describe	🇩🇪 beschreiben
🇬🇧 simultaneously	🇩🇪 gleichzeitig
🇬🇧 to give up	🇩🇪 aufgeben
🇬🇧 against all odds	🇩🇪 trotz aller Schwierigkeiten
🇬🇧 to encounter	🇩🇪 begegnen
🇬🇧 to gather	🇩🇪 sammeln
🇬🇧 decision	🇩🇪 Entscheidung
🇬🇧 failure	🇩🇪 Scheitern
🇬🇧 opportunity	🇩🇪 Gelegenheit
🇬🇧 job posting	🇩🇪 Stellenausschreibung
🇬🇧 career	🇩🇪 Karriere
🇬🇧 to quit	🇩🇪 aufgeben
🇬🇧 to move	🇩🇪 umziehen
🇬🇧 to repeat	🇩🇪 zu wiederholen
🇬🇧 process improvement	🇩🇪 Prozessverbesserung
🇬🇧 senior manager	🇩🇪 Senior Manager
🇬🇧 long-term	🇩🇪 langfristig
🇬🇧 to be ready	🇩🇪 bereit sein
🇬🇧 to relocate	🇩🇪 umzuziehen
🇬🇧 notice period	🇩🇪 Kündigungsfrist
🇬🇧 to share	🇩🇪 teilen
🇬🇧 step	🇩🇪 Schritt
🇬🇧 probation period	🇩🇪 Bewährungszeit
🇬🇧 salary expectation	🇩🇪 Gehaltsvorstellung
🇬🇧 before tax	🇩🇪 vor Steuern
🇬🇧 employer	🇩🇪 Arbeitgeber
🇬🇧 permanent	🇩🇪 Festanstellung

Learning Business German? Try our course!

Our Business German Audiocourse covers 20 essential business topics, among others – job interview. The course covers over 1,000 most important phrases that will allow you to communicate with ease in any business situation. Thanks to our immersion-based method, you will be able to memorize the material quickly and without effort. Speaking Business German will never be a challenge again!

We wish you all the best for your job interview. We are sure you’ll do just great! Viel Erfolg!

For further tips, check out this Job Hunting Guide from Welcome Hub Germany.