Job Interview in Germany: How to Make a Good First Impression and Get Hired

A first interview with a potential employer is not an exam or an interrogation. It's an opportunity for both sides to find out whether they're a good fit for each other.

The employer wants to learn about your experience, skills, motivation, and readiness to work. You, in turn, can ask questions about the position, schedule, salary, duties, and working conditions.

For foreigners, an interview in Germany can be especially nerve-wracking because of the language barrier, unfamiliar rules, and fear of making a mistake. But good preparation will help you speak more confidently, present yourself correctly, and show the employer your strengths.

How to Prepare for the Interview

1. Research the Company

Before the meeting, find out basic information about the employer:

what the company does;
what products or services it offers;
where the business is located;
how many employees the company has;
what requirements are listed in the job posting;
what duties this position involves.

Even a few minutes of preparation will show that you're interested not just in any job, but specifically in this position.

Useful phrase in German:

Ich habe mich über Ihr Unternehmen informiert und finde besonders interessant, dass Sie im Bereich … tätig sind. I looked into your company and find it especially interesting that you work in the field of…

2. Reread the Job Posting

Carefully review the listing and write down:

the job title;
the main tasks;
the required experience;
education requirements;
language skills;
working conditions;
desired personal qualities.

Prepare examples from your own experience that show you meet these requirements.

3. Prepare Your Documents

It's a good idea to bring to the interview:

a printed Lebenslauf (CV);
a cover letter;
diplomas and certificates;
references from previous employers;
a work permit or residence status documents;
a notepad and pen.

If the interview is online, check your camera, microphone, headphones, and internet connection in advance.

4. Rehearse Your Self-Introduction

The first 60–90 seconds matter a lot. Prepare a short story about yourself:

who you are;
what your profession is;
where you've worked;
what skills you've gained;
what job you're looking for now.

Example:

Guten Tag, mein Name ist … Ich komme aus … und lebe seit … in Deutschland. Ich habe mehrere Jahre als Verkäuferin gearbeitet. Zu meinen Stärken gehören Kundenfreundlichkeit, Zuverlässigkeit und sorgfältiges Arbeiten. Jetzt suche ich eine langfristige Stelle im Verkauf und möchte meine Erfahrung gern in Ihrem Unternehmen einsetzen.

Translation: Hello, my name is … I'm from … and have been living in Germany since… I worked as a saleswoman for several years. My strengths include being customer-friendly, reliable, and careful in my work. I'm now looking for a long-term position in sales and would like to put my experience to use at your company.

How to Behave Correctly During the Meeting

Be Punctual

In Germany, punctuality matters a great deal. Arrive about 10–15 minutes before the meeting starts.

If you realize you're going to be late, call the employer right away and explain the reason.

Guten Tag, mein Name ist … Ich habe heute um … Uhr einen Termin zum Vorstellungsgespräch. Leider verspäte ich mich wegen … Ich werde voraussichtlich um … Uhr bei Ihnen sein.

Choose Appropriate Clothing

Your clothing should be neat, clean, and appropriate for the profession.

For office jobs, a restrained business style is best. For work in manufacturing, warehouses, or construction, neat, practical clothing is enough.

Most important:

clean shoes;
neat hair;
no overly flashy accessories;
phone on silent;
a calm and confident appearance.

Greet Correctly

At the start of the meeting, smile, look the other person in the eye, and greet them:

Guten Tag, vielen Dank für die Einladung. Hello, thank you for the invitation.

During a formal interview, use the formal address Sie, unless the employer themselves suggests switching to du.

Listen Carefully

Don't interrupt the other person. If you didn't understand a question, it's completely normal to ask them to repeat it:

Entschuldigung, könnten Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen? Sorry, could you please repeat the question?

Or:

Könnten Sie bitte etwas langsamer sprechen? Mein Deutsch ist noch nicht perfekt. Could you please speak a bit more slowly? My German isn't perfect yet.

This is better than answering incorrectly or pretending you understood everything.

The Most Common Questions

"Tell us about yourself"

In German: Erzählen Sie uns bitte etwas über sich.

You don't need to tell your whole life story. Focus on the education, experience, and skills relevant to the position.

A handy structure:

Ich habe eine Ausbildung als … und Berufserfahrung im Bereich … Meine wichtigsten Stärken sind … Jetzt suche ich eine neue berufliche Herausforderung als …

Translation: I trained as a … and have work experience in the field of … My key strengths are … I'm now looking for a new professional challenge as a …

"Why do you want to work for us specifically?"

In German: Warum möchten Sie gerade bei uns arbeiten?

You could answer:

Ihr Unternehmen hat einen guten Ruf, und die Aufgaben in dieser Stelle passen sehr gut zu meiner bisherigen Erfahrung. Außerdem möchte ich mich beruflich weiterentwickeln.

Translation: Your company has a good reputation, and the tasks in this role fit very well with my previous experience. I would also like to develop professionally.

Avoid answering: "I just need any job." Even if that's partly true, it's better to explain why this particular position suits you.

"What are your strengths?"

In German: Was sind Ihre Stärken?

Choose 2–3 qualities and back them up with examples:

Zuverlässigkeit — reliability
Pünktlichkeit — punctuality
Teamfähigkeit — teamwork skills
Belastbarkeit — resilience under pressure
Lernbereitschaft — willingness to learn
Sorgfalt — attentiveness and care
Verantwortungsbewusstsein — sense of responsibility

Example:

Ich bin zuverlässig und lerne schnell. In meiner letzten Arbeitsstelle musste ich mich in kurzer Zeit in neue Aufgaben einarbeiten.

Translation: I'm reliable and a fast learner. At my last job, I had to get up to speed on new tasks in a short amount of time.

"What is your weakness?"

In German: Was ist Ihre größte Schwäche?

You don't need to name a quality that would directly interfere with doing the job. It's better to name something real that you're actively working on:

Mein Deutsch ist noch nicht perfekt, aber ich lerne jeden Tag und besuche derzeit einen Deutschkurs.

Translation: My German isn't perfect yet, but I study every day and am currently attending a German course.

"Why did you leave your last job?"

In German: Warum haben Sie Ihre letzte Arbeitsstelle verlassen?

Answer calmly and without criticizing your former employer:

Ich möchte mich beruflich weiterentwickeln und suche eine langfristige Perspektive.

Translation: I want to develop professionally and am looking for a long-term perspective.

"What is your level of German?"

In German: Wie gut sind Ihre Deutschkenntnisse?

Answer honestly. You can also explain how you're improving your language skills:

Meine Deutschkenntnisse entsprechen ungefähr dem Niveau B1. Im Alltag kann ich mich verständigen, und ich arbeite weiter an meiner Aussprache und meinem Wortschatz.

Translation: My German is roughly at the B1 level. I can communicate in everyday situations, and I keep working on my pronunciation and vocabulary.

"When could you start?"

In German: Wann könnten Sie bei uns anfangen?

Possible answers:

Ich könnte sofort anfangen. — I could start immediately.
Ich könnte ab dem … anfangen. — I could start from…
Mein frühestmöglicher Eintrittstermin ist der … — The earliest possible start date for me is…

"What are your salary expectations?"

In German: Welche Gehaltsvorstellungen haben Sie?

If you don't know the going rate, you could answer:

Meine Gehaltsvorstellungen orientieren sich an den üblichen Bedingungen für diese Position und an meiner Berufserfahrung.

Translation: My salary expectations are based on the usual conditions for this position and my professional experience.

You can also name a desired gross annual amount:

Meine Gehaltsvorstellung liegt bei … Euro brutto im Jahr.

If You Don't Have Experience

Lacking experience doesn't mean you have no chance of getting the job. In that case, emphasize:

your willingness to learn;
responsibility;
punctuality;
physical stamina;
willingness to work shifts;
previous informal or volunteer experience;
practical skills;
motivation to work specifically in this field.

Example:

Auch wenn ich in diesem Bereich noch keine Berufserfahrung in Deutschland habe, bin ich sehr motiviert, lerne schnell und arbeite zuverlässig.

Translation: Even though I don't yet have professional experience in this field here in Germany, I am highly motivated, learn quickly, and work reliably.

If Your German Isn't Very Good

Don't hide your language level, but don't keep apologizing for it either. Show that you understand your duties and are actively learning the language.

Useful phrases:

Ich lerne Deutsch und verbessere meine Sprachkenntnisse kontinuierlich. I am learning German and continuously improving my language skills.

Bei wichtigen Informationen mache ich mir Notizen. I take notes on important information.

Wenn etwas unklar ist, frage ich nach. If something is unclear, I ask.

Avoid saying: "I don't know German at all." It's better to state the truth more specifically: what your level is, what you can understand, and how you're learning.

Questions You Can Ask the Employer

At the end of the interview, the employer may ask: Haben Sie noch Fragen an uns?

Don't automatically say "no." Prepare 3–5 questions:

Wie sieht ein typischer Arbeitstag in dieser Position aus? — What does a typical workday look like in this position?
Wie groß ist das Team? — How big is the team?
Wie werden neue Mitarbeiter eingearbeitet? — How are new employees trained?
Wie sind die Arbeitszeiten geregelt? — How are working hours arranged?
Gibt es Schichtarbeit? — Is there shift work?
Wann kann ich mit einer Rückmeldung rechnen? — When can I expect to hear back?
Welche Weiterbildungsmöglichkeiten gibt es? — What further training opportunities are available?

Common Candidate Mistakes

During the interview, try to avoid these mistakes:

being late without notice;
showing up unprepared;
not knowing the job title;
lying about your experience or language level;
speaking negatively about a former employer;
constantly checking your phone;
interrupting the other person;
answering only "yes" or "no";
immediately starting the conversation with a question about vacation days;
demanding a high salary without explaining your qualifications;
using overly informal address;
reciting memorized phrases without concrete examples.

Mistakes can happen, especially if your German isn't perfect yet. It's important to stay calm, be polite, and show willingness to learn.

How to End the Interview

At the end, thank them for the meeting:

Vielen Dank für das angenehme Gespräch und Ihre Zeit. Die Stelle hat mein Interesse noch verstärkt. Ich würde mich sehr über eine Einladung zu einem weiteren Gespräch freuen.

Translation: Thank you very much for the pleasant conversation and your time. This position has only increased my interest. I would be very glad to receive an invitation for a further conversation.

After the interview, you can send a short thank-you note:

Sehr geehrte Frau … / Sehr geehrter Herr …, vielen Dank für das freundliche Gespräch am … und die Informationen über die ausgeschriebene Stelle. Unser Gespräch hat mein Interesse an der Position bestätigt. Für weitere Fragen stehe ich Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung. Mit freundlichen Grüßen …

Quick Checklist Before the Meeting

Before you leave, check:

do you know the address and route;
do you have a printed Lebenslauf;
have you prepared a short introduction of yourself;
have you reviewed key German words;
do you know information about the company;
have you prepared questions;
have you silenced your phone;
do you have neat clothing;
will you arrive 10–15 minutes early.