German job interviews are typically structured, relatively formal, and focused on concrete competencies rather than personality fit. This doesn't mean they're cold — it means they follow a pattern. And knowing the pattern gives you a significant advantage.
Here is the vocabulary for the interview itself, the questions you'll hear, and the terms that come up when discussing the offer.
Before You Arrive
Bewerbung — application. Your Bewerbungsmappe (application package) typically includes:
- Anschreiben — cover letter
- Lebenslauf — CV / résumé. German CVs are usually in tabular format (tabellarischer Lebenslauf) and include a professional photo. Gaps are expected to be explained.
- Zeugnisse — certificates / references. German employers expect official academic and employer certificates (Arbeitszeugnis) as standard. An Arbeitszeugnis from your previous employer is a formal document written in a specific coded language — worth understanding before you request one.
Einladung zum Vorstellungsgespräch — invitation to a job interview.
Vorstellungsgespräch — job interview. Literally: "presentation conversation."
Probearbeitstag — a trial workday, sometimes offered instead of or alongside a traditional interview.
The Interview Structure
German interviews typically proceed through:
- Vorstellung des Unternehmens — company introduction
- Selbstvorstellung — candidate self-introduction
- Fachgespräch — technical/professional discussion
- Motivationsfragen — motivation questions
- Gehaltsverhandlung — salary discussion
- Ihre Fragen — your questions
Stärken und Schwächen — strengths and weaknesses. "Was sind Ihre größten Stärken und Schwächen?" — What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? This classic question is asked frequently in Germany and taken seriously. Prepare a genuine answer.
Berufserfahrung — professional experience.
Werdegang — career path / professional history.
Qualifikation — qualification, competency.
Fachkenntnisse — specialist knowledge.
Soft Skills — used directly in German as an anglicism; soft skills such as teamwork (Teamfähigkeit), communication (Kommunikationsfähigkeit), and flexibility (Flexibilität).
Questions You'll Hear
"Erzählen Sie mir etwas über sich." — Tell me something about yourself. Start with your current role, briefly cover your background, and explain why you're applying.
"Warum bewerben Sie sich bei uns?" — Why are you applying to us? Know something specific about the company.
"Warum möchten Sie Ihre aktuelle Stelle verlassen?" — Why do you want to leave your current position? Be constructive; avoid criticising your current employer.
"Was sind Ihre mittelfristigen Karriereziele?" — What are your medium-term career goals?
"Wie würden Ihre Kollegen Sie beschreiben?" — How would your colleagues describe you?
"Was war Ihr größter beruflicher Erfolg?" — What was your greatest professional achievement?
"Nennen Sie ein Beispiel, in dem Sie mit einem schwierigen Kollegen umgehen mussten." — Give an example of how you dealt with a difficult colleague. German interviews often use Situationsfragen (situation questions) following the STAR structure (Situation, Task, Action, Result — Situation, Aufgabe, Maßnahme, Ergebnis).
"Wann könnten Sie frühestens anfangen?" — When could you start at the earliest? Know your Kündigungsfrist (notice period) at your current employer.
The Salary Conversation
Gehaltsverhandlung — salary negotiation. Usually raised by the interviewer; don't bring it up first. When asked:
Gehaltsvorstellung — salary expectation. "Was sind Ihre Gehaltsvorstellungen?" — What are your salary expectations?
Bruttojahresgehalt — gross annual salary. German salaries are almost always quoted as gross annual figures. Know what this translates to net (Nettogehalt) before the conversation — use an online Gehaltsrechner to calculate. Tax, social security, and pension contributions amount to roughly 35–42% for most employed earners.
Fixgehalt — base salary.
Variables Gehalt / Bonus — variable pay / bonus.
Benefits / Zusatzleistungen — additional benefits: company car (Dienstwagen), pension contributions (betriebliche Altersvorsorge), home office allowance, gym membership, etc.
Tarifgebunden — bound by a collective wage agreement (Tarifvertrag). If the company is tarifgebunden, salary ranges are partly set by the sector agreement.
Weihnachtsgeld — a Christmas bonus, traditional in Germany (typically one month's salary), but not legally required.
Urlaubsgeld — a holiday bonus paid before summer holidays; also a traditional benefit, not legally mandated.
Urlaub — annual leave. The legal minimum in Germany is 20 days (based on a 5-day week); most companies offer 25–30 days.
The Offer
Vertragsangebot — the job offer.
Probezeit — probationary period. Usually six months in Germany. During this period, the notice period on both sides is reduced to two weeks.
Eintrittstermin — the start date.
Befristeter Vertrag — a fixed-term contract. "Ist die Stelle befristet oder unbefristet?" — Is the position fixed-term or permanent?
Unbefristeter Vertrag — an open-ended (permanent) contract.
Nachfrist — an additional period granted to think over an offer.
Your Questions
German interviewers expect candidates to have questions. Prepare three or four. Good ones include:
"Wie sieht die Einarbeitung aus?" — How does the onboarding process work?
"Wie ist das Team aufgestellt?" — How is the team structured?
"Welche Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten gibt es?" — What development opportunities are there?
"Wie würden Sie die Unternehmenskultur beschreiben?" — How would you describe the company culture?
Professional German vocabulary is the investment that pays most directly in your working life abroad. The interview is the moment that determines everything that follows — build the vocabulary for it before you walk in the door.
A German job interview has a predictable structure. Vokabulo helps you prepare the exact vocabulary you need for each stage. Available on iPhone and iPad.
