Job interviews in Germany: stages, questions and etiquette

Hiring in Germany tends to be slower than many candidates expect. Two to six weeks between application and final answer is not unusual.

• Phone or video screening with HR: confirms interest, language, availability and salary expectations.
• Technical or hiring-manager interview (Fachgespräch): goes deeper into experience and skills.
• Practical test, case study or technical challenge, common in tech and consulting.
• Probearbeit: a (half) day of trial work, more common in operational and skilled-trade roles.
• Final conversation and offer.

• Punctuality is taken seriously. Arrive (or join the call) a few minutes early.
• Use "Sie" (formal address) until the other person offers "du". Start-ups often use "du" from the start.
• Clear, direct answers are valued; exaggeration and heavy self-promotion less so.
• Have your CV at hand and be ready to explain every date and job change.

• "Erzählen Sie etwas über sich." — Tell us about yourself: summarise your path in two minutes, ending with why you are there.
• "Warum möchten Sie bei uns arbeiten?" — Why us: show you have researched the company.
• "Was sind Ihre Stärken und Schwächen?" — Strengths and weaknesses: give real examples and what you do to improve.
• "Warum Deutschland?" — Why Germany: have a concrete, long-term answer.
• "Wie ist Ihre Gehaltsvorstellung?" — Salary expectations: answer with an annual gross figure.
• "Wann können Sie anfangen?" — When can you start: factor in your notice period and visa timeline.

For behavioural questions ("tell us about a time when..."), structure your answer as Situation, Task, Action and Result. It keeps the answer short, concrete and easy to assess.

Always have two or three questions ready. Good options:

• What does a typical day in this role look like?
• How is the team organised, and who would I work with most?
• How does the company support international hires (visa, relocation, German lessons)?
• What are the next steps in the process?

A short thank-you email on the same day goes down well. If a company invites you to an in-person interview, it is generally expected to reimburse reasonable travel costs unless it said in advance that it would not — it is worth confirming before booking travel.