How to Do Well in a Job Interview in Germany

Getting an interview invitation is a real milestone. Your CV and cover letter already did their job. The company looked at your application and decided you are worth their time. Now the work shifts from paper to person.

For international candidates, that shift comes with an extra layer of pressure. You may be interviewing in a second or third language. Cultural expectations may be different from what you are used to back home. And if you are on an Opportunity Card or a student visa, there is the added complexity of explaining your visa status clearly.

All of this is manageable. What separates candidates who do well in German interviews is not talent. It is preparation. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, step by step.

If you have not yet built your CV or cover letter, start there first. We have a German CV Guide, a German Cover Letter Guide, and a full Job Application Guide. Once those are ready, come back here.

How the German Interview Process Works

The German hiring process often looks different from what international candidates are used to. Knowing what to expect removes a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

The typical structure

Most hiring processes in Germany involve multiple rounds:

• A screening call with HR or a recruiter
• One or two deeper interviews with the hiring manager and sometimes the team
• Possibly a technical test, case study, or short presentation
• Sometimes a team lunch or informal meet-and-greet at the final stage

Expect longer timelines

Hiring in Germany takes time. It is not unusual for a process to last several weeks or even a few months. If you do not hear back immediately after an interview, that is normal. Do not read silence as rejection. Follow up professionally if a reasonable amount of time has passed.

Ask about the format in advance

Some companies will send you an agenda before the interview. If they do not, it is perfectly acceptable to ask. If a company refuses to share any details about the format at all, that can be a signal of poor internal organization.

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Assessment centers and video interviews

For larger companies and more senior roles, you may encounter an assessment center: structured group exercises where several candidates are evaluated at the same time. The recruiter will typically tell you in advance if this applies.

Video interviews are common, especially if you are still abroad or in another city. Treat them with the same level of preparation as an in-person interview.

Travel costs

In Germany, companies traditionally cover travel costs for in-person interviews when you are traveling from within the country. If you are coming from abroad, confirm this before making plans. Many companies will prefer a video call in that case.

German or English: What Language Will Your Interview Be In?

This is one of the most common concerns among international job seekers in Germany, and it deserves a direct answer.

The general rule

If the job listing was written in German, expect the interview to be in German. If it was in English or mentioned an English-speaking environment, the interview will likely be in English. But do not assume. Ask the recruiter beforehand what language will be used. This is a normal, professional question.

Be prepared for a switch

International companies and startups are more likely to interview in English. That said, even in those environments, some interviewers may switch to German mid-conversation. It is worth being prepared for it even if you are not expecting a German-language interview.

Formality in German

Use "Sie" (the formal form of address) unless the interviewer explicitly invites you to switch to "du." Use "Herr" or "Frau" plus the person's last name until told otherwise. When in doubt, more formal is always safer. 

If your German is not strong yet

Be honest about it. Say something like: "My German is currently at B1 level. I am taking classes and actively improving, but I am most comfortable discussing technical topics in English." 

Even if the whole interview is in English, mentioning that you are actively learning German sends a strong signal. It shows you are committed to building a life here.

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How to Prepare Before the Interview

Preparation is where interviews are won or lost. Here is what that looks like in practice.

Research the company

Visit their website. Read recent news. Understand their products or services, stated mission and values, and market position. Check their LinkedIn page. If they have a Kununu profile (Germany's employer review platform, similar to Glassdoor), read what current and former employees say. Every top-ranking guide on German interview preparation lists this as step one. It is not optional.

Understand the role

Read the job description more than once. Identify which skills the company emphasizes most. Note the specific language and keywords they use. Your answers in the interview should map directly back to those requirements.

Prepare your self-introduction

"Tell me about yourself" is almost always the first question in a German interview. Keep your answer to two to three minutes. Focus on your professional background, not your personal life. A useful structure: where you studied, your key experiences, and why you are interested in this specific role. Practice it out loud until it feels natural but not rehearsed.

Prepare STAR-method answers

German employers commonly ask "Tell me about a time when..." style questions. The STAR method gives you a clear structure:

• Situation: Briefly describe the context
• Task: What was your responsibility or challenge?
• Action: What specific steps did you take?
• Result: What was the outcome? Use numbers or concrete results when possible.

Prepare three to five STAR stories that cover: teamwork, solving a difficult problem, adapting to change, handling a conflict, and contributing to a project. These can be adapted to many different questions.

Prepare questions to ask

Asking thoughtful questions shows genuine interest. Good topics: team structure, the onboarding process, what success looks like in the first six months, and professional development opportunities. It is also acceptable in Germany to ask about benefits such as vacation days, flexible working, and public transport subsidies.

Prepare your documents

For in-person interviews, bring a printed copy of your CV in a clean folder, plus a pen and paper for notes. For video interviews, have your CV on screen and check your background, lighting, and audio beforehand.

Download free CV templates here. For finding the right roles, our guide to the best job portals in Germany is a good starting point.

How to Talk About Your Visa Status

Be transparent and proactive

Do not hide your visa status or hope it does not come up. Bring it up once you have made a strong first impression with your qualifications. Being upfront shows professionalism and saves everyone time.

If you hold an Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)

Explain clearly that you are authorized to work up to 20 hours per week immediately. Once you have a signed employment contract, you apply to convert your Opportunity Card to a residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' office). This conversion process typically takes four to six weeks. During that window, you can already start working your 20 hours. Once the conversion is complete, you can work full-time.

The most important point to communicate: the company does not need to sponsor your visa. You manage the process yourself. The only thing the employer needs to provide is the employment contract.

Learn from Daniela's approach

Daniela, an Opportunity Card holder featured in Expatrio's success story, received two job offers within two weeks of arriving in Germany. She told employers upfront about the 20-hour limit and walked them through the conversion process clearly. Her transparency helped rather than hurt her. She framed it so employers understood she was not a burden and could handle everything independently. Read her full story here.

If you are a working student (Werkstudent)

Explain that you can work up to 20 hours per week during lecture periods (or 140 full days / 280 half days per year, under §16b AufenthG). After graduation, you can apply for a job seeker visa or transition directly to a work visa or EU Blue Card if you have a qualifying job offer.

On long-term plans

If you are asked about your future in Germany, be honest. German employers value stability and long-term commitment. If you want to build your career here, say so. That is not only acceptable. It is often exactly what they want to hear.

For more on the Opportunity Card, including eligibility and the points system, visit Expatrio's Opportunity Card overview. Our article on Germany's labour shortage also explains why many sectors are actively looking for international talent.

Cultural Expectations in German Interviews

This is what makes interviewing in Germany specific. Getting the cultural details right matters as much as your qualifications.

Punctuality

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for in-person interviews. For video interviews, log in five minutes early and test your setup. In Germany, arriving exactly on time is considered slightly late.

If something unexpected happens, call or email immediately. Apologize briefly and give a realistic estimate of when you will be available.

Dress code

Research the company's dress code beforehand.

• Traditional companies (banking, law, consulting, large corporations): suit or professional business attire
• Startups and creative companies: smart casual
• When unsure: slightly overdressed is always safer, according to Simple Germany's hiring manager guide

Greetings and formality

Introduce yourself with your first and last name. For in-person meetings, offer a firm handshake with eye contact. Address people as "Herr" or "Frau" plus their last name until they invite you to use first names. Some companies use "du" across the board, and this is sometimes visible on their career page. If you are unsure, start formal.

Communication style

Germans value directness and clarity. Give concrete answers with specific examples. Do not ramble or give vague responses. Equally important: do not oversell. German hiring culture tends to be skeptical of candidates who talk themselves up without evidence. Let your results speak for themselves. 

Eye contact

Maintaining eye contact signals confidence and respect. In video interviews, look into the camera when you are speaking, not at the screen. It takes some practice, but it makes a real difference.

Follow-up after the interview

Sending a short thank-you email is not as standard in Germany as it is in the US, but it is appreciated and can set you apart. Keep it brief: thank them for their time, restate your interest in the role, and reference one specific thing from the conversation.

Common Interview Questions and How to Approach Them

Knowing the questions in advance does not mean scripting your answers. It means thinking through your approach so you are not caught off guard.

"Tell me about yourself." 
Keep it professional and structured. Two to three minutes. End with why you are interested in this specific role. Do not recite your CV. Tell a short, coherent story of your career so far and where it is heading.

"Why do you want to work for this company?"
Show your research. Reference specific things: a product you respect, a value that resonates with you, a market position that interests you. Vague answers tell an interviewer nothing. Specifics show you did your homework.

"Why did you come to Germany?" / "Why do you want to work here?"
This question comes up frequently for international candidates. Lead with professional motivations: the strength of the German industry in your field, career development opportunities, the specific company you are interviewing with. Personal reasons can be mentioned briefly, but the professional angle should come first.

"What are your strengths?"
Choose strengths that map directly to the job requirements. Back each one up with a short, concrete example. One or two strengths with real evidence are more effective than five vague claims.

"What are your weaknesses?"
Choose something genuine but manageable. Show what you are actively doing to improve. Avoid cliches like "I am a perfectionist." Interviewers have heard it many times.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
Show ambition combined with stability. German employers often value long-term thinking. Expressing interest in growing within the company is a perfectly good answer.

Behavioral questions ("Tell me about a time when...").
Use the STAR method. Have stories ready for: teamwork, handling pressure, resolving a conflict, adapting to a new situation, and taking initiative.

Salary expectations.
Research market rates beforehand using Glassdoor, Kununu, Gehalt.de, or the Entgeltatlas from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). Give a range based on your research. Salary negotiation in Germany is direct and matter-of-fact. Know your number, state it calmly, and be prepared to discuss it.

"Do you have any questions for us?"
Always have questions ready. Saying "no, I think everything was covered" leaves a flat impression. See the preparation section above for suggestions.

Questions You Do Not Have to Answer

Germany's General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, or AGG) protects job applicants from discrimination. According to the official German Anti-Discrimination Agency (Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes), interview questions about the following topics are generally not permitted unless directly relevant to the role:

• Family planning or pregnancy
• Marital status
• Religious beliefs or denomination
• Political views or party membership
• Sexual orientation
• Ethnic origin
• Health status
• Age (in a discriminatory context)

If you are asked a question like this, you are not obligated to answer. A calm redirect works well: "I would prefer to focus on my qualifications and experience for this role."

Most interviewers who ask these questions are not acting with bad intent. They may simply be unaware of the rules. But if it happens repeatedly or feels hostile, take note. That is a signal about the company's culture.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. If you believe you experienced discrimination during a hiring process, contact the Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes for support.

Practice and Keep Improving

Reading about interviews is useful. Practicing them out loud is what actually prepares you.

Find a friend, a fellow international, a career coach, or a university career center and do mock interviews with someone who will give you honest feedback. If you are a student in Germany, most universities offer free interview coaching through their career services.

Useful tools and resources:

• Glassdoor and Kununu — company-specific interview questions from other candidates
• YouTube — watch German business interviews to get used to the tone and phrasing
• Language exchange apps and conversation clubs — low-pressure German practice
• LinkedIn Learning — structured interview preparation courses

After each interview, take ten minutes to write down the questions you were asked, what went well, and what you would do differently. Every interview gives you information you can use in the next one.

If you do not get the job, do not take it as a judgment on your future here. The German job market is competitive, and rejection is part of the process for almost everyone. Ask for feedback when you can. Not all companies will respond, but when they do, it is valuable. Keep applying, keep refining, and stay consistent.

You Are More Prepared Than You Think

The fact that you are reading this, thinking carefully about how to do this well, already puts you ahead. German employers notice preparation. They notice candidates who researched the company, understand the role, communicate their visa status clearly, and ask thoughtful questions at the end.

This is a serious process, but it is one you can do well in. Take it one step at a time.

If you are still working out whether you qualify for the Opportunity Card, take the Opportunity Card quiz to find out where you stand. You can also explore our full resource library, including webinars and guides, or download free CV templates to make sure your application is solid before the interview stage.

Good luck. You have done the work. Now go show them what you bring.