Job Interview in Germany: Preparation, Questions and Answers in English

A job interview in Germany usually tests not only professional skills but also your communication style: punctuality, clear answers, respect for the format, realistic salary expectations and the ability to ask meaningful questions. If your CV and cover letter have already led to an interview, the next stage is to show that you understand the role, the company and German work culture.

Below is a practical preparation plan: how to introduce yourself, what to research before the interview, which questions to expect, how to discuss salary and what to do after the conversation.

How Interviews in Germany Usually Work

The process depends on the company and role, but it often includes several stages:

a short screening call with HR or a recruiter;
an interview with the future manager;
a technical, case-based or specialist interview;
a meeting with the team;
a test assignment or trial workday, if appropriate for the role.

In international companies, part of the process may be in English. In a German-speaking environment, the interview is often in German or in a mixed format, especially if the job involves communicating with clients, colleagues, Behörden or local partners.

How to Introduce Yourself to the Interviewer

In Germany, it is best to use your first and last name as they appear in the invitation. If you have several first or last names, decide in advance which version will be most convenient for German colleagues, and use it consistently on your CV, in email and on LinkedIn.

At an in-person meeting, a calm greeting, eye contact and a confident but not showy handshake are appropriate if one is offered. For an online interview, check your camera, sound, background and lighting. Look at the camera during key answers, rather than only at your image on screen.

It is best to begin formally: Herr/Frau + surname and Sie. If the interviewer suggests du or addressing each other by first name, you can move to a more informal style. In startups and international teams, du is often normal, but in traditional companies formality is still seen as a sign of respect.

Preparation Before the Interview

Good preparation in Germany is specific. Reading the homepage is not enough. Before the interview, review:

The vacancy: which tasks recur in the description, which skills are required and which are desirable.
The company: product, market, clients, competitors, news, values, financial or organisational situation, if information is public.
The team: who will interview you, what roles those people have, and what you can learn from LinkedIn or the company page.
Your examples: 4–6 stories using the STAR method: situation, task, action, result.
The interview language: which language the conversation will be in and which terms you should review in advance.
Salary: market, region, seniority level and employment-format benchmarks.

If the invitation does not state the participants, duration or interview language, it is fine to clarify this in a short email.

Punctuality and Format

For an in-person interview, arrive at the building early, but do not show up at reception too far in advance. Being there 10–15 minutes before the start is usually enough. If you are delayed, call or write immediately: apologise, explain the situation and give a realistic arrival time.

For an online interview, join a few minutes before the start, close unnecessary tabs, turn off notifications, and keep your CV, vacancy description and questions for the company handy. If technology fails, briefly mention it and suggest a clear solution: rejoin, switch to phone or reschedule part of the conversation.

What to Wear: How to Avoid Getting It Wrong

Match the company’s culture and the role. A more formal style is appropriate for banking, consulting, legal work and corporate functions. Smart casual is often enough for IT, product, design or a startup.

A useful rule is to look a little more formal than the team’s usual everyday clothing. Your clothes should help the conversation, not become the main impression.

What to Bring

For an in-person interview, it is useful to bring:

a printed CV;
copies of diplomas, certificates and references, if relevant;
a notebook and pen;
a list of questions for the company;
the address, contact person’s name and phone number in case of delay.

Even if the documents have already been sent online, a neat folder shows that you are prepared. For an online interview, prepare the same files in a separate folder so you can open them quickly if needed.

How to Answer Questions

German interviews often value clarity and structure. It is better to answer specifically than to sell yourself at length with general phrases. Use this structure:

A short, direct answer.
One example from your experience.
The result or takeaway.
The connection to the new role.

For example, when asked about conflict in a team, you do not need to say that conflicts never happened. Instead, show a mature example: what occurred, how you clarified expectations, what solutions you proposed and what you learned.

Typical Interview Questions

Questions vary by company, but these topics often come up:

Tell us about yourself and your professional path.
Why do you want to leave your current job?
Why are you interested in this particular position?
Which of your strengths are relevant to this role?
Tell us about a difficult project or mistake.
How do you work with feedback?
How would a manager or colleague describe you?
What tasks would you like to be doing in a year?
What matters to you in a team and manager?
What are your salary expectations?

Do not memorise answers word for word. Prepare key points and examples so that you sound natural.

Sample Answers in English

Tell us about yourself

A good answer should be short and relevant:

I am a marketing specialist with six years of experience in B2B SaaS. In my current role, I manage performance campaigns and work closely with sales on lead quality. Over the last year, I helped reduce acquisition costs by improving targeting and landing pages. I am now looking for a role where I can combine data-driven marketing with a more international product, which is why this position is interesting to me.

Why do you want to work here?

Connect the company, the role and your experience:

I am interested in this role because your product solves a clear problem for small businesses, and the position combines strategy with hands-on execution. I have worked on similar customer segments before, and I believe my experience with campaign optimization and cross-functional work would be useful for your growth plans.

What are your salary expectations?

Answer directly, while leaving room for discussion:

Based on the role, my experience and the market range I researched, my expectation is around 68,000 euros gross per year. I am open to discussing the full package, including bonus, vacation days, pension contributions and remote-work options.

How to Discuss Salary

Before the interview, check salary benchmarks from several sources. You can use the Federal Employment Agency’s Entgeltatlas, Indeed, Glassdoor, Kununu, recruitment-company reports and vacancies with published ranges. One source rarely provides the full picture.

In Germany, people usually state annual gross salary, meaning the amount before taxes and social-security contributions. For some roles, bonus, holiday allowance, a 13th salary, remote work, pension contributions, a BahnCard, training or relocation support are important.

If a recruiter asks about your expectations early, you can answer:

I would like to understand the responsibilities and the overall package in more detail, but based on my current research I would expect a range around … gross per year.

Giving a range or a single figure is a matter of strategy. A range is useful when compensation depends heavily on bonus and benefits. One figure sounds more confident if you know the market and your minimum well.

Questions to Ask the Company

An interview works both ways. Good questions help you understand the role and show that you take the work seriously:

What would success look like in the first six months?
Which challenges should the new person solve first?
How is feedback usually given in the team?
How does the team make decisions?
What tools and processes are currently used?
Why is the position open?
What are the next steps in the hiring process?

Do not interrupt the interviewer. It is better to write down questions and ask them at the end or during a natural pause.

German or English

The interview language usually matches the role’s working language. If the vacancy is written in English and the team is international, the interview may be entirely in English. If the role involves German clients, documentation, manufacturing, healthcare, education, administration or local partners, German may be required.

Even if the interview is in English, prepare a few German phrases for small talk:

Guten Morgen, vielen Dank für die Einladung.
Ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen.
Könnten Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen?
Darf ich dazu kurz ein Beispiel geben?

Mixing German and English in conversation is possible, but it is better not to make it a habit. If you do not know a term, calmly rephrase: I am not sure about the German term, but what I mean is…

After the Interview

At the end of the interview, clarify the next steps: whether there will be a second round, a test assignment, a meeting with the team, and when to expect an answer. After the conversation, you can send a short thank-you email.

Example:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I enjoyed learning more about the role and the team. The discussion confirmed my interest in the position, especially the focus on process improvement and cross-functional work. I look forward to hearing about the next steps.

If there is no reply after the promised date, it is appropriate to send a follow-up after a few working days.

Common Candidate Mistakes

Arriving without understanding the vacancy and the company’s product.
Giving overly long answers without examples.
Talking only about relocation rather than the value you bring to the employer.
Explaining salary expectations poorly.
Failing to prepare questions for the interviewer.
Criticising a former employer too emotionally.
Ignoring the language and communication style: Sie/du, German/English and the company’s formality.

Short Checklist

Before the interview, check that:

you know the interview format, participants, language and duration;
you have 4–6 STAR examples;
your salary benchmark is based on several sources;
your CV, vacancy and questions are open and ready;
your technology or route has been checked in advance;
you can briefly explain why you want the role;
you know the next steps after the interview.

Key Point

A successful interview in Germany is not aggressive self-promotion, but calm evidence of fit: you understand the work, can talk about your experience in a structured way, respect the process and ask questions as a future colleague rather than a random applicant.