Guide to Preparing for and Succeeding in a Job Interview (Vorstellungsgespräch) in Germany
1. Preparation before the interview
Research the company
Mission, vision and values (Unternehmensmission & -werte)
Main products or services (Produkte/Dienstleistungen)
Recent projects or notable news (press releases)
Review the job description
Identify the required skills and experience and match them with concrete examples from your own background.
Think about how to demonstrate that you are a good fit for the position.
Prepare your documents
Printed copies of your CV (Lebenslauf) and motivation letter (Anschreiben).
Employment references (Zeugnisse) and translated academic certificates, if needed.
Keep everything in a neat, well-organised application folder (Mappe).
2. First impression: dress code and timing
Punctuality
Arrive 10–15 minutes early and calculate enough travel time, especially when using public transport.
Dress code
Smart business attire for both men and women, in calm colours (blue, grey, black).
A tidy and professional appearance (simple hairstyle, classic tie), overall clean and well groomed.
3. Structure of the interview and common questions
Self-introduction (Selbstvorstellung)
A short overview of your educational and professional background and your key skills (1–2 minutes).
Experience and skills
Ask yourself: “What makes me particularly suitable for this role?”
Use the STAR technique (Situation – Task – Action – Result) to describe concrete examples.
Typical questions
Strengths and weaknesses.
Your motivation to join the company.
Your ideal working conditions and preferred team environment.
Technical questions or questions about your daily tasks in this role.
Your closing questions
“What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing?”
“How do you measure success in this position during the first six months?”
Avoid detailed questions about salary or holidays in the very first round; these can be clarified at a later stage.
4. Important behaviour during the interview
Maintain appropriate eye contact and respect personal space.
Speak clearly with a calm tone and a natural, friendly smile, avoiding exaggerated body language.
Listen actively before answering, and politely ask for clarification if needed.
Use formal address (Herr/Frau Dr. Müller) unless they invite you to do otherwise.
5. Follow-up after the interview
Thank-you email within 24 hours
Thank them for the conversation, refer to key topics discussed and briefly restate why you are interested in the role.
Follow-up call after about a week if you have no feedback
Politely and briefly ask about the status of your application.
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may still occur or some information may be incomplete or not yet fully confirmed. Please treat the information in these articles as an initial guide and always consult the competent authorities or professional advisers for binding and up-to-date details.
