'How to Succeed in an Interview at a German Company: Preparation,

An interview at a German company usually tests not only your professional skills but also how well prepared you are: how clearly you understand the vacancy, how well you can explain your experience, whether you know the work context, and whether you can communicate calmly with HR, your future manager, or the team. Good preparation starts even before the invitation arrives: with your resume, cover letter, and a clear story about why you are a good fit for the position.

What Bewerbung is and why the interview starts earlier

The process of applying for a job in Germany is called Bewerbung. It usually includes a resume, sometimes an Anschreiben, meaning a cover letter, diplomas, certificates, and Arbeitszeugnisse, meaning references from previous employers. Not every company asks for the full set of documents, but the resume is almost always the main filter.

The purpose of a Bewerbung is to show the employer that you are worth inviting to a conversation. So before preparing for the interview, it is worth checking the basics:

the resume is tailored to the specific vacancy rather than sent unchanged everywhere;
experience is described through tasks, results, and technologies rather than only job titles;
the cover letter, if required, does not repeat the resume but explains your motivation;
diplomas, certificates, and Arbeitszeugnisse are attached where appropriate;
there are no inconsistencies in the documents regarding dates, languages, responsibilities, or skill level.

If everything looks consistent at this stage, it will be easier to answer questions in the interview because you already know what professional story you are telling the employer.

How to research the company before the interview

Before a Vorstellungsgespräch, it is useful to collect not an encyclopedia about the company but a working minimum that helps you speak concretely.

Check:

how the company makes money and who its clients are;
which products, services, or projects matter for the vacancy;
how the team is structured, if that is visible from the job description;
which values and working principles the company emphasizes on its website;
whether there is recent news: growth, layoffs, new markets, or a product shift;
which technologies, processes, or industry-specific requirements are mentioned in the vacancy.

Sources can vary: the company website, LinkedIn, Xing, kununu, team pages, employees’ public talks, and industry media. It only makes sense to check Instagram or Facebook if the company is genuinely active there and those channels help you understand the culture rather than just showing marketing.

How to prepare your self-introduction

One of the most common opening questions is “Erzählen Sie etwas über sich” or “Tell us about yourself.” This is not a request to retell your biography from childhood. The employer expects a short professional self-introduction.

A practical structure:

who you are professionally and what field you work in;
which experience is most relevant to the vacancy;
what kinds of tasks you know how to solve;
why this position is a logical next step in your path;
what you can bring to the team.

An example of the answer logic: “I work in X, and in recent years I have focused on Y and Z. In my previous project, I was responsible for A, which led to result B. What attracted me to this vacancy is the opportunity to apply that experience to C, because I already have a strong foundation in D.”

It is best to rehearse the answer out loud. It should sound natural, take about one to two minutes, and not turn into reading your resume aloud.

What questions are often asked

The set of questions depends on the company and the role, but many topics repeat.

Motivation

Why did you apply for this particular position?
What do you know about our company?
Why do you want to change jobs?
Why are Germany or the German market important to you?

Here it is important not to limit yourself to saying “interesting company.” Connect the vacancy to specific tasks, the product, the technology, the industry, or the company’s stage of development.

Experience and skills

Tell us about a project you are proud of.
What difficult task have you faced, and how did you solve it?
Which tools or methods did you use?
Which part of your experience is most useful for this role?

Prepare answers using concrete examples. The STAR formula helps keep the structure: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Teamwork

How do you resolve conflicts?
How do you prefer to receive feedback?
How do you work with deadlines?
What is important to you in a team?

German employers often value predictability, independence, and the ability to communicate risks in advance. Show not only personal effectiveness but also how you work with others.

Language and communication

If the vacancy requires German, part of the interview may be conducted in German even in an international team. Prepare professional wording in advance: the names of your previous responsibilities, technologies, processes, results, and reasons for changing jobs.

If your language level is not perfect yet, it is better to speak honestly about where you are already confident and where you are still learning. For many roles, the ability to work clearly in a team matters more than flawless speech.

Typical hiring stages at a German company

The process can be short or multi-stage. In small companies, one or two conversations may be enough; in large organizations, there are usually more stages.

Screening. HR or a recruiter reviews the resume, documents, and your basic fit with the requirements. The candidate often does not participate directly at this stage.
Telefoninterview or video call. A short conversation with HR or a recruiter. They usually clarify motivation, salary expectations, start date, language level, work authorization, and key experience.
Vorstellungsgespräch. The main interview with the manager, the team, or several company representatives. This is where they discuss professional tasks, your approach to work, and your overall fit for the role.
Assessment or test task. This does not happen everywhere. It may be a technical test, case study, presentation, work sample, or analytical task.
Abschlussgespräch. The final conversation about terms: salary, bonuses, work format, vacation, probation period, start date, and next steps.

Not every company uses the same names for these stages. If the process is unclear, calmly ask at the end of the conversation: “Wie sieht der weitere Prozess aus?” meaning “What does the next step of the process look like?”

How to talk about salary

The question about Gehaltsvorstellung often appears even in the first conversation. Prepare a range in advance: study the market, the region, the seniority of the role, the industry, the employment format, and your own experience.

You can phrase it like this:

“My expectations are in the range of … gross per year, depending on the overall package and responsibilities.”
“Not only salary matters to me, but also the role itself, flexibility, growth, and the team.”
“I am open to discussion if we align on the tasks and level of responsibility.”

You should not name a random number without preparation. In Germany, employers usually discuss Jahresbrutto, the annual gross salary before taxes, rather than the net amount you take home.

What to ask the employer

An interview is not a one-sided exam. Your questions show maturity and help you understand whether the place is right for you.

Good questions:

Which tasks will be the most important in the first three to six months?
What does success look like in this position?
Who will I work with most often?
How are feedback and decision-making organized?
Which tools and processes does the team use?
Why is this position open?
What are the next steps after the interview?

Avoid asking questions whose answers are obvious from the vacancy text or the first page of the website. It is better to show that you have already studied the basic information.

Common candidate mistakes

Retelling the resume without connecting it to the vacancy.
Answering too vaguely: “I communicate well,” “I learn quickly,” “I have a lot of experience.”
Not being able to explain why this specific company is interesting to you.
Criticizing previous employers emotionally and without drawing conclusions.
Not preparing questions for the interviewer.
Not knowing your salary expectations and availability.
Overestimating your German or English level and then getting lost during the conversation.
Ignoring technical preparation for an online interview: sound, camera, internet, background, and documents at hand.

Checklist before the interview

Reread the vacancy and highlight 5 to 7 key requirements.
Prepare one example from your experience for each important requirement.
Prepare a short self-introduction.
Check the company website, the team profile, and recent news.
Formulate your annual gross salary expectations.
Prepare questions for the employer.
For an online interview, check the link, sound, camera, and laptop charge.
Keep your resume, the vacancy, your notes, and your list of questions nearby.

After the interview

After the conversation, you can send a short thank-you email, especially if the interview was substantial or you agreed to send additional materials. Two or three sentences are enough: thank them for their time, confirm your interest in the role, and attach what you promised.

If the feedback deadline has passed, it is normal to ask politely about the status. The email should be short and neutral: you remind them of the conversation and ask whether there are any updates on the process.

FAQ

Do I need to speak German if the vacancy is in English?

It depends on the role and the company. If German is listed as a requirement, be prepared for part of the conversation to be in German. If the language is not mandatory, it is still useful to prepare basic work-related phrases and clearly state your current level honestly.

What should I do if I do not know the answer to a question?

It is better not to make things up. You can explain how you would approach the task, which data you would clarify, and where you have similar experience. Employers often evaluate the way you think, not only whether you already have a finished answer.

Is it worth asking about Homeoffice and vacation?

Yes, but it is better to choose the right moment. In the first conversation, you can clarify the general work model, while details about vacation, bonuses, and equipment are better discussed closer to the final stage or after the company has shown interest.

Do I need to prepare Arbeitszeugnisse and diplomas?

If you have them and they are relevant, keep them ready. Some employers request documents immediately, while others do so later. For regulated professions and roles with formal requirements, diplomas and recognition of qualifications can be especially important.