Top 10 job interview questions in Germany

Let’s assume you have taken the first step towards a life and career in Germany. You’ve been sending your CV and applying for jobs, and you have been invited to a job interview with a German company. You are probably familiar with the interview processes of companies in your country, but you are not sure what questions you might be confronted with by German recruiters. We can help out here!

This is our top 10 list of interview questions we think you should prepare for when applying for jobs in Germany:

Could you tell us a bit more about you? (Or in other words: tell us about your career so far and focus on those aspects that are particularly relevant for the job you are applying for)

Interviews often begin with some kind of introductory question where the interviewers give you the chance to present yourself and highlight the points you find most important.

Tip: Don’t tell your whole life story, but really focus on the aspects which are most relevant for the job.

Which are the most relevant skills you bring to this position?

Now it’s getting more specific. The interviewers want to know whether you have understood what responsibilities the role entails and select which of your skills are most important for the position.

Tip: It’s good to imagine the role beforehand and think about very concrete tasks that you think you will be doing in this position.

Why are you interested in working here?

The interviewers want to see whether you know who is the company/organization that you are applying for, not only in general, but specifically within the respective sector, market or project where “your” position is also located.

Tip: Do some research about the employer and the department or project you want to work for (e. g. websites, news, specialized journals).

Could you give us an example of a project that you successfully handled and tell us what your contribution was to the success?

German recruiters love examples from your previous work experience. In this case they want to give you the chance to highlight something positive, hoping for aspects that are relevant for the position you are applying for.

Tip: When you prepare for the interview note down several examples from previous jobs with which you can tell a good (and relevant) story in the interview.

Could you give us an example of a work situation where you did not deliver and tell us what you learned from this experience?

German recruiters don’t only love examples, they also love asking difficult questions where they don’t only want to get a satisfying answer, but where they want to see how you react in the interview situation, for example, whether you get nervous or stay calm.

Tip: Tip: Like in the previous question prepare some examples beforehand so that you don’t have to come up with them in the interview. Try to stay calm, and remind yourself that everybody makes mistakes, but highlight what you learned from them, and always end on a positive note.

Did you ever experience difficult situations or conflict in teams and what did you do to solve them?

Again this a rather difficult question, here with the focus on your behaviour in teams. The interviewers want to better understand whether you are a teamplayer and whether you are compatible with the respective team.

Tip: Again preparation is the key. Make sure you use a positive story and stay calm!

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is a classic question, of course, but it’s still used in interviews because it’s quite tricky to answer and the interviewers want to see your reaction.

Tip: Your strengths are the easy part, be careful to focus on something that is relevant for the job. Pick a weakness that doesn’t scare the interviewers, but one you have already worked on and where you have improved.

What do you think is a good leadership style?

Here the interviewers want to understand whether you fit into their hierarchies or (in case you will be a team leader yourself) how you lead others.

Tip: Do some research about how hierarchical the company is, big corporates are different here from small start-ups. The idea is not that you tell them what they want to hear, but that you pick the employer where you with your understanding of leadership fits in well, otherwise you would become very unhappy quickly.

What would you do on your first day at work in your new job?

Here the interviewers want to see whether you can imagine yourself being in the position, both regarding the tasks you would have and the interaction with colleagues and supervisors.

Tip: This question gives you the chance to show the interviewers how excited you would be to get the job and how strategic you are. Don’t exaggerate, of course, but you could give some examples of your enthusiasm. Regarding the tasks you might want to give the impression that you are realistic and proactive.

What salary expectations do you have and when could you start working for us?

The question about salary will definitely be asked if they haven’t asked about it in the application already, same about the starting date. For jobs in public administration the salary level might be fixed and mentioned in the job ad already.

Tip: Do some research about salary levels for jobs in your field beforehand on platforms like kununu.com, glassdoor.com, or gehalt.de, so that you go into the interview with a specific number (e. g. your gross annual salary). Have a look at our video and article about salaries!

Do you want to put your skills to the test with a German recruiter?

Book our a 1-on-1 career coaching session for a mock interview with an experienced HR expert. We’ll give you feedback and make sure that you are fully prepared for your next interview!