A job interview in Germany (Vorstellungsgespräch) usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes and follows almost the same pattern everywhere: a short welcome, you introduce yourself, the company asks questions, you ask yours, and at the end salary and start date. The good news: because the pattern is so predictable, you can prepare for it. Stretch or squeeze the plan below depending on how much time you have.
Day 7: Reply to the invitation, reread the job ad
- Reply within 24 hours with a short email confirming the date. If it doesn't work for you, suggest two alternatives right away.
- Find out whether the interview is in person, by phone or by video, and who you will be talking to. If the invitation doesn't say, it's fine to ask politely.
- Reread the job ad and the application you sent. The company only knows you from those documents, so what you say should match them.
- Next to every requirement in the ad, note a concrete example from your experience: not "forklift experience" but "three years in a warehouse, forklift licence, 150 to 200 pallets a day".
Day 6: Research the company
- Website, "Über uns" (about us) page and recent news: what does the company do, how many people work there, where are its sites?
- Review platforms such as kununu give you a general picture. Don't let single reviews unsettle you.
- Prepare two or three questions, for example: "Wie sieht ein typischer Arbeitstag aus?" (What does a typical working day look like?), "Wie läuft die Einarbeitung ab?" (How does onboarding work?), "Wie groß ist das Team?" (How big is the team?)
Day 5: Prepare answers to the standard questions
These come up in almost every interview:
- Stellen Sie sich bitte kurz vor. (Please tell us briefly about yourself.)
- Warum möchten Sie bei uns arbeiten? (Why do you want to work for us?)
- Was sind Ihre Stärken und Schwächen? (What are your strengths and weaknesses?)
- Warum möchten Sie wechseln? (Why do you want to change jobs?)
- Wann könnten Sie anfangen? (When could you start?)
Don't memorise scripts. Note three or four key points per question that you can say in different ways. Keep your self-introduction to 1.5 to 2 minutes: who you are, what relevant experience you bring and why this job interests you. Typical questions with sample answers are in our guide to job interviews in Germany.
Day 4: Practise out loud
- Say your answers out loud and record yourself on your phone. What looks good on paper often sounds different when spoken.
- Do a mock interview with a friend and ask them for one difficult question.
- Didn't understand a question? "Könnten Sie die Frage bitte noch einmal wiederholen?" (Could you repeat the question, please?) is perfectly normal – especially when German isn't your first language.
Day 3: Documents, clothes and the journey
- Bring: a few printed copies of your CV, certificates (and your recognition notice if you have one), ID or passport, a pen and a notepad.
- Clothes: depend on the sector. For office jobs a shirt or blouse and smart trousers; in warehouses, trades or hospitality clean, simple clothes are usually fine. When in doubt, go one step smarter.
- Journey: plan to arrive ten minutes early and pick a backup connection in case of delays.
- Travel costs: if the company invited you and didn't explicitly rule it out in the invitation, it has to reimburse reasonable interview costs (Vorstellungskosten). Keep your tickets.
Day 2: Settle on your salary figure
Don't let "Wie hoch ist Ihre Gehaltsvorstellung?" (What are your salary expectations?) catch you off guard. The Federal Employment Agency's Entgeltatlas shows typical gross salaries for your occupation and region. Give an annual gross figure with a small range, for example "zwischen 38.000 und 40.000 Euro brutto im Jahr". More on this: salary expectations in Germany.
Day 1: Confirm and switch off
- Check the time, the address and your contact person's name once more.
- Say your self-introduction out loud one last time – then stop. A good night's sleep is worth more than an extra hour of practice.
On the day
- Introduce yourself at reception: "Guten Tag, mein Name ist … Ich habe um 10 Uhr ein Vorstellungsgespräch bei Frau …"
- Interviews in Germany use the formal "Sie". If someone offers "du", you can accept.
- Don't just mute your phone – switch it off.
- At the end, ask your prepared questions and find out what happens next: "Wie geht es jetzt weiter?"
After the interview
- Send a short thank-you email the same or the next day: thank them for their time and restate your interest in one sentence.
- If you haven't heard back by the date they gave you, follow up politely after about a week.
- Even a rejection is practice: write down which question tripped you up.
Is your interview by video? Then also read our 12 tips for video interviews.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a job interview in Germany?+
Usually 30 to 60 minutes. Some companies use two rounds: a short phone or video call first, then an interview in person or a trial day.
What if my German isn't good enough yet?+
Be honest about your level and show that you keep learning (a course, an exam date). Simple, correct sentences make a better impression than long memorised answers.
Who pays my travel costs to the interview?+
If the company invited you and didn't explicitly rule it out beforehand, it has to reimburse reasonable travel costs. It's best to ask in advance and keep your receipts.
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