Job interviews in Germany, what to expect

Oh, good idea. You can post on there too but I think the title should be "Feeling jealous? Lacking class? Boast about your position and salary here." Oh I am sorry you won't be able post there cause you don't earn a six figure salary.

Seconded 100%. Oops, using figures makes it look as if I'm taking part in the pissalary contest myself. Make that "seconded on all counts".

p. 85:


Seems they don't understand what they are writing about.

Dostoyevsky I am sure you know more than me as an outsider, and I work in a hedge fund and know nothing. Next you can assist heart surgery.
I think some here are really upset that there are others who are getting such big salaries so I think we should go back discussing normal topics about job interviews in Germany.

So, to get this back on topic: If you lack social skills, like to boast about your salary, and cannot recognize the absence of irony like in my last posting, then you are still good enough for the job interview at LiaB's hedge fund in Switzerland.

... but since they won't want to have the likes of you around the main office they'll promptly send you out to the sticks.

Happy Friday my friends,

I was very fortunate enough to land an interview here in the States with a German company. I really want this job so I want the interviews (it is a two-round interview process) to go really well. Of course, I know how to behave and what to say when I am interviewing for an American company. But the fact this is a German company (and everyone from mid-superviors on up is all German in this American location), are there do's and don'ts I should consider while interviewing?
This is for an accounting/finance position.

I would appreciate any advice anyone wishes to offer me.

Thanks
Chi-town

Topics merged by admin

Know as much as you can about the company, their products, etc. German interviewers expect you to already be intimately familiar with the details about the company before you walk in the door. Be ready for them to ask you very exact questions about their company.

Another data point regarding interviews (IT, near KA):
* initial approach: I emailed the company directly, responding to an ad on their website; simple CV accompanied a brief self-introductory message, no photo
* phone screen: took place within a week of previous step, lasted for about an hour; not technical at all, consisted mainly in a review of my work experience, as well as discussing the openings they were trying to fill
* the proper interviews followed about 2 weeks later, in Germany. First off was a theoretical interview, with fairly basic questions and ample thinking time (30 min). Part 2 was a bit more involved, and it required writing a functional app, that took a bit of everything - algorithms, design and low level programming. Working time: 4 hrs. I found that to be a refreshing change from the US style of uni-dimensional, hour-long interviews.
* after that followed what some call "as appropriate" - an interview with the hiring manager; in this case, it was the head of engineering, head of one of their departments and the director of HR. One usually gets to the AA round iff the previous interviews were deemed satisfactory. As was mentioned before, this is where I was asked everything, from my choice of a domain (IT), to my interest in Germany/the company, hobbies, current and expected salary and so much more.
* later in the first day, as well as most of the second day, I've had the chance to meet various people around the company and discuss their projects (mostly them answering patiently my plethora of questions)
* at the end of day 2, I've had another meeting with the "as appropriate" group, where I've been offered a position and went into more prosaic details, such as timeframe, relocation and salary negotiations

That was all, and I think it went rather well - for me, at least. All in English. I was assured my primitive command of German would not constitute an issue at all.

I'm relocating to Germany this summer, and I'm looking forward to reading this forum for many hours in the meantime.

Cheers,
D

My wife had two long intense interviews with Microsoft here in Munich. She was flown there at their expense - airfare, taxi and meals - from Zurich where we were living at the time. After all that she was then sent a refusal by post. I thought the people that organised this were mental, stupid or both.

My first ever interview in Germany (for IT-Abteilungsleiter position with a Hospital complex) freaked me out big time. I had, in 22 years Army, never actually had a job interview before (promoted...new job came with it). So i read all the "good technique and principles" sites and did everything humanly possible to tweak any advantage.

Suited and tied...arrived (the customary 10 mins) early and was asked to sit outside the "interview" room, they were running late, with german bloke in a Bomber jacket and jeans...he looked about 17yo.
All of a sudden another similarly clad eco-type comes out of the Interview room talking on his handy...call finished...he goes back in.

After waiting for "bomber-jacket man" to finish...i get called in-

Present were..Head of HR, Direktor, Stellv Direktorin, Schwester M (Haus Catholic Nun), IT manager form another Hospital.

I was asked of my religion (as someone pointed out..I was applying for a position in a Catholic Church run org)...i told them that due to being a soldier i didnt have one!!

Usual this and that questions (nothing taxing at all) and the 4 easiest technical questions you will ever get (what cable would you use to connect a PC to the network..."er woot...this must be a trick...think...think...).

I was called at home an hour later to arrange a second interview ( i was well happy that i had made it past the first round...probibly last 3 or 4 ppl).
I went in..about an hour in the Direktors office with them telling me what they wanted..and once it had finished i had to see Frau HR. She gave me a folder asked me to take them with me and look over the doks to see if they were alright.

I didnt realise that 1 was the only person there...that the folder was the contract...and that i was about to be introduced to the rest of the IT team as the new boss...nearly made a right pigs-ear of it.

Germans are weird...they already know who they want before the interview process..based on CV/Photo/XP at least thats been my XP during subsequent "neueinstellungen"

Just read through the thread and there is some good advice above.

However, I must still be doing something wrong. I have had 4 or 5 interviews in the past month and not had any luck.

2 of them were in English and the others in German. My German is ok for most questions, a bit iffy on technical vocabulary.

Strangest one was for an IT position in an auto parts factory. The form to fill out had spaces for my wife and names of children, if any, and their dates of birth! Then at the interview I sat around a table with the guy from the recruitment agency, the head of IT and the HR woman, drinking coffee and just chatted about myself. They didn't really ask anything technical. And then they took me on a tour of the plant. It felt more like a coffee and cake afternoon than an interview.

They always seem keen to find out whether I'm married or single, whether my partner is over here, what she does etc. I'm tempted to cite the Bundesgleichverhandlunggesetz at them but I am usually upfront. Back home in Ireland it is rare that anyone would ask those questions for fear of getting sued afterward.

Any ideas? Maybe my approach letter and my CV (professionally translated) suggests my standard of German is higher than it is?

The interviews have been in the IT/software field - documentation, testing etc.

It's ok. I've had companies who paid for my travel expenses and one was even an internship position. At the first company, I was SOOOO sure that I MUST be THE chosen candidate for them to fly me over but after I did not get the job, I like to believe that German companies get some tax rebate or something. I didn't find interviews here to be significantly different from those at home. Then again, back home, we also need to send CVs with photos, and Muslims or Indians were usually asked very racist questions!

No, there is no tax break on paying recruitment cost for companies in German. It is just simply law that an invited candidate must be reimbursed for his or her expenses. It is on the other hand not so easy for a candidate to ask for the cash back as he or she wants the job... Paying the expenses is just fair.

What you need to consider it how much high employee turn-over and training and retraining costs versus hiring the ideal candidate and paying a bunch of train or flight tix on the side. The pay-off in waiting to get the right person for the job is tremendous.

Ive been interviewed on three occasions and I´ve always known that the job was mine before very long into the interview. Im in Teaching but maybe it´s different elsewhere. Don´t expect to get job descriptions or person specifications either...they don´t seem to do these here. It´s really hard to get anything in writing about your responsibilities before you get your contract and when they give you a contract its assumed youre going to take the job. Don´t honestly understand the place.

Hi,

I just have my first interview in Germany yesterday. After an interview, do i need to send a thank you letter like in USA?

At the last minutes in my interview, my interviewer told me how big the salary will be, the working hours and then he asked my passport and visa. He want to copy them. Then told me that he will contact me within the next 2 weeks. Is this means that the job is already mine??

The company name is Ferchau in Hamburg is it a good and reliable company? and the offered salary 2900/mth ( I am a fresh graduate with Msc degree) is it ok??

thx

I would have hoped that you at least Googled for Ferchau Hamburg if you went for a job interview!
The place does have a website: http://www.ferchau.de/

I have checked it before i went for an interview. It looks fine.
But from a friend of friend...i heard it's a hire and fire firma.

highly depends on your job and the city of course but the average salary for unexperienced graduates is about 40 000 per year, google for "Einstiegsgehalt". You should also make sure that it's 13 or 13.5 monthly salaries per year.

About the salary, he said it's not-negotiable. All his employees get the same salary.
and it's 12.7 months salary.

thats a new one on me i must say

he said it's because i'm still new.
after 1 year i will get 13 months salary.

Btw..
how about the thank you letter? should i send him one or not?

This is the first time I heard that somebody considers writing a thank you letter.
I looked into the internet, whether this is a new customs now.
The result (for engineers): don't do it.
(exept you have a very good reason to do it)
They might get the impression that you are a bootlicker.

So wait for two weeks and write new applications in the mean time.

Hi everyone!

I also have an interview coming up, this Monday actually. The interview is in Berlin and with a major department store. I am really nervous to go, I've been thinking about it constantly since they asked me to come in. This isn't my first interview in Germany, in fact, I've had many...but this is the first interview where I am going in knowing that the office primarily speaks German. I should also note then that my German is really basic, I follow conversation ok but speaking still isn't so great. The woman that received my CV and asked me to come in was told that I speak English and only a little German. I understand that she is going to want to hear me speak to see what level I am at and so forth...I guess my question is when is it ok to switch over to English? How long should I attempt with my German? Any kind of advice would be kindly appreciated.

I sent a thank you letter after my interview. I don't think it hurts to do this.
In usually re-iterate how enthusiastic I am for the position. Seems to have worked for me so far :-)

I have a telephonic interview with a German company this week. I went through the thread and got some clarity on what I could expect. I have some further questions

1. As I am still in my home country, can I ask for relocation support incase I get the job?
2. Will the company apply for workpermit and take care of all formalities? As the application needs to be done in the home country, do I have to take care of this?
3. I have 8 years of experience as a software architect. Do you think I am eligible to ask for a company provided car? I know rules differ between companies, neverthless would like to check if a possibility exists for my experience.

Any tips for a German telephonic interview is always welcome

Nims

I got through the technical interview. Also got the sample contract by mail

When they asked for salary expectation, I told them 51K Euros gross. They said this is within their range. I am worried if I asked for too less. I still have the chance to negotiate. Do you think this is an ok salary for 7 year experienced IT guy. I will be in Stuttgart with wife and 2 year old kid

Nims

Hi Nims,
your salary expectation depends on if you mean before or after taxes. It also depends what profession you have, meaning if you have a degree and what sort of degree it is.

I guess gross is before taxes. Find more info on IT salaries here. Search on this forum and you'll find a few more threads.

Hi,

I meant 51K gross (before tax). Also the profession is as a software architect. I am an engineering graduate in Information Technology

Nims

I just checked google but it's hard to find appropriate tables indicating salaries. Well, as a German engineer with some experience, you would look at somewhere between 60 - 70 k euros per year. I don't know if companies make a difference if you are a resident engineer. They are probably not supposed to, but...
I am not in IT, but I would have assumed that IT pays better then others.

I was at a second interview the other day where the interviewer started addressing me "per du" and asked if that was okay... You should only start using "du" in these situations when the interviewer asks/suggests...


It really depends on what skills/technologies and probably the cities/towns differ... Here in Munich I would expect between 45-55K - maybe 60-65K if you are really lucky. Java positions, for example, pay more than web development positions generally. This is from experience speaking with lots of companies/agencies and I have more than 7 years experience and degree. Obviously, if you can sell yourself well, you may be able to persuade them that you are worth more than the average wage...

I need some help. I have a job interview on Friday, it is for an internal promotion. I've been with my company for almost a year now and and the secretary who booked the interview advised me to block out 1.5hrs in my calendar.

The position being offered is for qualified project manager with at least 3 years experience but they seem to be somewhat flexible, as they are willing to interview me with only 2 years work experience and what I would consider limited project management experience.

I'm vexed as to what to expect - such a long interview for an internal position? My interview to get the job I currently have was only about 40mins, if I recall correctly. And what to wear - I don't usually wear a suit to work, most of my colleagues wear jeans - would trousers, shirt and tie be OK? I'm assuming they have all my details from my original application that I don't need to take anything with me. I don't know the hiring managers or the department, although I'm finding out as much as I can about that. Any other advice?

Cheers,

/bc

I have a question as to whether there are any standard interview procedures I should follow.
Once I go for an interview should i email them afterwards to confirm my interest? How long do you wait till you can decide that you probably are not going to hear from them?

If someone could shed some light on this that would be supa!

If you are definitely interested its better to say so immediately at the end of the interview ("Thank you for the constructive discussion and may I say that talking to you has confirmed my interest in this position, I would be very pleased if we were to take discussions to the next stage" or somesuch). Its also good to ask specifically what time frame they expect to be using to get back to you. If you have got as far as an interview you will almost certainly hear something from them, but depending on the company it may just be your application sent back with a standard covering letter (if they reject you).

Dont use email unless all your correspondance to date has been with email - Ask how long they think they will need to make a decision (complete other interviews etc) and then call the person in the personnel dept you have been dealing with and ask for an update. If youre not sure who to contact, ask at the end of the interview who you should ring, ideally when you are asking how long they will take. If they are using an agency, they may want you to ring the agency and not the co. directly.

Good luck!

andy M

Thanks Andy. That is good advice.
I will be sure to confirm my interest in the interview in future!