{"id":267,"date":"2026-10-14T06:33:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/?p=267"},"modified":"2026-10-31T09:10:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T09:10:02","slug":"german-job-interview-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/german-job-interview-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"German Job Interview Phrases: What to Say at Each Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A German job interview (Vorstellungsgespr\u00e4ch<\/em>) is more formal and more structured than in many countries, and interviewers value clear, factual answers over enthusiasm. That’s good news for learners: you don’t need fancy language, you need about 40 reliable phrases, a clear order for your answers and the confidence to say them without pausing. This guide gives you both, stage by stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re applying for a training place rather than a job, use our Ausbildung interview guide<\/a>, which has different questions and a different tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The usual structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Greeting and small talk<\/strong> (2 to 3 minutes)<\/li>
  2. You introduce yourself<\/strong> (3 to 5 minutes)<\/li>
  3. Questions about experience and skills<\/strong> (10 to 20 minutes)<\/li>
  4. The company presents the job and the team<\/strong> (5 to 10 minutes)<\/li>
  5. Salary, start date, practical questions<\/strong> (5 minutes)<\/li>
  6. Your questions and close<\/strong> (5 minutes)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Interviews usually run 30 to 60 minutes. Use Sie<\/em>, shake hands with everyone and use Herr\/Frau<\/em> plus surname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Stage 1: Greeting and small talk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    They say<\/th>You say<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Guten Tag, sch\u00f6n, dass Sie da sind.<\/strong><\/td>Guten Tag, vielen Dank f\u00fcr die Einladung.<\/td><\/tr>
    Hatten Sie eine gute Anreise?<\/strong><\/td>Ja, danke, alles hat gut geklappt.<\/td><\/tr>
    M\u00f6chten Sie etwas trinken?<\/strong><\/td>Ein Glas Wasser, bitte.<\/td><\/tr>
    Wie geht es Ihnen?<\/strong><\/td>Danke, gut. Und Ihnen?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Stage 2: Introducing yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    They almost always ask: “Erz\u00e4hlen Sie etwas \u00fcber sich.”<\/strong> or “Stellen Sie sich bitte kurz vor.<\/a>“<\/strong> Prepare a 60-second version with this order: present, past, future<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Present:<\/strong> Ich hei\u00dfe Elena Petrova und arbeite seit vier Jahren als Buchhalterin bei einer Firma in Wien.<\/em>
    Past:<\/strong> Ich habe Betriebswirtschaft in Sofia studiert und danach zwei Jahre in einer Bank gearbeitet.<\/em>
    Future:<\/strong> Jetzt suche ich eine neue Herausforderung, und Ihre Stelle passt sehr gut zu meiner Erfahrung.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Useful frames:<\/p>\n\n\n\n