How to deal with interviews in German companies?

It is undeniable that a country’s corporate culture largely reflects the country’s national characteristics. And because Germans have always given people the impression of being "serious and rigorous", German companies are becoming more and more popular among job seekers.

However, even if their abilities meet or even exceed the requirements, many job seekers still regret missing out on their favorite positions. After all, there are huge cultural differences between China and Germany. It is very possible that the interview culture we are used to is not suitable for German companies.

So, in interviews with German companies, especially when the interviewer is a German, what aspects do we need to pay attention to? No one knows this issue better than the Germans themselves. Therefore, after asking our German colleagues at Sino-German Business Bridge, we finally compiled this "Interview Guide for German Enterprises" for everyone. I hope it will be helpful to you on your way to find a job in a German enterprise.

But in fact, the most important thing is your professional level and work ability. These are the key factors that help you get a satisfactory job. It doesn't matter whether you're wearing a trench coat or a jacket, or whether your tie is maroon or dark blue if you stand out from the crowd.

On the contrary, when you are one of the candidates for this position, the interviewer will decide who will be hired based on your interview clothing, conversation, performance, etc. Next, let’s take a look at some interview “tips” for German companies.

Determine the true needs of the position

When applying for a job, the most important thing is to ensure that your expectations for the job are consistent with its positioning. If you plan to find a work-life balance, then jobs that require job seekers to devote themselves to their full potential are certainly more suitable for job seekers who want to advance their careers.

Also, there is a very typical question in German company recruitment, where do you think you will be in five years? The main reason why you ask this is because the interviewer wants to know whether you plan to find a long-term and stable job, or whether you just want to use this job as a springboard for your career.

In response to this question, you can directly answer "Of course I will work here in five years" instead of really imagining your life in five years.

Understand the corporate culture

Search through recruitment advertisements, company brochures, company websites, etc. to understand the company’s development, business scale, and the position you want to interview for all aspects. We have an old saying, know yourself and know the enemy, and you will never be defeated. The same is true for interviews. Only after you understand and are familiar with the corporate culture of the company can you know how to answer relevant questions in the interview.

At the same time, it can also be judged whether such a corporate culture can provide you with a good working environment and whether it is conducive to your career development.

Pay attention to the way you present yourself

When you don’t know how your competitors are performing, better self-presentation is the way to go. But please note that although you have to introduce yourself, the interviewers are not interested in your previous names, your favorite books, etc. In addition, mentioning your name, major, and reason for applying for a job is not enough to differentiate you from other applicants.

You can talk about a few milestones for yourself and things that reflect your personal character and plans. For example, why did you choose to work and live in Germany? What is important to you in life, playing the violin?

In addition, your research on your major, work experience, other goals in life or work, etc., are all topics that can increase points in your self-presentation. Of course, pay attention to the brevity and logic of the narrative, so that it will be more impressive.

No need to pretend to be anyone else

Know that every interview is a two-way street. While the interviewer is considering whether you are suitable for the job, you should also consider whether the company and position meet your requirements.

The most important thing to note is not to act like yourself just to get hired. Take the initiative to show your strengths. Likewise, don’t pretend to be proficient in skills you don’t possess.

During the interview, it may just be a matter of nodding and shaking your head, but if you are hired because of this, then you will have to play the person you described for a long time in the future, which is definitely not worth the gain.

Create an "inner comfort zone"

To put it simply, it means relaxing yourself and talking and responding more naturally. No one likes to fail, and the same goes for interviews, but some people will always miss some opportunities. Before the interview, you can give yourself enough psychological hints and create a so-called "safe zone" in your heart to remember the aspects that are important and beneficial to you. When you feel stressed or panicked, use it to slow down and regain your train of thought.

If you suffer from horizontal comparison, then compare vertically

If your abilities in all aspects far exceed the interviewer's expectations, you can ignore this. But if you feel inferior in some aspects, there is no need to rush to a conclusion, because some jobs require more personal ability and personality than some pure skills.

For example, although you do not use SAP to make enterprise management solutions, in the past two years, you have only used Excel to program a financing model. This is your vertical capability. This is just a simple example, but the performance and attitude of job seekers can indeed make up for the lack of skills to a large extent.

In short, choose a job that suits you first, and then prepare carefully, and you will always be able to find a job in the German company of your choice!

This article was originally written by Sino-German Commercial Bridge. Please indicate the source when reprinting.

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