Ein Vorstellungsgespräch vorbereiten

How to prepare for a job interview in German (B1 level)

If you are looking for a job in a German-speaking country, it’s important to know how to prepare for a job interview. In this article, we’ll go over some key tips and vocabulary to help you succeed in your next interview.

First, let’s start with some vocabulary that you might need during the interview.

German vocabulary:

das Vorstellungsgespräch – job interview
die Bewerbungsunterlagen – application materials
der Lebenslauf – resume
die Zeugnisse – certificates
die Referenzen – references
die Stärken und die Schwächen – strengths and weaknesses
die Gehaltsvorstellungen – salary expectations
die Zukunftspläne – future plans

Now that you have some of the vocabulary you need, let’s move on to the preparation tips.

Research the company: Before the interview, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the company you’re interviewing with. You can do this by visiting their website, reading recent news articles about them, and checking out their social media pages. Knowing about the company will show the interviewer that you’re interested and motivated.

Prepare your application materials: Make sure your resume and any other application materials are up to date and free of errors. It’s also a good idea to bring copies of your certificates and references to the interview.

Think about your strengths and weaknesses: Be prepared to talk about your strengths and weaknesses during the interview. This will give the interviewer a better understanding of your skills and how you might fit into the company.

Consider your salary expectations: It’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to earn in your new job. Make sure you have a good understanding of the market rate for your desired role, and be prepared to discuss your salary expectations with the interviewer.

Plan your future: Think about what you want to achieve in the next 5-10 years, both professionally and personally. This will give the interviewer a better understanding of your goals and how you see yourself fitting into the company’s plans for the future.

German dialog:
Personalchef: Guten Morgen, schön, dass Sie hier sind. Können Sie mir bitte Ihre Bewerbungsunterlagen geben?
Bewerber: Guten Morgen, ja natürlich. Hier sind mein Lebenslauf und meine Zeugnisse.
Personalchef: Vielen Dank. Können Sie mir bitte ein paar Informationen über Ihre Stärken und Schwächen geben?
Bewerber: Gerne. Ich denke, meine Stärken sind meine organisatorischen Fähigkeiten und meine Fähigkeit, gut unter Druck zu arbeiten. Meine Schwäche ist, dass ich manchmal zu perfektionistisch bin.
Personalchef: Interessant. Und was sind Ihre Gehaltsvorstellungen?
Bewerber: Ich habe mich über den Markt informiert und denke, dass ein Gehalt von 35.000 Euro pro Jahr angemessen wäre.
Personalchef: Verstehe. Und was sind Ihre Zukunftspläne?
Bewerber: Ich möchte in fünf Jahren auf jeden Fall eine leitende Position innehaben und mich weiterbilden, um meine Fähigkeiten zu verbessern.
Personalchef: Danke für Ihre Offenheit. Das war alles, was ich wissen musste. Wir werden uns in den nächsten Tagen bei Ihnen melden.

English translation:
HR Manager: Good morning, it’s nice to have you here. Can you please give me your application materials?
Applicant: Good morning, yes of course. Here is my resume and my certificates.
HR Manager: Thank you. Can you please give me some information about your strengths and weaknesses?
Applicant: Of course. I think my strengths are my organizational skills and my ability to work well under pressure. My weakness is that I can sometimes be too perfectionist.
HR Manager: Interesting. And what are your salary expectations?
Applicant: I have researched the market and think that a salary of 35,000 euros per year would be appropriate.
HR Manager: I see. And what are your future plans?
Applicant: In five years, I definitely want to hold a managerial position and continue to educate myself to improve my skills.
HR Manager: Thank you for your openness. That was all I needed to know. We’ll get in touch with you in the next few days.

In conclusion, preparing for a job interview in German requires some research, practice, and planning. By familiarizing yourself with key vocabulary, having a solid understanding of the company you’re interviewing with, and having clear ideas about your strengths, weaknesses, salary expectations, and future plans, you’ll be well-prepared to succeed in your next job interview.

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