Preparing for a German language interview For most of you, preparing for a German language interview

means preparing for an interview in a foreign languageand most

probably not even your strongest foreign language! This article is

divided into sections based upon the questions that the interviewer

will expect you to be able to answer depending on the German

language level you have stated in your CV.

First some general advice for interviews in a foreign language

When preparing for an interview in a foreign country you should also spend some time

considering the interview etiquette in that particular country. In German-speaking countries

they generally place a great degree of importance on being punctual. Please click here for

more information on business etiquette in Germany, these points are also relevant and

accurate for German-speaking Switzerland. Furthermore, please consider the following

points when preparing for an interview (many of which are relevant even when conducting an

interview in your mother tongue):

1. Try practicing some questions with a friend who speaks German, if this is not possible

then a member of the Internships & Careers Department will also be happy to help

you.

2. Practice writing out your responses beforehand. You could also record your

responses and listen back to them this can help you to memorize your answers but

also help you to check how you sound!

3. Reword your answers and find synonyms. Doing this will help you feel more confident

and comfortable during your interview.

4. Make sure you prepare some questions to ask the interviewer even if your German

level is basic, this will impress the interviewer.

5. Prepare a list of German vocabulary that is relevant for the hospitality industry.

Understanding basic words such as internship (Praktikum) and menu (Speisekarte)

will be expected, even at basic level.

Basic German

If you have been offered an interview despite only having basic German skills then the

interviewer will not expect you to be able to conduct the interview in German. Nevertheless, if

you are applying for a role where German speaking skills could be helpful then try to make a

good impression by being able to do the following:

1. Prepare to be able to give simple greetings:

Guten Tag! Guten Morgen! Grezi!

Es freut mich Sie kennenzulernen! Im pleased to meet you!

Schnen Tag noch! Have a good day!

2. Prepare to answer some simple questions:

Wie geht es Ihnen? How are you?

Es geht mir sehr gut I am very well.

3. Prepare a short an answer to the following question:

Stellen Sie sich bitte kurz vor Please give a brief introduction of yourself.

At basic level, being able to do the above should be sufficient to prove to your prospective

employer that you have a grasp of the basics. You should also take every opportunity during

your interview to express your motivation to further improve your language skills. For F&B

Service positions, show willing by saying that should your interview be successful you would

like the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the menu by studying a copy of it before your

internship starts.

Intermediate German

By stating on your CV that you have an intermediate level of German, employers will expect

you to have a B1 level of German as described by the Common European Framework of

Reference for Languages (CEFR). In order to check whether you really can claim to have an

intermediate level of German, please consult the level descriptors here. In addition to the

points mentioned in the basic German section above, you should also be prepared to answer

questions such as:

1. Warum wollen Sie bei uns arbeiten? Warum haben Sie sich fr diese Stelle beworben?

2. Warum haben Sie sich fr diesen Beruf entschieden?

3. Warum sollten wir unbedingt Sie nehmen?

At intermediate level you should therefore be prepared not only to introduce yourself but also

to give short reasons for your choices in life. The first question above asks you to

demonstrate a knowledge about the company that you are applying to and to give reasons

for wanting to work for them. The second question asks you to explain your motivation for

working in the hospitality industry whilst the third question asks you to name the skills that

you have and explain how these skills could be beneficial to their company.

Advanced German

By stating on your CV that you have an advanced level of German, employers will expect

you to have a C1 level of German as described by the Common European Framework of

Reference for Languages (CEFR). In order to check whether you really can claim to have an

advanced level of German, please consult the level descriptors here.

Stating that you have an advanced level of German means that you should be prepared to

conduct most or all of your interview in German. You should thus prepare for the interview

thoroughly. You can start with the questions listed above in the intermediate section,

however you can also take a look at the following websites which offer a long list of possible

questions that you might encounter as well as comprehensive advice on how to answer

some of these questions:

1. http://www.bildung-news.com/bildung-und-karriere/bewerbung/100-haeufige-fragen-beim-

vorstellungsgespraech/ : A website offering 100 frequently asked interview questions as well

as some advice on how to answer some of the more tricky questions.

2.http://www.franzbauer.at/UserFiles/File/downloads/Fragen_im_Vorstellungsgespraech_Ver

sion_082007.pdf : A further 60 interview questions for you to practice responding to

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XvMpz3Td5M : An excellent youtube video providing

answers to 20 common interview questions

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_WGcBJh0Pc : Some excellent general advice on

interviews

Remember. even if your application is unsuccessful, conducting interviews (in any

language) is part of your professional development. Take every opportunity to reflect on your

interview experience and consider what you did well and which areas you need to work on

for next time. Good luck!