Home | Mastering Job Interviews in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: A Different Approach for International Professionals

Why Your German Job Interview May Still Not Work — Even If You Prepare Harder

"I know my profession. I have experience. But as soon as the interview is in German, I just don’t perform the way I normally do."

You know exactly what you want to say in a German job interview – but when the interview becomes stressful, your German skills, your confidence or your ability to structure your thoughts suddenly disappear.

However, is your German the real problem?

We often prepare for demanding situations such as a job interview by training specific behaviours and skills: by learning by heart convincing answers, by using eye contact or body language, or by presenting our experience in a structured way.

Such a preparation works very well — as long as the situation remains within the range we have practised.

But when something unexpected happens, our carefully trained behaviour can suddenly break down. A question from an unexpected angle, a critical look, or a remark that touches one of our insecurities can trigger feelings that interfere with everything we have practised.

My approach goes beyond memorising the ideal answers.

I help you understand what happens to your communication under pressure — and develop the ability to remain clear, convincing and authentic, even when speaking a foreign language.

Why interview preparation sometimes fails

You prepare the answers

But not the situation.

You practise language

But not communication under pressure.

You focus on mistakes

Instead of making your professional value visible.

You imitate expected behaviour

And lose your authenticity.

You prepare for predictable questions

But struggle when the interviewer changes direction.

These patterns can show up in different ways. You may struggle to communicate your competence clearly, become nervous when a question surprises you, or find yourself trying so hard to meet expectations that you no longer sound like yourself.

Which of these challenges best describes your experience?

To determine your starting point, you find here some typical challenges for international professionals in German job interviews.

Where do you fit in?

How I speak

In job interviews, my German disappears

I speak German well in my daily life and at work. In the interview, the words I know so well are suddenly gone.

I sound rehearsed in job interviews

I know my answers by heart. That is exactly the problem. They sound like they belong to someone else.

In job interviews, I give answers that are too long

I am afraid that if I leave something out, they will think I know less than I do. So I say everything. And somehow it sounds like less.

In job interviews, my answers are far too short

They ask me a question, and I answer it in one or two sentences. Then it is quiet, and I wonder what else I should have said.

How I feel

In job interviews, my nervousness makes me freeze up

I have prepared everything. But then something unexpected happens, my mind goes blank, and I cannot find my words.

In German-speaking job interviews, I always feel very insecure

In my own language, I know who I am. In German interviews, I am never quite sure whether I am doing it right.

What I communicate

In job interviews, my competence does not come across

I know what I can do, and I have the experience to prove it. But in the interview, it somehow does not come across.

In job interviews, I do not answer the question I am asked

The interviewer asks one thing, and I answer another. I only notice it afterwards, when I see their puzzled face or replay the conversation.

About me

I am a solution-oriented, certified management coach, a business transformation consultant and manager, and a native German speaker. My background is in international management, leadership and organisational transformation.

Over many years, I have worked with professionals and leaders in complex international environments. There, expertise alone is rarely enough: people also need to communicate their experience, position themselves clearly and navigate different expectations and ways of working. My own international experience spans Europe, Africa, North and South America, and today I combine coaching with training in Business German.

I offer a free chemistry call to personally connect, share how I work with clients, and see if my coaching approach aligns with your goals.

It's the perfect opportunity to decide if we're a good match for your interview preparation.