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Germany job interviews for Indians: format, salary and what to expect

For Indian engineers, IT professionals and graduates interviewing with German employers, from India or on an Opportunity Card.

Updated 5 October 2026 · 7 min read · Published by Interview Sarthi, makers of Prep Sarthi (AI mock interviews) and Live Sarthi (interview help on Windows)

Short answer: German interviews are structured and formal: be exactly on time, expect detailed questions about every date on your CV, and give salary as an annual gross figure in euros. Many employers ask about your German; be honest about your level and your plan to improve it. Probation usually lasts up to six months, with a short notice period during it.

Not immigration or legal advice. Visa and work-permit rules change. Check the official source for your situation (the German Federal Foreign Office and Make it in Germany for visas) and your university or employer's immigration adviser.

Use live help only where the interview's rules allow AI assistance.

What the interview looks like

• Punctuality is part of the assessment. Join the video call a few minutes early; for an office interview, arrive five to ten minutes early.
• Expect a structured conversation: introductions, a walk through your CV, technical or case questions, your questions, then salary and start date. Larger companies often have two or three rounds, sometimes with a task.
• Your CV will be read closely. Interviewers ask about gaps and dates. Have a clear, honest sentence for each one (see explaining a career gap).
• Directness is normal. A blunt question is not hostility. Answer it directly, with facts.
• Formality: use surnames (“Mr Weber”, “Ms Schmidt”) until they suggest first names. If the interview is in German, use “Sie”.

Questions you are likely to be asked

1. “Why Germany, and why us?” A professional reason (the industry, the company's products, the engineering work) beats “better quality of life”.
2. “How good is your German?” State your level honestly, using the common European levels (for example “A2, and I'm taking B1 classes twice a week”). Many international teams work in English, but daily life and promotions often need German.
3. “Walk me through your CV.” Chronological, with dates, roles and one result per job.
4. “What salary do you expect?” See below.
5. “When can you start?” Include your notice period and visa timeline.

Salary: annual gross, in euros

Germans quote salary as gross per year (Bruttojahresgehalt). Research the role and city first: the Federal Employment Agency's Entgeltatlas shows typical pay by occupation and region, and job adverts increasingly give a range. Answer with one figure or a narrow range, for example “I'm looking for around 60,000 euros gross a year” (an example figure: use your own research). Remember that tax and social contributions take a large share of gross pay, so compare net pay when you weigh an offer.

Contract basics to check

• Probation (Probezeit) can last up to six months; during it either side can usually end the contract with two weeks' notice.
• Notice after probation is set by law and the contract; ask what applies before you resign from your job in India.
• Experience letters: German employers value written references. Bring your relieving and experience letters from Indian employers.

Visas, briefly

Qualified professionals with a job offer above a salary threshold often apply for the EU Blue Card. Since June 2024, the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets eligible skilled workers from outside the EU come to Germany to look for work. Thresholds and points change, so check the official sources, and answer the work-permit question in one sentence (see the sponsorship guide).

Indian-English phrases that confuse interviewers abroad

These are normal at home and in Indian offices, but they slow down an interviewer in New York, London, Toronto or Dubai. Swap them before the call:

Speak a little slower than you do at home and finish sentences clearly. Nobody expects you to change your accent; they need to follow your examples.