Make It in Germany Ausbildung Interview – German Apprenticeship Interview FAQ, Questions and Answers

Make It in Germany Ausbildung Interview – complete guide for international applicants

A strong Ausbildung interview can decide whether you get an offer for a German apprenticeship or not. Many international applicants do not fail because they lack motivation. They fail because they are badly prepared, give nervous and vague answers, make technical mistakes in the online interview, or simply do not understand what German employers want to hear. This Make It in Germany Ausbildung interview guide explains step by step how a German apprenticeship interview works, how to prepare, which questions almost always come up, and how to answer them in a clear and convincing way.

What is a German apprenticeship interview?

The Ausbildung interview is the moment when a company checks whether you are not only interesting on paper, but whether you also fit the apprenticeship personally, professionally and linguistically. This is not about reciting perfect memorised answers. It is about showing the company that you are serious and prepared.

Are you genuinely serious about doing an Ausbildung in Germany?
Do you understand what this profession actually involves?
Can you learn reliably, work in a structured way and integrate into a team?
Did you prepare for the interview or are you just improvising?
Does your attitude fit someone who could soon become an apprentice in the company?

For international candidates, the apprenticeship interview is often held online via Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams or WhatsApp video. On Azubis-Now, members can also speak directly with German employers on the platform. That means you must prepare not only your answers, but also your room, your technology and your documents.

How a typical German apprenticeship interview works

Greeting and short introduction – the interviewers introduce themselves and you introduce yourself.
Questions about you – school, background, motivation, language skills, interests.
Questions about the apprenticeship – why this profession, why Germany, why this company.
Questions about your CV – school graduation, gaps, internships, part-time work, language course, practical experience.
Questions about your motivation letter – the company wants to see whether you understand what you wrote.
Questions about your personality – teamwork, stress, punctuality, reliability, willingness to learn.
Your own questions to the employer – this part matters and you should prepare for it.
Closing and next steps – the company often explains what happens next and when you can expect feedback.

How to prepare for an online Ausbildung interview – the 110% checklist

This is where many applicants already make the first mistake. They think it is enough to simply appear online at the scheduled time. It is not. An online German apprenticeship interview is not a casual video call. It is an official job interview. If you look chaotic, sit in a dark room, let people walk through the background, or have animals, children, motorcycles or TV noise in the background, you will look unprofessional even if you are actually motivated.

1) The room: quiet, clean and controlled

Choose a quiet room where nobody will interrupt you.
Close the door and tell everyone in the house that you have an important interview.
Turn off TV, music, radio and loud fans.
Put your phone on silent or switch it off completely. No WhatsApp sounds, no incoming calls, no pop-ups.
If possible, switch off the doorbell or ask someone else to answer the door.
Remove animals from the room: cat, dog, chicken, goat, cow – yes, really. Anything that can appear on camera or make noise should be out.
No people moving in the background. No conversations behind you.
Your background should look tidy and neutral: no messy bed, no chaos, no half-visible kitchen.

2) Technology: test everything before the interview starts

Test your internet connection in advance. If your Wi-Fi is weak, move to a better place or use mobile internet as a backup if necessary.
Test your camera: does it work and is the image stable?
Test your microphone: can people hear you clearly?
Headphones with a microphone are often better than your laptop speakers.
Check that Zoom / Teams / Meet is installed and working.
Test the interview link one day before and again about 20 minutes before the meeting.
Charge your device or keep it connected to power.
Close unnecessary programs and browser tabs so your device does not slow down.

3) Light, camera and sitting position

Sit so that light comes from the front onto your face. Not from behind. If the window is behind you, your face may appear too dark.
The camera should be at eye level. Not far below your face and not heavily tilted from the side.
Sit upright and still. Not in bed, not lying on a sofa, not on the floor.
The camera should show your head and upper body.
When speaking, try to look near the camera rather than constantly at your own picture.
Do not keep touching your table, phone or headset during the interview.

4) Documents: keep everything next to you

Keep your CV / résumé printed out or open next to you.
Keep your motivation letter next to you too – the employer may ask about things you wrote there.
Open or print the job ad / apprenticeship description.
The company name and the exact apprenticeship profession should be right in front of you.
Write down the names of the interviewers as soon as you know them.
Prepare paper and a pen to take notes.
Write down 5–8 short bullet points about yourself so you do not lose the thread when you are nervous.
Keep a glass of water nearby.

Important: Do not simply read your answers out loud. Your notes are a support tool, not a teleprompter. If you spend the whole interview looking down and reading, everyone will notice immediately.

How to prepare your answers properly

Many applicants know that questions will come, but they still do not prepare their answers in a structured way. That is the mistake. You do not need to memorise every sentence. But you do need clear thoughts on the most important topics.

You should be able to answer these points before your interview

Why do you want to learn this exact profession?
Why do you want to do your apprenticeship in Germany?
Why did you apply to this company?
What are your strengths?
What experience do you already have – school, internships, family responsibilities, part-time jobs, daily life?
How would you introduce yourself in 3–5 sentences?
Which parts of your CV might raise questions?
What exactly did you write in your motivation letter – and can you explain it verbally?
What questions do you want to ask the employer?

Good preparation for a German apprenticeship interview means this: do not just say “I am motivated”. Prepare 3–4 honest and concrete bullet points for every important topic.

15 common Ausbildung interview questions – with explanations and sample answers

The answers below are not scripts you should memorise word for word. They are examples to show you how a strong answer is structured: clear, concrete, credible and suitable for a German apprenticeship interview.

1) Please tell us a little about yourself.

This question almost always comes at the beginning. The employer does not want your full life story. They want a short, structured introduction: who you are, where you come from, what you have done so far and why you are sitting in this interview now.

Sample answer: Good morning, my name is Amaya Azubine, I am 21 years old and I come from Kenya. I completed my school education in Nairobi and I have been learning German because I would like to do an apprenticeship in Germany. I am especially interested in training as a nurse because I enjoy working with people and taking responsibility. That is why I applied to your company.

2) Why do you want to learn this profession in particular?

This is where the employer checks whether you actually understand the profession or whether you are just applying for any apprenticeship you can find.

Sample answer: I want to learn this profession because it matches both my interests and my strengths. What I like about nursing is that it is not only a practical job, but also a profession where you work directly with people and take responsibility. I find it meaningful to support others in daily life while developing professionally at the same time.

3) Why do you want to do your apprenticeship in Germany?

“Because Germany is good” is not enough. You need to explain why Germany as a training location makes sense for you.

Sample answer: I consciously chose Germany because the dual apprenticeship system has a very strong reputation and combines theory with practical training. I do not only want to learn from books. I want to gain real experience in a company while building a profession step by step. I also see Germany as a place where I can develop professionally, linguistically and personally.

4) Why did you apply to our company?

This question shows immediately whether you prepared properly. If you know nothing about the company, it looks bad.

Sample answer: I applied to your company because I have the impression that training and practical guidance are taken seriously here. I also like the fact that your company already has experience in this professional field and works with apprentices in a structured way. For me it is important to learn in a company where I can develop professionally and receive proper support at the same time.

5) What do you know about the apprenticeship or about this profession?

This is a basic preparation question. You should know what the job actually involves, what the training structure looks like and which expectations come with it.

Sample answer: I know that the apprenticeship includes both school-based learning and practical training in the company, and that you gradually learn the core tasks of the profession in daily work. I also understand that this profession requires responsibility, reliability and willingness to learn. That combination of structured learning and real practical work is exactly what attracts me.

6) What are your strengths?

Do not list random buzzwords. Choose two or three strengths that actually fit the profession.

Sample answer: I would describe myself as reliable, willing to learn and patient. When I set myself a goal, I work consistently towards it. I also get along well with other people and I try to stay calm even in stressful situations.

7) What are your weaknesses?

Never say “I have no weaknesses”. That sounds immature. Give a real but manageable weakness and show what you are doing about it.

Sample answer: At the beginning of a completely new situation I can be a little nervous, especially when I have to speak with people I do not know yet. But I have noticed that this improves quickly once I am prepared and understand my role. That is why I try to prepare thoroughly for important conversations and new tasks.

8) Why should we choose you?

This is not an invitation to boast. It is your chance to say clearly what you bring to the table.

Sample answer: I can offer your company serious motivation for this apprenticeship. I made a conscious decision for this profession, I am preparing carefully for the move to Germany and I am ready to fully commit myself to the apprenticeship in terms of language, work and daily life. I enjoy learning, I work reliably and I want to develop in this profession over the long term.

9) How well do you speak German?

Be honest. If your German is not perfect yet, say that openly – but show that you are actively working on it.

Sample answer: I have been learning German for some time and I am working continuously to become more confident in speaking. I know that language is very important for training, work and daily life in Germany. That is why I practise regularly, listen to German content, learn vocabulary and try to speak as much German as possible. I still need to improve, but I am highly motivated and I am learning consistently.

10) Do you already have practical experience in this field?

Many applicants think they need a perfect internship. They do not. Smaller experiences also count – school projects, helping in family life, service work, technical tasks, part-time jobs, caring for relatives.

Sample answer: I do not yet have full professional experience in this field, but I have already had first experiences that strengthened my decision. For example, I have taken responsibility in my family environment and realised that this kind of work suits me. I have also informed myself thoroughly about the profession and made a conscious decision to pursue it.

11) How do you deal with stress or difficult situations?

Employers do not want drama. They want to hear that you can stay calm, learn and focus on solutions.

Sample answer: In stressful situations I first try to stay calm and sort the situation step by step. I believe that panic usually makes problems bigger. So I focus on what is important at that moment, ask questions if necessary and work through tasks one by one.

12) How do you imagine life in Germany?

The company wants to see whether you are realistic. Germany is not just about a visa and a salary. It is everyday life, language, rules, winter, punctuality and independence.

Sample answer: I know that life in Germany will be a major change for me in terms of language, culture and daily routine. At the same time, I see this as a chance to become more independent and to develop personally. It is important to me to stay open, respect rules, be punctual and integrate step by step into daily life and the workplace.

13) What do you do when you do not understand something?

This is a very important apprenticeship question. Employers do not want people who stay silent out of fear and then make avoidable mistakes.

Sample answer: If I do not understand something, I prefer to ask instead of pretending that I understood everything. It is important to me to learn tasks correctly and avoid mistakes. So I would rather ask a short question, take notes and learn from it.

14) What are your career goals?

The company wants to see whether you have a serious perspective beyond just getting into Germany.

Sample answer: My first goal is to complete the apprenticeship successfully and with good performance. After that, I want to gain professional experience, become confident in the job and continue developing step by step. In the long term, I would like to take on responsibility in my profession and continue learning through further training.

15) Do you have any questions for us?

Yes, and you should definitely have some. Applicants who ask no questions often look passive or unprepared.

Good questions could be: How do you onboard new apprentices? Which departments will apprentices get to know during the training? What is especially important to you when working with apprentices? How does the cooperation between vocational school and company work?

Which questions you should ask – and which ones should not come first

Your own questions matter. They show interest and seriousness. But the order matters.

Good questions to ask in the interview

How does the onboarding process for new apprentices work?
What kind of tasks will I learn in the first year of training?
Which departments will I get to know during the apprenticeship?
How do you support international apprentices during the first months?
What do you personally expect from a good apprentice?
How does the cooperation with the vocational school work?

What should not be your first question

How much money will I get exactly?
Will I get accommodation or a room?
How many vacation days do I have?
Can I change quickly if I do not like the profession?
Do I really have to work weekends?

Very important: Of course you may later ask about salary, accommodation, support or organisational topics. But if your first or most important question is only about money, housing or free time, that sends the wrong signal. First the employer should clearly see that you are genuinely interested in the profession, the apprenticeship and the company.

Typical apprenticeship interview mistakes – and why they hurt your chances

You do not know your own CV. That makes you look unprepared.
You cannot explain your motivation letter. Then the company may wonder whether you wrote it yourself.
You answer in one short sentence only. That looks passive and insecure.
You speak for too long without structure. Then you lose the point and sound unclear.
You are dressed too casually or you sit in bed. That looks disrespectful.
You are late or you did not test your technology. Bad first impression.
Your background is noisy, messy or full of movement. That looks unprofessional.
You ask about money or accommodation first. Wrong focus.
You give the same standard answer to every question. That makes you sound artificial and rehearsed.
You are not honest about your German level or your experience. That will usually become obvious later.

Your personal 24-hour plan before the interview

The day before

Read your CV, motivation letter and the apprenticeship job ad again.
Practise answers to the 15 most important interview questions out loud.
Write down the company name and the names of the interviewers.
Prepare your clothes.
Test your technology: camera, microphone, internet, meeting link.
Organise a quiet room.

1 hour before

Put your phone on silent or switch it off.
Prepare a glass of water.
Put your pen, paper, CV and motivation letter next to you.
Check the room: light, background, noise, animals, family, TV.
Restart your computer and close unnecessary programs.

10 minutes before

Open the meeting link.
Check your camera and microphone one more time.
Sit upright, breathe, and stop changing things at the last second.
Smile. Be friendly, calm and focused.

How to come across well in your German apprenticeship interview

Speak slowly and clearly. Very fast German or very fast English usually makes everything worse.
If you did not fully understand a question, say politely: “Could you please repeat the question?”
If you need a moment to think, that is fine. Two seconds of thinking are better than saying nonsense.
Smile in a friendly way, but do not force it.
Do not interrupt the interviewers.
Thank them for their time at the end of the interview.

Remember: A good Ausbildung interview is not perfect. It is prepared, honest, calm and clear.

More free guides for your German apprenticeship application

Ready for your Ausbildung interview – and for the next step?

If you are serious about your apprenticeship application, do not just wait for some agency to do the work. Create your profile on Azubis-Now and let German employers find you directly. No commission, no unclear middlemen – just a platform for international applicants who genuinely want to do an Ausbildung in Germany.

For €39 per year, you can publish your profile and significantly improve your chances of finding a German apprenticeship place.

Join Azubis-Now now – €39 per year