Ausbildung Interview Questions: Practise Simple German Answers

Open the job advert and your CV. Choose three Ausbildung interview questions below, prepare your own answers, then say them aloud. If your German CV is not written yet, build it first with the Ausbildung CV guide, because most of these questions ask you to explain a line in it.

The German examples have English meanings. They are fictional, so replace their details with your own. They are B1 practice material, not official answers or a statement of the German level an employer requires.

Start each answer with your main point, then add one example. Use the sentence starters to begin: replace the words in square brackets and finish the sentence. Do not read the brackets aloud.

Eight Ausbildung interview questions to practise in German

1. Tell us about yourself

Erzählen Sie uns etwas über sich.

Choose the parts of your background that matter for this application. You do not need to read out your whole CV.

Example:

Ich heiße Sara. Ich habe im Juni die Schule abgeschlossen. In einem Schulprojekt habe ich gern mit Zahlen gearbeitet. Jetzt möchte ich eine Ausbildung zur Kauffrau für Büromanagement machen.

Meaning: My name is Sara. I finished school in June. I enjoyed working with numbers in a school project. Now I would like to train as an office management clerk.

For your version, note what you do now, one relevant experience and the training occupation you want to enter. Use the occupation name from your job advert.

Start with „Zurzeit …“, meaning “At the moment …”, to explain what you do now. Then add „Ich möchte eine Ausbildung als [Berufsbezeichnung] machen.“, meaning “I would like to train as [occupation].” Use the form of the occupation name that fits you.

2. Why do you want to learn this occupation?

Warum möchten Sie diesen Beruf lernen?

Name a task that interests you and explain why. Check which tasks the job advert actually lists.

Example for a sales application:

Ich möchte lernen, wie man Kunden gut berät. Bei unserem Schulfest habe ich am Verkaufsstand geholfen. Mir hat gefallen, Fragen zu beantworten und gemeinsam mit anderen zu arbeiten.

Meaning: I want to learn how to advise customers well. I helped at a sales stall during our school fair. I enjoyed answering questions and working with others.

The Bergische Chamber of Industry and Commerce advises employers to ask why you chose this type of work. Be ready to explain what you liked about the task, rather than stopping at “I am interested.”

3. Why did you apply to us?

Warum haben Sie sich bei uns beworben?

Find one specific detail on the employer’s website or in the job advert. Connect it to what you want to learn.

Example, if the job advert mentions working in different departments:

In Ihrer Anzeige steht, dass ich verschiedene Abteilungen kennenlerne. Das interessiert mich. Ich möchte verstehen, wie die Aufgaben im Unternehmen zusammenhängen.

Meaning: Your advert says I will get to know different departments. That interests me. I want to understand how the tasks in the company connect.

To write your own version, choose one thing the employer offers and one skill you want to learn:

„Bei Ihnen kann ich [Aufgabe] lernen. Das interessiert mich, weil …“

Meaning: With you, I can learn [task]. That interests me because …

For example, replace [Aufgabe] with „Kunden beraten“, meaning “advise customers”, if the job advert includes that task. Finish with your reason. Check the employer detail before using it.

4. What do you know about the work?

Was wissen Sie über die Aufgaben in diesem Beruf?

Explain two tasks from the job advert in simple words. Say what you still need to learn.

Example for a warehouse job advert that lists these tasks:

In Ihrer Anzeige steht, dass man Waren annimmt und Lieferungen prüft. Ich möchte lernen, worauf ich dabei achten muss. Mit einem Lagerprogramm habe ich noch nicht gearbeitet.

Meaning: Your advert says the work includes receiving goods and checking deliveries. I want to learn what I need to pay attention to. I have not worked with warehouse software yet.

Knowing what a task involves is different from having done it. Keep that distinction clear in your answer.

5. What are your strengths?

Was sind Ihre Stärken?

A Stärke is a strength: something you do well. Choose one you can support with an example.

Ich bin zuverlässig. In meinem Nebenjob habe ich jeden Samstag den Verkaufsstand vorbereitet. Ich war immer rechtzeitig fertig, bevor die ersten Kunden kamen.

Meaning: I am reliable. In my part-time job, I prepared the sales stall every Saturday. I was always ready before the first customers arrived.

Start with „Ich kann gut …“, meaning “I am good at …”, and name something you do well. Then describe one time you used that skill at school, at work or in everyday life.

6. What do you still find difficult?

Was fällt Ihnen noch schwer?

Name a real difficulty and describe how you are working on it.

Vor einer großen Gruppe bin ich oft nervös. Deshalb übe ich kurze Vorträge zuerst mit einer Freundin. Danach fällt mir der Anfang leichter.

Meaning: I am often nervous in front of a large group. That is why I first practise short presentations with a friend. Afterwards, I find it easier to begin.

Start with „Mir fällt es noch schwer, …“, meaning “I still find it difficult to …”. Then add what you do to improve.

7. What experience have you gained?

Welche Erfahrungen haben Sie schon gesammelt?

If you have done a Praktikum, an internship or work placement, describe your actual tasks.

Example with an internship:

Ich habe zwei Wochen in einem Geschäft mitgeholfen. Ich habe Waren sortiert und Preisschilder geprüft. Bei Fragen habe ich eine Mitarbeiterin um Hilfe gebeten.

Meaning: I helped in a shop for two weeks. I sorted goods and checked price labels. When I had questions, I asked a staff member for help.

Example without an internship:

Ich habe noch kein Praktikum in diesem Bereich gemacht. Bei einem Schulprojekt habe ich aber Aufgaben mit anderen geplant. Jetzt möchte ich die Arbeit im Betrieb kennenlernen.

Meaning: I have not done an internship in this field yet. But I planned tasks with others during a school project. Now I would like to get to know the work in the company.

Here, Betrieb means the company or workplace. You can explain a relevant experience without having done an internship. Do not invent a job to fill the gap.

8. How do you handle a mistake?

Wie gehen Sie mit einem Fehler um?

Describe what happened and how you dealt with it. A small, real situation is enough for this exercise.

Beim Einkaufen habe ich einmal etwas von der Liste vergessen. Zu Hause habe ich es bemerkt und bin noch einmal zum Geschäft gegangen. Seitdem prüfe ich die Liste, bevor ich zur Kasse gehe.

Meaning: Once, while shopping, I forgot something on the list. I noticed at home and went back to the shop. Since then, I check the list before going to the checkout.

Practise this follow-up question too: „Was würden Sie beim nächsten Mal anders machen?“ What would you do differently next time?

If you do not understand the question

Ask for clarification before guessing an answer. Practise these phrases separately:

• „Könnten Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen?“ Could you please repeat the question?
• „Könnten Sie bitte etwas langsamer sprechen?“ Could you please speak a little more slowly?
• „Was bedeutet das Wort in diesem Zusammenhang?“ What does that word mean in this context?
• „Meinen Sie meine Erfahrungen in der Schule oder im Praktikum?“ Do you mean my experience at school or during my internship?
• „Darf ich kurz überlegen?“ May I think for a moment?

If you cannot remember a word, describe the thing. For example, „Ich meine das Programm, mit dem man die Waren im Lager erfasst.“ This means: I mean the software used to record the goods in the warehouse.

Choose one clarification phrase for your next rehearsal. Ask your practice partner to word a question differently. Your task is to clarify it first, then answer.

Questions you can ask the employer

Write down two or three questions whose answers you need. The Federal Employment Agency’s simple-language checklist recommends preparing your own questions.

For example:

• „Welche Aufgaben übernehme ich am Anfang?“ What tasks will I take on at the beginning?
• „Wer hilft mir, wenn ich Fragen habe?“ Who will help me when I have questions?
• „Wie wechseln sich die Arbeit im Betrieb und die Berufsschule ab?“ How will company work and vocational school alternate?
• „Wie geht es nach diesem Gespräch weiter?“ What happens after this interview?

Berufsschule means vocational school. In dual training, you learn both at the company and at vocational school. If the employer has already answered one of your questions, choose another.

Rehearse a short conversation now

The Federal Employment Agency recommends researching the employer, practising how to explain your CV without reading it and rehearsing with another person.

Give your practice partner the job advert. Ask them to choose three questions from this guide and ask you to explain one answer in more detail. If you have not worked out yet which of the advert’s requirements you can answer, the vacancy requirement matcher pairs each line with something you have done and hands back the sentence to practise.

1. Answer with your own examples. Start with a few keywords instead of complete written sentences.
2. Ask once for a repetition or explanation.
3. Finish with one question for the employer.
4. Check together: Do the details match your CV? Was your example understandable? Which answer needs another attempt?

For the appointment itself, check the location, time and contact person. For a video interview, test your camera, microphone and connection beforehand. These steps also appear in the Federal Employment Agency checklist.

If you need to practise your opening lines first, use the German self-introduction guide. If you have not sent the application yet, the Ausbildung cover letter guide shows the German letter an employer reads before inviting you. The full Ausbildung guide puts the application and training place into the wider process.

Make one practice card for each of your three questions. Write the German question on the front. On the back, write a few words to remind you of your answer and example. Practise the hardest answer again, using only the card.