German · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 8 of 12
Work and careers
Beruf und Karriere
Handle a job interview in German: talk about your experience, strengths and weaknesses, and say why you do things with um … zu and damit.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Talk about your experience in a job interview
- Describe your strengths and weaknesses
- Say why you do something with um … zu and damit
- Use formal phrases with Sie
Listen
In Bonn, Carina Schubert (41) wants to go back to work after six years at home with her children. She has an interview with Herr Kraus (50s). Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Herr Kraus
Guten Tag, Frau Schubert. Vielen Dank für Ihre Bewerbung.
Hello, Ms Schubert. Thank you for your application.
Frau Schubert
Guten Tag, Herr Kraus. Und vielen Dank für die Einladung.
Hello, Mr Kraus. And thank you for inviting me.
Herr Kraus
In Ihrem Lebenslauf sehe ich, dass Sie die letzten sechs Jahre nicht gearbeitet haben. Können Sie mir kurz sagen, warum?
I can see from your CV that you haven't worked for the last six years. Can you tell me briefly why?
Frau Schubert
Ja, gern. Ich bin zu Hause geblieben, um mehr Zeit für meine Kinder zu haben. Jetzt gehen sie zur Schule, und ich möchte wieder arbeiten.
Yes, of course. I stayed at home to have more time for my children. Now they go to school, and I'd like to work again.
Herr Kraus
Und warum haben Sie sich gerade bei uns beworben?
And why did you apply to us in particular?
Frau Schubert
Vorher habe ich acht Jahre bei einer Versicherung im Kundenservice gearbeitet, die letzten drei Jahre als Teamleiterin. Ich möchte gern wieder ein Team leiten.
Before that I worked in customer service at an insurance company for eight years, the last three as a team leader. I'd like to lead a team again.
Herr Kraus
Das passt gut. Was sind Ihre Stärken?
That's a good fit. What are your strengths?
Frau Schubert
Ich kann gut organisieren, und ich bleibe ruhig, auch wenn Kunden sich ärgern.
I'm good at organising, and I stay calm, even when customers get annoyed.
Herr Kraus
Und wo sehen Sie Ihre Schwächen?
And where do you see your weaknesses?
Frau Schubert
Ich habe sechs Jahre nicht mit Computern gearbeitet. Deshalb mache ich gerade eine Weiterbildung, damit mir die neuen Programme keine Probleme machen.
I haven't worked with computers for six years. That's why I'm doing a training course at the moment, so that the new software doesn't cause me any problems.
Herr Kraus
Sehr gut. Die Stelle gibt es auch in Teilzeit, wenn Sie möchten.
Very good. The job is also available part-time, if you'd like.
Frau Schubert
Das wäre ideal. Dann könnte ich früher gehen, um meine Kinder von der Schule abzuholen.
That would be ideal. Then I could leave earlier to pick my children up from school.
Understand
um … zu: in order to
To say why you do something, use … + infinitive. and the infinitive go to the end: English often just says “to”: I stayed at home to have more time.
With separable verbs, goes between the two parts, written as one word: → , → . With a modal verb, comes before the modal at the end: .
- Ich mache eine Weiterbildung, um die neuen Programme kennenzulernen.I'm doing a training course to get to know the new software.
- Sie lernt Deutsch, um in Bonn arbeiten zu können.She's learning German to be able to work in Bonn.
damit: so that
(so that) also gives a purpose, but it starts a normal clause with its own subject and the verb at the end: …,
Use … when both parts have the same subject. When the subjects are different, you must use : (I speak, the customers understand.)
| Same subject | Different subjects |
|---|---|
Formal German in a job interview
In an interview, use and / + surname until you are offered . The Konjunktiv II makes wishes sound polite: …, These phrases are useful:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Thank you for inviting me. | |
| … | I've applied for the job of … |
| I have eight years' experience in customer service. | |
| … | My strengths are … |
| I'd like to lead a team again. | |
| May I ask something too? |
More in the grammar: Linking clauses: als, wenn, obwohl, damit, um … zu
New words
- die Bewerbungapplication · feminine, plural: ; = to apply (Perfekt: )
- die Einladunginvitation · feminine, plural: ; = to invite
- der LebenslaufCV · masculine, plural:
- die Schuleschool · feminine, plural: ; = to go to school
- geradein particular; right now · = Why us in particular? … = I'm doing … at the moment.
- vorherbefore (that), previously
- die Versicherunginsurance; insurance company · feminine, plural:
- der Kunde / die Kundincustomer · plural: / ; = customer service
- leitento lead, to manage · / = team leader
- die Stärkestrength · feminine, plural:
- die Schwächeweakness · feminine, plural:
- die Weiterbildungfurther training, training course · feminine, plural:
- in Teilzeitpart-time · = full-time
- die Erfahrungexperience · feminine, plural: ; = experience in customer service
Practise
1.Choose the right word. “Ich mache eine Weiterbildung, ___ mir die neuen Programme keine Probleme machen.”
2.Complete the sentence.
I stayed at home to have more time for my children.
3.Complete with in the right form.
Then I could leave earlier to pick my children up from school.
4.Complete with or .
I speak slowly so that the customers understand me.
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.Why did you apply to us?
6.Match the words with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Vielen Dank für die Einladung.
Thank you for inviting me.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.