The job interview
Has the company found your application interesting and invited you to a job interview? Excellent! That takes you an enormous step further.
The job interview gives you and the company the opportunity to get to know each other better. As a rule you will meet a supervisor from the human resources department and from the relevant specialist department. You will be asked questions about your qualification, your expectations of the position, your skills and interests. You will also be expected to present your German or English language skills and to explain why you wish to work in Germany and what you hope for from life in Germany.
You can prepare well for the job interview by, for example, finding out about the company in advance and reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses. It can also be helpful to write down a few bullet points for each qualification so that you are prepared. In addition you should ask questions relating to employment opportunities in Germany in order to show your interest.
It is important to arrive punctually for the job interview and to switch off your mobile phone. You should also dress appropriately, i.e. women can wear trousers and suits, while men should wear suits with a shirt and tie. The clothing should also be customary for the industry.
Nowadays it is common practice for job interviews to take place online. In such cases it is also important to pay attention to your clothing. In addition you should ensure that during the online interview you have good lighting, a working microphone and a white background. Also reduce any background noise to a minimum.
Please note that the information in this area is of a general nature. If you are a nurse who has been placed by CareLend GmbH, then these and further services are free of charge for you. Employer-Pays principle . For further details please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Do you not live in Germany?
If you are applying for a position in Germany and are coming from abroad, you should enquire whether the company reimburses travel costs for a job interview. In some cases it is also possible to hold the interview by telephone or video conference. If the company wishes to meet you in person, clarify whether you must cover the travel costs yourself or whether the company will meet the costs.
If you are not an EU citizen, make sure that you comply with the entry requirements for Germany. With a job-seeker’s visa you can come to Germany for six months to apply for a work visa. Please note that all costs for the visa and the journey itself must be borne by you.
What is an assessment centre?
An assessment centre is a procedure for assessing and selecting applicants for a position. It consists of a series of tests and exercises carried out by employers in order to evaluate the skills, competences and suitability of applicants. As a rule several applicants take part in an assessment centre and are assessed by a group of observers, such as HR managers and executives of the company.
The exercises in the assessment centre may include tasks such as group discussions, presentations, role plays and psychometric tests. Through these tasks the observers can assess the skills and characteristics of the applicants, such as teamwork, problem-solving skills, leadership qualities and emotional intelligence.
At the end of the assessment centre the applicants as a rule receive feedback on their performance and a decision is taken on filling the position. An assessment centre is often used for filling management positions or positions with high requirements for social and communicative skills.
The medical facilities that cooperate with CareLend GmbH as a rule rely on our pre-interview before the actual job interview with the hospital takes place as an assessment centre. If CareLend considers that, for example, your language skills are not yet sufficient, you will receive various pieces of advice from CareLend on improving your German in order to increase your chances of success in your job interview.