Guten Tag! Planning on doing an internship in Germany soon? Great idea! Here are some tips to help you before you get there and during your stay.
1. Buff Up Your CV
Once you find an open internship spot or decide to send an unsolicited application to a company, it's time to create your CV if you haven't already. CVs in Germany do not differ much from CVs in the UK. They are listed anti-chronologically, thus each section starts with the latest information. Use a formal email-address and do not include your life motto; either keep it to yourself that you are seizing the day or prove it while you are there.
2. Make a killing...well, close enough
Regular jobs are generally subject to the minimum wage of 8.50euro (£6.30). Internship salaries on the other hand differ a lot. Compulsory internships do not have to be paid, as well as internships shorter than three months. However, in these cases it is possible to receive an allowance, e.g. a whopping 3euro (£2.20) of lunch money daily. Interns staying longer than three months are paid the minimum wage from day one.
3. A Place to Stay
Find accommodation on
airbnb.com or look for a "Pension" if the company you are interning with can't provide you with a room and you are staying for a few weeks only. It is much cheaper than hotels and will enable you to feel more like a local.
If you stay longer, consider looking for accommodation on
www.wg-gesucht.de,
www.easywg.de or
www.studenten-wg.de which display shared flats ("Wohngemeinschaft=WG") with other students. German students often sublet their room during the term breaks (February-April and August-October) when they're going home to their parents or during a semester abroad.
Don't arrive on the first day of your internship or late on the day before it as you might want to check out how to get to the office and see how long it takes you to get there. This will save you stress the next morning because you know where you're going. It is also nice to take a stroll around town in general before you start working to get a feeling for the vibe of the city and the people.
4. Cliché No. 1 Confirmed
Be on time. Always. This cliché is nothing but true. Most companies now have flexitime, but if a time is set for something you need to be punctual. If you struggle, just set your watch fifteen minutes late.
5. Brush Up On Your German
Become familiar with some basic German phrases. Even if the company uses English as their business language, you might still meet colleagues in the hallways from other departments that do not speak English. It would be nice if you could at least greet them in their language, or let them know that you don't understand them if they ask you something. Don't worry too much though, in general, Germans speak English fairly well. Important phrases include:
| | German | English |
| a. | Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| b. | Guten Tag (formal) / Hallo (informal) | Hello |
| c. | Guten Abend | Good Evening |
| d. | Auf Wiedersehen (formal) / Tschuess (informal) | (Good) Bye |
| e. | Schoen, Sie kennenzulernen | Nice to meet you |
| f. | Wie geht's? | How are you? |
| h. | Ich heisse... | My name is... |
| i. | Bitte | Please / You're welcome |
| j. | Danke | Thank you |
| k. | Entschuldigung | Sorry |
| l. | Ich speche nur ein bisschen Deutsch | I barely speak German |
6. Impress With Your Dress
The first impression you make is your clothes. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed on your first day. The dress code in Germany is usually "business casual" or "casual chic". Need further explanation on these extremely helpful phrases? Well: Women wear a nice pair of jeans or trousers or a skirt with a blouse or a neat shirt/pullover. Make sure your knees are covered. Men often wear a shirt or polo shirt with a decent pair of jeans. Depending on your job you will have to wear a suit or a female suit. This is mostly the case at banks, as well as every other position where you have client contact. Some offices have a "casual Friday" or "dress down day".
Even if you are an intern in an IT or research office where everybody assumes (and come on, it's true) they are walking around barefoot, put on a nice shirt on your first day. Once you get settled in and see how things are done around there, you can adjust.
7. Dead Fish: Unappreciated
A short and firm handshake with a smile, often followed by a nod, is the usual business greeting in Germany. Make sure your hand doesn't feel like a dead fish as this implies that you are unmotivated, weak and unsure. The handshake should also remain the only personal contact you encounter; Germans are not touchy-feely.
8. Hey mate, I mean...professor.
Do not address anybody at the office with "du" (you) unless they approach you and let you know you can call them by their forename. This is also valid for people that are younger or the same age as you. The person that is eligible to offer the "du" has to be higher in hierarchy, regardless of the age. As all Germans are humourless and distanced by nature, it is not uncommon that colleagues that have been working side by side for twenty years still call each other by their surname. It is to be said that in younger companies/departments this is becoming a lot more relaxed.
Also, Germans are proud of their degrees. If your boss has an academic title such as a PhD/doctor or professor, include it in your greeting. If he possesses both of them, only use the superior, thus "Professor".
9. Umm...awkward!
Small talk in the kitchen is not proscribed, but it seems that some Germans do not feel, or mind the awkward silence. You may be lucky to engage in a little conversation, but don't be bummed out if you only get short answers. Germans need a bit of time to warm up. Once they've warmed to you, don't ruin it by asking about their salary.
Do not engage in office gossip. If someone talks badly behind somebody's back, do not join in. Whether it is a test or not - it will fall back on you eventually.
10. Leave your smarty pants at home
Be an intern and not a clever clog. In general, this applies to every country, but Germany in particular. Look at their economy - they generally know what they are doing. Do not try to tell them what to do unless you are asked for your opinion.
Try to remember the essentials of these tips but also keep in mind that Germans are humans, too. Also, as for every country, there is not THE German or THE German office. Overall, the atmosphere is becoming a lot more relaxed, therefore do not freak out and enjoy your experience in the Land of the Bratwurst.
