My First Month: Talking About Work in Germany

Okay, so I’ve been in Berlin for a little over a month now, and honestly, it’s been… a lot. The language, the culture, the sheer size of the place. But the biggest hurdle, without a doubt, has been trying to talk about my work experience. Before I moved, I’d practiced phrases in my head, thought I was prepared. Turns out, actually saying them out loud is a completely different beast! Let me walk you through what I’ve learned – and the embarrassing mistakes I’ve made.

The Initial Dread: “Beruf” and “Praktikum”

The first time I had to say “Ich bin Projektmanager” (I’m a project manager) to my new colleague, Klaus, I completely froze. It felt so formal, so… serious. I realized the Germans take their professions seriously. “Beruf” – job, career – isn’t just a word, it’s a huge part of who you are. And then there’s “Praktikum” – internship. I kept hearing people talk about them, and I started feeling a bit anxious about the idea of having a “Praktikum” here. It felt like a potential sign of not being ‘serious’ enough.

Key Phrases – And Where I Messed Up

Let’s get practical. Here’s what I’ve found actually useful, along with a few times I completely butchered it.

• “Ich habe zuvor…” (I used to…) – I blurted this out when describing my previous role at a marketing agency in London. I then immediately added, “…und es war sehr erfolgreich.” (…and it was very successful.) Klaus raised an eyebrow. Turns out, simply stating my role without adding an overly enthusiastic assessment isn’t as common here. Germans tend to be more understated.
• “Meine Aufgaben waren…” (My tasks were…) – This is a safe one. I used it when explaining what I did in my last job. It’s a good way to give a brief overview.
• “Ich habe Erfahrung mit…” (I have experience with…) – I used this when talking about my software skills. I said, “Ich habe Erfahrung mit Microsoft Office.” Klaus corrected me, “Nein, nein, du meinst eher Excel und Word, oder?” (No, no, you mean Excel and Word, right?). See? Small things matter!
• “Wie war Ihre Arbeit?” (How was your work?) – I asked this to a colleague, Sarah, during a coffee break. She was taken aback. Apparently, it’s considered a bit intrusive to immediately inquire about someone’s work during a casual coffee break. I learned to stick to small talk first.

Talking About Responsibilities – It’s All About Detail

Germans really delve into the details of their jobs. When I told Herr Schmidt, my supervisor, about my responsibilities, I was surprised by the follow-up questions.

“Und wie haben Sie die Budgets verwaltet?” (And how did you manage the budgets?) he asked. “Genau, welche Kennzahlen haben Sie verfolgt?” (Exactly, what key performance indicators did you track?)

It felt incredibly intense! I realized I hadn’t actually thought about the specific metrics we used back in the UK. I’ve been taking notes now, trying to understand the German approach to data analysis.

Common German Phrases You’ll Hear

Here are a few other phrases I’ve picked up that are incredibly common:

• “Das ist eine Herausforderung.” (That’s a challenge.) – I heard this a lot when people were talking about difficult projects.
• “Es ist eine gute Gelegenheit.” (It’s a good opportunity.) – Often used when discussing training programs or new roles.
• “Ich lerne noch.” (I’m still learning.) – I said this after struggling with a particular task, and it’s a perfectly acceptable and honest response.

My Biggest Learning: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

Honestly, I was so worried about making a mistake, about sounding stupid, that I didn’t ask questions enough. I realized that the Germans are generally very helpful and appreciate people who are willing to learn.

If I didn’t understand something, I would say, “Entschuldigung, könnten Sie das bitte erklären?” (Excuse me, could you please explain that?). It always worked!

Moving Forward – My Goals

My goal now is to keep practicing, to be more confident in my German, and to learn more about the German work culture. I’m planning on attending a networking event next week – nervous, but determined! I’m also making a conscious effort to listen more than I speak, observing how people interact in professional settings.

And, maybe, just maybe, I’ll stop adding “sehr erfolgreich” to every description of my past work!

Do you have any tips for talking about work experience in Germany? Let me know in the comments!