The Ausbildung job interview is the moment your application turns into a person. A German company that invites you has already read your Lebenslauf (CV) and Anschreiben (cover letter). Now it wants to know whether you really speak German, whether you understand the job and whether you are reliable. From Cameroon, the interview almost always happens by video, on Teams or Zoom. Here are the questions that come up again and again, how to answer them, and the practical rules for a good video interview.
What the company wants to find out
The Ausbilder (training manager) is not looking for perfect answers. They are checking three things:
- Your German. Can you understand a question, answer clearly and ask them to repeat when needed? That is what your days at the Berufsschule (vocational school) and at work will look like.
- Your motivation for the job. Do you know what a warehouse logistics specialist, a cook or a mechatronics technician actually does every day?
- Your reliability. Will you be there, on time, for the whole training?
Keep in mind that every Ausbildung starts with a Probezeit (probation period). The law sets it at between one and four months. During that time, either side can end the contract more easily. Companies want to avoid trainees leaving early, and the interview is partly about that.
Typical questions and how to answer them
German interviews normally use the formal “Sie”. Here are the most common questions, with a strategy for each.
“Erzählen Sie uns bitte etwas über sich.”
(Please tell us a little about yourself.)
Prepare a 60 to 90 second introduction: your name, your town, your schooling, one practical experience, your German level and why this job. Do not recite your whole CV. End with the link to the position: “Deshalb möchte ich eine Ausbildung als ... machen.”
“Warum möchten Sie diese Ausbildung machen?”
(Why do you want to do this Ausbildung?)
Talk about the job, not about Germany in general. Give a real example: an internship, a holiday job, helping in the family shop in Kumba or Limbe. “Im Lager meines Onkels habe ich gemerkt, dass mir Ordnung und Organisation Spaß machen.” (In my uncle’s storeroom I realised I enjoy order and organisation.)
“Warum haben Sie sich bei uns beworben?”
(Why did you apply to us?)
This is where preparation shows. Read the company website before the interview. Mention one specific thing: what they make, their size, their town, what they say about their training. One precise sentence beats three compliments.
“Was wissen Sie über den Beruf?”
(What do you know about the job?)
Name two or three real tasks of the job and how long the training lasts. Show that you know there is a company part and a Berufsschule part.
“Was sind Ihre Stärken und Schwächen?”
(What are your strengths and weaknesses?)
For the strength, give a concrete example. For the weakness, choose a real point that is not critical for the job, and say what you are doing about it. “Mein Deutsch ist noch nicht perfekt, deshalb lerne ich jeden Tag eine Stunde weiter.” (My German is not perfect yet, so I keep studying for an hour every day.)
“Wie stellen Sie sich Ihr Leben in Deutschland vor?”
(How do you imagine your life in Germany?)
The company wants to know whether you have thought about the cold, housing and being far from family. Answer honestly: you know the first months will be hard, and you have a plan (learn, settle in, finish the training).
“Wo sehen Sie sich in fünf Jahren?”
(Where do you see yourself in five years?)
A good answer: having passed your final exam and working as a qualified professional, ideally at the same company. Avoid saying you plan to switch careers straight after.
“Haben Sie noch Fragen an uns?”
(Do you have any questions for us?)
Always say yes. Prepare two or three questions:
- “Wie sieht ein typischer Arbeitstag für Auszubildende aus?” (What does a typical day look like for trainees?)
- “Wer ist mein Ansprechpartner während der Ausbildung?” (Who will be my contact person during the training?)
- “Gibt es Unterstützung bei der Wohnungssuche?” (Is there any help with finding accommodation?)
Getting a Teams or Zoom interview right
Before the day
- Check the time. Cameroon is on UTC+1 all year. Germany is also UTC+1 in winter but moves to UTC+2 in summer (late March to late October). So in summer Germany is one hour ahead: a 10 a.m. interview in Germany starts at 9 a.m. in Buea or Bamenda.
- Test the software. Install Teams or Zoom in advance, create an account if needed and do a test call with a friend. Make sure your display name is your real name.
- Have two connections. Keep an MTN or Orange data bundle on your phone as well as Wi-Fi. If one drops, switch to the other.
- Plan for power. Charge your laptop and phone to 100 %. Power cuts happen; do not let one decide your interview.
Your set-up
- A quiet room, door closed, no TV or radio in the background.
- Light in front of you (a window or a lamp), not behind you.
- The camera at eye level. Stack some books under the laptop if needed.
- A simple background: a plain wall is better than a virtual background.
- Earphones with a microphone, to avoid echo.
During the interview
- Log in five minutes early.
- Dress as you would for an in-person interview, at least from the waist up.
- Look at the camera when you speak, not at your own picture.
- If you do not understand a question, say so: “Entschuldigung, können Sie die Frage bitte wiederholen?” (Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?). That is far better than answering the wrong question.
- If the connection drops, rejoin straight away and send a short message in the chat or by email.
The most common mistakes
- Reading your answers. The screen gives it away. Prepare keywords, not a script.
- Answering only “ja” or “nein”. Every answer deserves two or three sentences.
- Knowing nothing about the company. This is the mistake that hurts most.
- Raising money first. You can ask about pay politely at the end. For the visa, know that training pay must reach EUR 1,048 gross per month (about 687,400 XAF), otherwise the gap must be covered by a blocked account or a Verpflichtungserklärung (formal declaration of financial support). Our § 16a visa guide explains this in detail.
- Claiming skills you do not have. If they ask whether you have B2 and you have B1, tell the truth and talk about your progress.
After the interview
Send a short thank-you email in German the same day. If the company offers you a training contract, that contract is the basis of your visa application. Since May 2026, the application goes through the Auslandsportal (digital.diplo.de) and the German embassy in Yaoundé. There is no German visa centre in Douala, Bamenda or Bafoussam. Waiting times can be long, so plan for several months. The list of papers is on our Ausbildung documents page.
How ILC prepares you for the interview
At ILC, our team sends your applications to companies, and then we prepare the interview with you: mock interviews in German, work on your answers to the typical questions, and a check of your connection and video set-up. We cannot promise a contract, but a well-prepared candidate walks in much calmer. For the full journey, see how it works.
Before the interview, reread your Lebenslauf and your cover letter: many questions start from what you wrote there.
Frequently asked questions
Is the interview always in German?
Almost always. A company that trains in German wants to see that you can follow a conversation in German. A few sentences in English may come up, but do not count on it.
How long does an Ausbildung interview last?
Often 20 to 45 minutes. Some companies hold a second interview or a short written test.
What if I get very nervous?
Practise out loud several times, ideally with someone playing the recruiter. Nerves drop once your first answers come automatically.
Can I ask about pay in the interview?
Yes, at the end and politely. For training starting in 2026, the legal minimum is EUR 724 per month in the first year, but many companies pay more.
Sources
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit: how to find a job in Germany (CV, cover letter, interview)
- § 20 BBiG: probation period
- Make it in Germany: visa for vocational training
- German Embassy Yaoundé: visas for training and employment
- BIBB: minimum training pay 2026
Last checked: 19 October 2026.