Job interview in technology: Walking through CV and previous roles
Get Full LessonPractice pronunciation and master this lesson with smart-repetition via the PrettyFluent App
Key Phrases
Erzählen Sie bitte kurz von Ihrem Lebenslauf.
Please tell me briefly about your CV.
Was war Ihre erste Rolle nach dem Studium?
What was your first role after your studies?
Ich möchte mich in Ihrem Team weiterentwickeln.
I would like to develop further in your team.
Skills You'll Learn
Introducing your educational and work background in a job interview
Den eigenen Bildungs- und Berufsweg in einem Vorstellungsgespräch vorstellen
Describing past roles and responsibilities in simple professional German
Frühere Rollen und Aufgaben auf einfachem beruflichem Deutsch beschreiben
Explaining why a position fits your experience and goals
Erklären, warum eine Stelle gut zu den eigenen Erfahrungen und Zielen passt
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are in a German job interview, speaking with a hiring manager about your education, your first roles in tech, the tasks you enjoy, and why this position fits your career path.
Guten Tag, Emily Smith . Schön, dass Sie da sind. Erzählen Sie bitte kurz von Ihrem Lebenslauf.
Good day, Emily Smith. It’s a pleasure to have you here. Please briefly tell us about your resume.
Guten Tag. Gern. Ich habe Informatik studiert und dann in zwei Tech-Firmen gearbeitet.
Good day. Certainly. I studied computer science and then worked at two tech companies.
Was war Ihre erste Rolle nach dem Studium?
What was your first role after graduating?
Ich war Junior-Entwickler. Ich habe kleine Web-Anwendungen gebaut und im Team gelernt.
I was a junior developer. I built small web applications and learned as part of a team.
Und was haben Sie in Ihrer zweiten Firma gemacht?
And what did you do at your second company?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Guten Tag.
GOO-ten tahk
Good day.
💬 Classic formal greeting. Literally: "good day." Very useful in offices, shops, and interviews.
🇩🇪 In Germany, "Guten Tag" sounds polite and professional—great first-impression German.
See breakdown →Guten Tag, Emily Smith .
GOO-ten tahk
Good day, Emily Smith.
💬 Use this to greet someone formally by name. In formal German, titles and last names are especially important.
🇩🇪 In business settings, Germans often prefer formal greetings at first, especially with new people.
See breakdown →Schön.
shern
Nice.
💬 A short adjective meaning "nice," "pleasant," or "beautiful," depending on context. Tiny word, big range!
🇩🇪 On its own, "Schön" can sound natural in spoken German, but usually the full sentence gives the warmer tone.
See breakdown →Dass Sie da sind
dahs zee dah zint
That you are here.
💬 "dass" introduces a subordinate clause, so the verb goes to the end: "...Sie da sind." German loves sending verbs on little adventures.
🇩🇪 Using "Sie" shows respect and formality—very common in interviews and professional situations.
See breakdown →Schön, dass Sie da sind.
shern dahs zee dah zint
Nice that you are here.
💬 A more natural English translation is "It's nice that you're here" or "Glad you're here." Notice the formal "Sie."
🇩🇪 This is a friendly but still professional welcome phrase—perfect for interviews, meetings, or formal visits.
See breakdown →Erzählen Sie bitte kurz
er-TSEH-len zee BIT-teh koorts
Please tell me briefly.
💬 "Erzählen Sie" is the formal imperative: "tell me / tell us." "bitte" makes it polite, and "kurz" means "briefly."
🇩🇪 German interview style often values concise, structured answers—so "kurz" is not just grammar, it's a hint!
See breakdown →Von Ihrem Lebenslauf
fon EE-rem LAY-bens-lowf
About your CV.
💬 "von" takes the dative case, so "Ihr" becomes "Ihrem": "von Ihrem Lebenslauf." Case alert!
🇩🇪 "Lebenslauf" is the standard German word for CV/résumé and is very common in job contexts.
See breakdown →Erzählen Sie bitte kurz von Ihrem Lebenslauf.
er-TSEH-len zee BIT-teh koorts fon EE-rem LAY-bens-lowf
Please tell me briefly about your CV.
💬 Natural interview phrase. Literally: "Please tell briefly about your CV." German often leaves out "me" where English includes it.
🇩🇪 In German interviews, this often invites a short career summary in chronological order.
See breakdown →Gern.
gehrn
I am happy to.
💬 "Gern" means "gladly" or "with pleasure." Super handy and very German—short, efficient, polite.
🇩🇪 You'll hear "gern" everywhere in Germany: in offices, cafés, emails, and daily conversation.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
Get PrettyFluent for smart practice & lasting retention
More from "Job interview in technology"
Similar German Lessons
Learning About Company Culture
Career event networking
Exploring Career Opportunities
Career event networking
Following Up After the Event
Career event networking
Essential communication
Top 50 phrases to get by Germany
Getting around and shopping
Top 50 phrases to get by Germany
Dining out
Top 50 phrases to get by Germany
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”
Emma L., 27, UX Researcher
“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”
Marcus J., 40, Engineer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager