Work culture in Germany

Are you planning to work in Germany? Or are you interested in having a glimpse of the work culture in Germany? Then, keep reading…

Kindly note that this post provides information which is based on my personal point of view, developed through my personal experiences of working in Germany and learned through the experiences of my friends in Germany.

The work environment in Germany is employee friendly and one often finds supportive and friendly colleagues at work. Politeness and clarity of thoughts are often portrayed and occasional parties are cherries on top.

However, one may find peculiarities in German working environment. It is very essential to adapt to the German working culture and blend in to progress. It goes without saying that learning the language is essential to clearly communicate and socialize. Apart from this, the other important notes are as follows:

1.  Punctuality is obligatory

I may not be the first person telling you that Germans are very particular when it comes to punctuality. However let me stress here, that the resolution of their particularity in punctuality could be as high as 2 minutes. Although, your boss may not have pointed it out, but he will definitely notice if you are 5 minutes late in a meeting. Thus, it is very important to be on time for your interview, meetings, appointments, etc. If you fail to be on time, then you must back it up with a good excuse.

2.  Formal and informal conversations

One must be careful to use ‘Sie’ (Formal ‘You’) while having a first time conversation with someone at work. And then one might ask for the permission to use ‘Du’ (Informal ‘You’). Normally after knowing each other, one often addresses his/her colleagues as ‘Du’, even at higher hierarchies.

3.  Breaks and chats

    It is not often that one discusses his or her personal issues at work. Also, breaks apart from the lunch break are not that often. Coffee breaks after lunch however are common.

4.  Be clear

    One is required to be clear in expressing his/her thoughts without indirect hints and descriptions. This implies for the tasks at hand and also for the otherwise routine at office. However, one must not forget that adaptability is the key, and one must be open to accepting tasks which may not be of interest. This not only provides a wider exposure but also helps you to develop multiple skills outside your comfort zone. One must also be careful about the rights and duties as an intern. One may find flat hierarchy while working, where approaching even the senior most people is easy, however it comes with a responsibility of being clear about your lines. There are several decisions which must be taken after consultation with your immediate reporting personnel. Thus, one must be aware of the office culture and hierarchy to follow.

Image source: Microsoft Clipart