Chef interview questions in Germany, for non-native English speakers

Short answer

A chef may look for precision, cleanliness and punctuality, and may ask about your German level for kitchen calls. Below are 6 questions you may hear in Germany, with what each one checks and a simple answer shape you can say in B1 English.

What a chef recruiter in Germany may look for

The points on this page are things a recruiter may look for. No page can tell you what one interviewer will decide, and preparing does not promise a result. It shows you what to practise next.

  • A chef may look for precision, cleanliness and punctuality, and may ask about your German level for kitchen calls.
  • A recruiter may listen for your training and the kinds of kitchens you have worked in.

How interviews often run in Germany

These published notes describe general preparation. They do not confirm one employer's process. Check your invitation, and ask the recruiter if anything is unclear.

  • The interview is held in the language of the job advert, but expat career guides commonly report that an interviewer may switch to German part-way through, even for a role advertised in English. Decide in advance how you will handle that: answer in German at your level, or ask politely to continue in English. (Source: expatrio.com, iamexpat.de)
  • Contracts and most workplace paperwork are usually in German. Being open about your current level is generally read better than avoiding the question. (Source: findenglish.de)

Question 1: Can you follow orders and calls in German during a busy service?

What it checks: Can you work safely and quickly in a German-speaking kitchen?

In simple words: "Do you understand kitchen calls in German?"

A B1 answer shape for Germany. Say these in order, in short sentences:

  • Your honest German level
  • Kitchen words you know
  • How you check orders
  • How you are improving
  • They may follow up with: "How do you say 'two minutes' to the chef?" or "What if you misunderstand an order?"

Question 2: Tell me about your training as a cook and the kitchens you have worked in.

What it checks: Is your background a fit for our level and style?

In simple words: "Tell me about your cooking training and kitchens."

A B1 answer shape for Germany. Say these in order, in short sentences:

  • Formal training, if any
  • Kitchens and cuisines
  • Your station and level
  • One skill you are proud of
  • They may follow up with: "Have you worked à la carte or banquet?" or "Did you lead a station?"

Question 3: How do you handle a customer complaint about their food?

What it checks: Can you turn a negative into a positive experience?

A B1 answer shape. Say these in order, in short sentences:

  • Apologise
  • Listen
  • Offer replacement
  • Involve manager if needed
  • Follow up
  • They may follow up with: "What if the customer is aggressive?" or "What if you think the complaint is unjustified?"

Question 4: What is your understanding of food hygiene ratings and how do you maintain them?

What it checks: Do you understand the importance of food safety compliance?

A B1 answer shape. Say these in order, in short sentences:

  • EHO inspection process
  • Daily checks
  • Temperature monitoring
  • Cleaning schedules
  • Staff training
  • They may follow up with: "What score does this establishment currently have?" or "What could cause a low rating?"

Question 5: How do you store raw and cooked food safely?

What it checks: Do you know basic food safety principles?

A B1 answer shape. Say these in order, in short sentences:

  • Separate storage
  • Raw below cooked
  • Correct temperatures
  • Labelling and dating
  • FIFO rotation
  • They may follow up with: "What temperature should a fridge be?" or "What do you do if you find out-of-date food?"

Question 6: Tell me about a time you identified a food safety concern.

What it checks: Do you proactively spot and report food safety issues?

A B1 answer shape. Say these in order, in short sentences:

  • Specific concern identified
  • Immediate action
  • Reported to supervisor
  • Prevented harm
  • Documentation
  • They may follow up with: "What would you do if a colleague ignored a food safety rule?" or "Have you ever had to discard food that was already prepared?"

Sentence starters for a chef interview

Fill in the gaps with your own work. Simple English is fine.

How do you handle a very busy service?

Before service, I prepare my section and check my list. During service, I listen for the calls and say 'Yes, chef'. I keep my station clean as I go. If I am behind, I tell the chef early.

How do you make sure an allergy order is safe?

I check the order and the allergy information. I use clean equipment and a clean area. I tell the chef or the person on the pass. I check the dish again before it leaves.

Common mistakes for non-native speakers

In Germany, interviewers often like a real example more than big words. Say what you did and the result, then stop. The evidence you give is the same; only the way you say it changes.

  • Instead of "I cook everything": say: "I worked on the grill and sauces, and I did the prep for lunch service". A head chef may listen for the sections you know.
  • Instead of "I am fast": say: "I get my station ready before service, label everything and clean as I go". Organisation is often what makes a cook fast.
  • Instead of "Yes, chef" when you did not understand: say: "Sorry, chef. Two of the fish, or three?". Checking is normal in a busy kitchen and stops mistakes.
  • Instead of hiding a mistake: say: "I would tell the chef straight away and fix it before it goes out". Owning a mistake quickly is part of food safety.

How to prepare for a chef interview in Germany

  • Be ready to state your German level using A1–C2.
  • Be ready to explain whether your cook training is recognised or in process.
  • Be ready to say your German level honestly, even when the job is in English.

Questions people ask

What may a recruiter look for in a chef interview in Germany?

A chef may look for precision, cleanliness and punctuality, and may ask about your German level for kitchen calls. A recruiter may listen for your training and the kinds of kitchens you have worked in.

How should I prepare for a chef interview in Germany?

Be ready to state your German level using A1–C2. Be ready to explain whether your cook training is recognised or in process. Be ready to say your German level honestly, even when the job is in English.

More interview help

Practise for a chef interview in Germany

Get your free English Interview Readiness Score. Answer real chef questions out loud or in writing, with Germany already chosen, and see what a recruiter may notice and what to fix first. Free to start, no card needed.

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What this site cannot tell you

These pages describe what interviewers commonly look for. They cannot tell you what a specific interviewer decided, and nothing here guarantees an interview, an offer or a visa. Practising is preparation — it shows you what to fix next.