German Language for Business and Employment

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If you type ‘business German courses’ into Google or any of the major search engines you will mostly find commercial (meaning paid) courses that specialize in German for business communication. You will notice that there aren’t too many web resources to help you practice your business German language skills for free. Teaching German language for business is good business. Luckily enough, you can use plenty of free web resources that teach German for general purposes. When it comes to getting to grips with business German (or German language communication skills needed at a workplace) you normally only have to take a few additional theme-specific lessons and that shouldn’t cost you a fortune. The most time-efficient option for busy people who cannot attend class lessons is to find a private German teacher for online tutoring. They will be able to provide tailor-made German lessons on business topics you want to focus on.

Although the free learning materials for business German are hard to find, there are some. Below you will find a list of free Internet resources that may help you improve your business German communications skills or help you learn vocabulary necessary for a German-speaking job. Keep in mind though that your general German language skills should be at least at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) before you get on with business German.

Free Online Courses for Business German

  • WirtschaftsDeutsch.de is a large collection of materials related to teaching business German, though not all of them are learning materials. Most of these materials can be downloaded either as PDF files or MS-word documents. In addition to numerous freely downloadable vocabulary-building materials, there are also interactive online exercises and assessment tests. This is one of the most comprehensive free web resources for teaching various aspects of business German.
  • Marktplatz from Deutsche Welle is a free online course dedicated to business German, consisting of 26 lessons that will teach you German phrases and expressions needed to do business in German-speaking countries. The difficulty level of this course is B2. Unfortunately, the course has disappeared from the new DW.com website without further notice (checked as of mid-December 2023) but you can still find it in the web archive linked above. For each lesson you can download a workbook and a transcript of conversations as PDF files. It goes without saying that all lessons are downloadable as MP3s.
  • Deutsch im Job – Profis gesucht is the latest German language course from Deutsche Welle focusing on acquisition of terms and phrases used at a workplace. The main areas of emphasis are professions in the hospitality industry, mechanical engineering, building cleaning services, nursing and retail trade. The difficulty level is B1. This course is also useful for learners getting ready for a job interview in German.
  • Deutsch am Arbeitsplatz from Goethe Institute is a set of free interactive practicing materials you can use to train your German language skills for work-related situations. There are 45 general exercises (they include topics like business correspondence, applying for a job, making presentations, etc.) and 122 exercises under specific categories such as social work, science and technology, office management, services, culture and trade. The difficulty level varies between A1 and C2.
  • German Culture and Language Coaching is a youtube channel from Kirschner Communications TV where you will find a playlist of 31 videos called “German Business Language Videos”. This playlist is dedicated to practicing specific German communication skills that can be used in a variety of practical situations when doing business in Germany.
  • VHS-Lernportal, which stands for “Volkshochschul-Lernportal”, is a portal supporting the integration of immigrants in Germany developed by the German Adult Education Association. You can access the learning materials as a guest but to fully benefit from all features and functions of the site you will need to register (registration is free for everyone). Once logged in, look for the categories “A2-B1-Deutschkurs Beruf” or “B2-Deutschkurs Beruf” near the bottom of the homepage where you can find free lessons and exercises to practice your German language skills related to business and employment.
  • Englisch-Deutsch Vokabeltrainer (English-German vocabulary trainer) enables you to practice your business German vocabulary online by answering multiple choice questions. This is an interactive tool, so if you make a mistake you will be asked the same question again later to make sure you eventually get it right. Unfortunately, the website was broken when last checked in mid-December 2023.
  • Key German Phrases from bab.la is a list of several dozen essential German phrases and their English translations (or equivalents) commonly used in business correspondence. You can refer to this list when writing emails to your German business partners. Please note that some web browsers will try to download this PDF file to your device rather than displaying it in the browser.

Language Certificates for Business German

Some learners may also need an official proof of German language proficiency for doing business with German-speakers or for a German-speaking job. The most widely accepted German language certificates include:

  • Prüfung Wirtschaftsdeutsch International or PWD (International Test for German Business Language Skills level C1)
  • Goethe-Test PRO: Deutsch für den Beruf (German for Employment by Goethe Institute in cooperation with Business Language Testing Service). This certificate replaces two certificates that were formerly used to evaluate the German business language skills: BULATS Deutsch für den Beruf and Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf or ZDfB (Certificate German for Employment level B2).
  • Telc Deutsch C1 Beruf (telc German language examination for employees level C1)

As you can see, in order to succeed at any of the above exams your German language skills must be at the level B2/C1 (according to CEFR). Although for “Goethe-Test PRO: Deutsch für den Beruf” no specific level has been defined, it is unlikely that candidates whose German language skills are below B2 would be able to pass this exam with good results. If you need a German language certificate for your job, please refer to the chapter German language proficiency exams for sample tests and practice materials for business German examinations or other standard examinations that may be required by your employer.

Yet, writing your own CV is a practical way of improving your German business language skills. If you are planning on moving to Germany for work, you may be interested in free web tools that help you create a professional-looking German cover letter and CV. These tools can be found at the bottom of the linked page.

Business German FAQs

Is German useful for business?

Yes it is, considering how big and important the German economy is and how many foreign employees are recruited by German companies every year not just in Germany but also to work for German companies abroad.

Should I learn French or German for business?

There are a number of factors to consider. Germany certainly is a bigger and more open economy than France and it is also more open to foreign workforce. This alone is a good reason to learn German. However, on the other hand, it is more likely that you will find an English-speaking job in Germany or in a German company abroad rather than relying solely on English while working for a French company either in France or elsewhere.

How long does it take to learn business German?

If you want to be fluent in business German you should be fluent in general conversation topics as well and that will take two or more years of intensive study. You cannot just focus on business German. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a German-speaking job, you should pay special attention to your business German to make sure that it is at least as good as your general conversation skills.

How do you say recruitment in German?

When talking about personnel recruitment the most equivalent German terms are ‘Rekrutierung’, ‘Personalbeschaffung’ or ‘Anwerbung’.

What is the German word for interview?

Many Germans may use the English term interview but the authentic German words for job interview are ‘Bewerbungsgespräch’, ‘Vorstellungsgespräch’ or ‘Einstellungsgespräch’.

What level of German do you need for a job?

For most jobs, the B2 level is just enough to get started. However, for certain professions (e.g., as a salesperson, physician, lecturer, etc.) you will need C1 or in some specific cases (e.g., as a teacher) even C2 German. Get a German language certificate from a respected authority such as Goethe Institute or TELC to make sure it is recognized by all German employers.