Foreign employees in Germany learn to fit in by learning the culture.
German business is greatly respected around the world for its efficiency and innovation. Many foreign companies like Microsoft have satellite offices in Germany, which means a corporate culture with foreign as well as German workers. Like most businesses around the world, each business in Germany is different from the next. However, understanding a few basics about German corporate culture will help a foreigner working in Germany to acclimate to the business environment.
Potential
Business dealings in Germany tend to be more formal-especially in the initial stages, according to the University of Freiburg. Foreigners hoping to do business with a German company should plan on sending a formal letter to the department with which they’d like to conduct business. The letter should be written in formal business German and sent two to three weeks in advance. Additionally, if the foreign business person does not speak German, it is considered polite to offer to bring an interpreter.
Considerations
Status and title are important in German business culture as is maintaining formality amongst workers. Foreign business people doing business in Germany should brush up on both the cultural aspects of business as well as business vocabulary. The German language has both a formal and an informal version, which includes different words for "you". In formal settings, Germans normally use "Sie"-the formal version of "you" when addressing one another. Additionally, many foreigners working in Germany may find that while their German colleagues address one another as "Sie", they may address foreigners by their first name and invite their new colleagues to do the same, according to the German Way.
Types
Business attire varies from office to office in Germany, according to Young Germany. Social rank as well as company environment dictates how people dress for work. Germans holding management positions often dress in business attire; whereas, receptionists and secretaries may come to work in more casual clothes. However, casual in Germany still tends to be more formal than it is in other parts of the world.
Features
German stereotypes portray Germans as forever punctual, and for the most part, that is true. However, this isn’t always the case. According to Young Germany, many people working in Germany find that they have greater time flexibility than they would in similar jobs in their home countries. This attitude is attributed to the understanding that people working in a German company will complete the work assigned to them done. But those who are unfamiliar with a German company should double-check. Workers who are late when it’s expected they will arrive at a certain time are seen as unreliable.
Misconceptions
According to an article on German Way, the work environment in Germany is just as varied from company to company as it is in America and other countries around the world. So while punctuality and efficiency stand as common German stereotypes, expectations for individual workers vary. For the foreigner working in this environment, the best course of action is to exercise caution. Begin by being very formal until you understand how this particular work culture functions.
