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Career Abroad is the ideal guide to facts on work culture abroad.

Do's and don'ts on etiquette, work ethics and conversational pleasantries, find them all here.

Welcome to the land of the Mercedes Benz

Germany has become synonymous with the BMW, Volkswagen, Zeiss cameras, SAP technology, and of course, the ubiquitous Beer. Acquaint yourself with a few facts about the Deutsche culture before you set foot on the Vaterland (Fatherland.)

Greetings
Be prepared to hear Guten Morgen (good morning), Guten Tag (hullo), Gute Nacht (good night) and Auf Wiedersehen (till we meet again), quite often during your stay in Germany.

Courtesy dictates that when entering a shop, restaurant, train or a similar venue, visitors should say Guten Tag before saying what it is that they want. The same greeting is used even in business situations. A firm handshake with direct eye contact is expected both on being introduced and when taking leave. Men usually click their heels smartly when shaking hands. Ladies do a charming little curtsy when greeting someone.

Business meets
Who introduces you, how they do and when they do will determine your importance in a German’s view. They prefer third party introductions. Address men with the prefix “Herr”, followed by their occupational title. For instance, “Herr doctor”… Likewise, ladies are addressed with the prefix “ Frau” if they’re married; and “Fräulein” (pronounced as “fraw-line”) if they’re not.

§ Watch out (quite literally!)- Being late for a business appointment is considered an unforgivable lapse in etiquette.
§ Shake hands with all the members in a group and not just with the person who’s been introduced to you.
§ Maintain direct eye contact when talking to someone or when someone is talking to you.
§ Bring plenty of business cards.
§ Germans are very particular about hierarchy and the proper business protocol and expect you to be the same. The eldest or higher ranking person enters a room first. At meetings, follow the examples of senior participants as to how formal you should be.
§ Germans are quite blunt and direct in their speech, so if you want to score points –don’t ramble, but come straight to the point.
§ Seriousness of tone and manner is maintained at all times.

Business style
§ Germans don’t expect you to sell your product or services aggressively. They prefer to let the product speak for itself. They are not very impressed with slick presentations or glitzy advertising gimmicks. In fact, any exaggeration on your part will lower your credibility substantially. Also, don’t be effusive. Understate rather than over-sell.
§ Plan your business proposal very carefully. Business meetings are taken very seriously. So don’t try to liven it up with humour. (In fact our brand of humour will be quite incomprehensible to them and theirs to us!) You will be expected to be well prepared and organised. Back up your claim with substantial data and observations.
§ Don’t pressurise your German counterparts to take swift decisions. Decision-making is done in a very deliberate measured fashion. You can expect yourself and your business proposal to come under their eagle-eyed scrutiny, before any action is decided on.
§ Dress conservatively- the concept of Friday dressing is still to catch on! Khakis and other casuals are not appropriate corporate wear. Incidentally, Indian women wearing saris are viewed with what amounts to awe!

Business and social etiquette
It’s very unusual for a business associate to entertain you at home, but if you’re invited, it’s a rare honour indeed. First names are reserved for family members and very close friends-so be formal. As with business meetings, you have to be on time. If you’ve been held up for some reason, call up and notify your hosts.

When you visit someone its polite to take a gift with you. You could take some curios from India or a box of chocolates. A bouquet of unwrapped flowers (in odd figures) is ideal. But don’t ever give a bunch containing 13 flowers. It is considered unlucky. Also, never give lilies- they’re used at funerals.

Conversation
Be friendly, but don’t ask too many personal questions. Germans fiercely guard their privacy. Safe topics for conversation are sports, travel and politics (a hot favourite with Germans!)- But don’t get involved in this if you’re not well informed.

Germany produces some of the world’s finest beer and if you’re fond of beer, you can talk endlessly about this topic. Most Germans enjoy exchanging notes with other connoisseurs of this brew. Whatever you do talk about- remember that one topic is taboo- the War or the Holocaust.

Wining and dining
Don’t sit till you are told where to sit. If you’re the main guest, you’ll probably be asked to sit at the head of the table. Wait for your host to propose a toast before you commence eating. He’ll say “Zum Wohl” or “Prost”- both of which generally mean a toast for good health. When the toast is being proposed, maintain direct eye-contact with the host from the time the glass is raised till its placed on the table. If you can’t hold your liqueur well, pass up the round of drinks. You can opt for mineral water or soda instead.

When eating-use your fork and spoon. Eating with your hands is not appreciated unless the nature of that particular food demands that you do.

If you are hosting a party at a restaurant, make the payment arrangements beforehand. You don’t have to tip because a 15% service charge is almost always included in the bill.
Enjoy your memorable tryst with this charming part of the world!

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