WORK ETIQUETTES IN GERMANY
If you are planning to work in Germany, it is very important that you should know about professional life of Germany and work etiquette is one of them. Work etiquette in Germany is similar to many countries, but there are some points to keep in mind when trying to make a good impression. There are no hard and fast rules, work culture varies office to office. But in general it's good to be formal when it comes to professional life in Germany.
PUNCTUALITY
Punctuality is very important in Germany, if you are even five or ten minutes late in for a meeting it will be considered rude, even if you are five minutes late call ahead and explain your situation. You are suggested to be five or ten minutes early for important appointments. Germans are extremely punctual, therefore, managing time, calendars, schedules, and agendas must be respected. Also, projects and meetings are carefully scheduled and organization carts are very detailed.
GREETINGS
A short and firm handshake is most common in Germany, note that you will have to shake everyone in a room before a meeting (just a wave is unprofessional.) If you are leaving early from the meeting, shake everyone's hand again starting with the most senior person and working down. Also never shake hands with one hand still in the pocket. Eye contact should be maintained, but eye contact should be friendly and honest, it should not be an uncomfortable stare down.
Also first name is only used to address family and close friends, so always address people at your work place with their last name.
DRESS CODE
Generally, work place dress is conservative and professional in Germany, this varies with different cities and industries. Many start-ups, newsrooms and some environmental firms sometimes use more casual dress codes. Other business and banks stick to a conservative wardrobe. Banking cities like Frankfurt are bit more conservative than Berlin with a big creative scene.
Also, women should not wear a heavy make and too much jewelry or accessories. Both men and women should not remove the jacket or any other article of clothing in a meeting.
BODY LANGUAGE
You should maintain eye contact, when addressing your German colleagues, especially during initial instruction. You should not put your hands in your pocket while speaking. Your posture should be professional in a meeting and you should not put hand on your face while a meeting is going on.
SLOW AND STEADY
Work flow will go with steady pace. Projects are expected to be completed on time and accurately. However, more priority is given to accuracy than speed. You should do the work properly even if takes time, work slowly but try not making mistakes. If you need to change the deadline, notify coworkers early and explain the situation.
