My First Check24 Interview: A German Tech Student’s Perspective

The Initial Encounter

Okay, deep breath. This was it. My first serious job interview in Germany, and it was with Check24! I’d moved to Berlin about six months ago from Poland, chasing a dream of working in tech and, honestly, a bit of adventure. The interview itself was conducted entirely in German – naturally – and it felt incredibly surreal. The interviewer, a guy named Markus, was really friendly, introducing himself and explaining that they’d been impressed with my application. It was a classic “Tell us a bit about yourself” situation, and I tried to keep it concise, focusing on my computer science degree and the projects I’d been working on. I kept thinking, “Don’t mess this up!”

Artificial Intelligence and Cursor

Then he started talking about AI – specifically, this tool called “Cursor.” I’d definitely heard of it, it’s a popular tool for experimenting with Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAGs) and MLOps platforms. I’d actually used it quite a bit to try out different things. I explained that I’d played around with LLMs, RAGs, and things like MCPs (Multi-Cloud Platforms) – trying to see how they could optimize processes and personalize customer experiences. I really felt like it was a cool, forward-thinking approach. I said something like, “Es ist super, wie man damit Prozesse optimieren und Kundenerlebnisse personalisieren kann,” which roughly translates to “It’s amazing how you can optimize processes and personalize customer experiences with it.” Markus seemed genuinely interested.

Programming Example

He then asked for an example of how I’d used my programming knowledge. This was where I really wanted to shine. I talked about this university project where I built a web application using Golang and React. I explained that I used Golang for the backend – creating the API – and React for the user interface. I even mentioned I’d dipped into TypeScript to make the code more secure and use the latest JavaScript development features. I said, “Ich habe Golang für das Backend verwendet, um die API zu erstellen, und React für die Benutzeroberfläche,” – “I used Golang for the backend to create the API, and React for the user interface.” I realized later that using such technical details was probably a bit much for a first interview, but I wanted to show I truly understood the technologies.

Approach to Software Development

Next came the question about my approach to software development. I really tried to emphasize my belief in writing “sauberen Code” – clean code – that’s readable, maintainable, and testable. I explained that I always try to plan the architecture from the beginning and keep it open for the future. I really wanted to show that I wasn’t just about writing code, but about building something that would last. I said, “Mir ist es sehr wichtig, sauberen Code zu schreiben, der gut lesbar, wartbar und testbar ist.” – “It’s very important to me to write clean code that is readable, maintainable, and testable.”

Automation and CI/CD

Then came the automation question. Markus asked about CI/CD pipelines and other automation solutions. I nervously admitted I had some experience, explaining I’d worked with CI/CD pipelines and unit tests. I stressed the importance of implementing these from the start to ensure quality and reduce development time. I probably over-explained it a bit, saying, “Ich denke, es ist entscheidend, diese von Anfang an zu implementieren, um die Qualität sicherzustellen und die Entwicklungszeit zu verkürzen.” – “I think it’s crucial to implement these from the start to ensure quality and shorten development time.”

Questions about KI in the Reiseplattform

I had to ask a question! I was really curious about the specific use of AI in the travel platform project. I asked, “Wie sieht der konkrete Einsatz von KI-Technologien in der Entwicklung der Reiseplattform aus? Welche konkreten Projekte sind geplant und wie können wir als Entwickler dazu beitragen, diese Projekte voranzutreiben?” – “What is the concrete use of AI technologies in the development of the travel platform? What specific projects are planned and how can we as developers contribute to advancing these projects?” It’s good to show your engagement and desire to really understand the project.

LLMs, RAGs, and MCPs – The Details

Markus explained that they were planning to use LLMs to improve the search function and product recommendations, RAGs to provide relevant information from their databases, and were also exploring MCPs. It sounded incredibly complex and exciting! I quickly reassured him that I was eager to delve into the details and see how I could contribute. “Das klingt nach einem spannenden Einsatz von KI,” – “That sounds like an exciting use of AI.”

Next Steps

Finally, he asked if I had any more questions. I did, but I held back to keep the momentum going. The interview ended with a discussion about the next steps, and I left feeling surprisingly positive. Even though I knew I’d probably made a few nervous mistakes, I felt like I’d genuinely connected with Markus and showcased my interest in the role.

Concluding Remarks

The whole experience was incredibly valuable, even the moments where I stumbled over my words in German! It definitely felt like a real-world test of my skills and confidence, and a fantastic step in my journey to working in Berlin. Now, to practice my German a little more… “Auf Wiedersehen!”