Excerpted from the Germany Career Guide
When working
in Germany, until you have developed personal relationships, it is very
important to refer to your German colleagues with their titles (respectively,
"Herr" and "Frau" for "Mr." and "Mrs.")
, plus the last or family name. Never use the first name until you have
established a friendship. If someone is introduced to you with an additional
title (for example, a doctor), you must use it, beginning with "Herr"
or "Frau," plus the family name. Living in Germany, you will
notice that the culture is generally
quite formal.
Shake hands with everyone in a group when meeting and before departing.
Waving hello or goodbye is not appreciated. The use of business cards
is common. If possible, have a German translation of your business card
printed on the reverse side. Be sure to include any advanced educational
degrees and your full job title on your card.
Germans show their appreciation at the end of a business meeting by rapping
their knuckles against the tabletop.
This is just a sample of what you'll find in the complete Germany guide.
|