How to stand out on a trial day in Germany
A German hospital trial day (Hospitation) tests teamwork and ward habits, not medical knowledge. Here is what to bring and what gets you hired.
Ahmed Quteishat
Assistenzarzt, Innere Medizin (Berlin) · Founder of Klaro
A trial day (Hospitation) at a German hospital is not a medical exam. It is a few hours or a few days on the ward, unpaid. The department watches how you work before they offer you a job.
What are they actually judging?
Mostly your teamwork, not your textbook knowledge. A senior doctor (Oberarzt) wants to see how you act.
Do you ask the nurse before you act? Do you speak up at handover?
Do you write a short note without being told twice?
Nobody expects perfect German on day one. They do expect you to try, to listen, and to not freeze when a nurse asks you something fast.
The 3 mistakes that end it fast
- Standing at the back and only watching, instead of offering to take a blood pressure or write a line in the chart.
- Going straight to the senior doctor and skipping the nurses, who often decide the first impression.
- Showing up without your CV, your degree, or your temporary work permit (Berufserlaubnis) or licence (Approbation). They may ask for it on the spot.
What to bring with you
Bring your German CV, your licence or temporary work permit, a copy of your passport, and your own stethoscope. A borrowed stethoscope is a small thing, but it is the first thing a ward nurse notices.
What to say before you leave
Ask the senior doctor directly, before you go. Say: "Can I apply for a junior doctor (Assistenzarzt) position here? Who should I send my application to?" Most departments will tell you straight away if a post is open.
If they say the department is full, ask if another ward in the same hospital is hiring. Trial days often open doors one floor over, not just in the department you visited.
What to do after the trial day
- Email the senior doctor the same evening, thanking them and naming one patient case you helped with.
- Ask the secretary (Chefarztsekretariat) for the name and email to send a formal application.
- Send your CV and cover letter within the week, while your face is still fresh in their mind.
Stand: 2026-11-08. This is a guide, not legal advice. Every German state has its own rules, and rules change. Check with your state's medical chamber (Landesärztekammer) before you act.
Ahmed Quteishat — Assistenzarzt, Innere Medizin (Berlin) · Founder of Klaro
Ahmed built Klaro after watching how much of a doctor's move to Germany gets lost in paperwork rather than medicine.
