Overstating German is one of the fastest ways to fail an early interview. Use CEFR labels you can defend in a live conversation. If your written German is stronger than spoken, say so in counselling so we can adjust which roles you prioritise.
Certificates help when a posting lists a minimum level. They matter less when the team already works bilingually and will test you in the interview. English-only applications still appear in some international offices, yet local customer-facing graduate tracks usually expect solid German.
Pair language truthfulness with a short plan: evening courses, tandem partners, or industry vocabulary lists tied to your field. Counselling sessions often include that plan as part of the next-steps sheet.