Anyone who has ever had to give away a room in a shared flat knows: It can be quite exhausting. 30 applications, five people in one evening, small talk between spaghetti and canned beer – and in the end, one thing remains above all: a queasy feeling and the question of whether you haven’t overlooked someone who would have been a perfect fit.

But hey, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you prepare a little as a WG and pay attention to a few things, a WG casting can not only be stress-free, but even really nice.

Here are five tips to ensure that your WG casting does not turn into a cringy job interview.

1. Talk to each other – before you talk to others

Before anyone even enters the apartment, you should clarify together as a WG:

• What kind of person really suits us?
• Do we want a purpose-built shared flat or a real community?
• What is important to us in everyday life (cleanliness, rest, exchange, similar rhythms, certain hobbies, similar eating habits)?

The clearer you are, the better you can decide later – and communicate.

2. Stay honest: Show yourself as you are

A WG casting is not a real estate advertisement. You don’t have to present yourself as “better” or neater than you are. If you like to ignore the dishwasher or watch series together in the evening – feel free to say so. There’s no point in fooling someone into believing something that doesn’t fit in everyday life anyway.

Being honest means comparing expectations. And in the end, that protects everyone.

3. More Than Asking: Making It Relaxed

Sure, you want to know what makes someone tick – but no one wants to feel like they’re at a job interview. Instead of a list of questions: Invite people to a small kitchen meeting, maybe cook something together, drink a tea or a beer, just talk about everyday life.

Questions like “What is important to you in a shared flat?” or “What does your perfect Sunday look like?” often say more than: “What are you studying and when are you moving out?”

And: Take a short time afterwards to reflect as a WG – preferably directly after the meeting.

4. Address no-gos directly – with style

Do you have clear rules or wishes? (No pets, no parties during the week, no smoking in the apartment?) Then say that directly. And friendly.

Openness doesn’t seem harsh – it’s fair. And if it doesn’t fit, this is not a rejection of the person, but a decision for a suitable coexistence.

5. Cancellations? Please be fair and humane

Usually only one person can move in – and that means many cancel. Again, be honest, friendly and get in touch promptly.

A short “Thank you for your time, unfortunately it didn’t fit – but we wish you good luck in your search” is enough. Ghosting or radio silence? It doesn’t work at all. You were once on the other side – remember that.

Result

A WG casting is not a test – it is getting to know each other. It’s not about finding “the best” person, but the right one. And you usually don’t notice that by the way someone sorts their socks – but by how it feels to sit together at the table.

If you approach the whole thing honestly, respectfully and with a bit of gut feeling, then a casting might not only become a new roommate – but also a good friend at some point.