You've moved to Barcelona, you've got yourself an apartment, you've joined the expat Facebook groups and you've started making friends. It's time for the final piece of the puzzle - getting a job! Interviews can be nerve-wracking at the best of times, and many people find the thought of being interviewed in a second language very daunting. So we've put together our top five tips to impress potential employers with your Spanish!
Preparation is key
For a week or so prior to the interview, go for total immersion. Try to use Spanish as much as possible; read newspapers, watch films, listen to podcasts in Spanish. Immersion will help you to tune in to the language in a general way, meaning that listening and speaking in the interview will be easier. Just as you would with an interview coming up at home, think of potential interview questions and rehearse your answers. Don't try to learn answers off by heart - there's no guarantee your answer will exactly match the question - but practise a few key phrases that you can build a flexible answer around.
Ask for help
Once you've prepared your potential answers, ask a friend with a good level of Spanish, or your Spanish teacher,to do a mock interview with you - this is a good way of getting over your nerves! Ask them to take notes on any mistakes and give you feedback afterwards.
Facts and figures
Long numbers and dates can sometimes be tricky in Spanish- make sure you are saying them accurately! It's not a good idea to memorise full paragraphs, but it is worthwhile practising past job dates and salary figures...a mistake here could be pretty disastrous!
Remember to listen
Feel free to take notes when you are being asked a question - you can use key phrases from the question in your answers to show that you have listened and understood. And if you don't understand a question, it's always better to ask the interviewer to repeat what they've said - don't take a guess at it!
Useful vocabulary
el puesto fijo - permanent position
el trabajo temporal - temporary job
la nómina - payroll
el contrato - contract
el currículum - CV
subcontratar - to subcontract
autónomo - freelance
el sueldo, el salario - salary
gano mil euros al mes - I earn €1,000 a month
el finiquito - settlement
las prácticas - work experience
trabajar sin cobrar - to work for free
las vacaciones - holidays
el horario laboral - working hours
un ascenso - promotion
me han subido el sueldo - I've had a pay rise
los credenciales - credentials
la experiencia - experience
aportar - to contribute
tener éxito - to be successful
la entrevista - the interview
el sector público - public sector
el empresario - entrepreneur
el trabajo - job
el empleo - employment
la carrera - career
la industria - industry
el sector - sector
el campo - field
el ejecutivo - executive
subalterno - junior
superior - senior
el encargado - manager
Do you have any good tips for job interviews in Spanish? Share them in the comments!
