Job Interview in Spanish: 45 Questions, Answers and Phrases

In a job interview in Spanish, use usted, the polite you. The first question is usually cuénteme un poco sobre usted (KWEN-teh-meh oon POH-koh SOH-breh oos-TEHD, tell me about yourself). Next come ¿por qué quiere trabajar aquí? (why do you want to work here?) and ¿cuáles son sus puntos fuertes? (what are your strengths?). Below are 45 phrases in the order an interview goes, from reception to the follow-up email. Spain forms come first, and the notes give the Latin American form where it differs.

Best forJob seekers interviewing in Spanish, including candidates for bilingual jobs in the US.

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Spanish for Job Interviews

Spanish for Job Interviews

The Spanish you hear and say in a job interview, from the greeting at reception to the follow-up email. Learn the questions recruiters ask and how to answer about your experience, strengths, start date and salary. Every phrase uses usted. Spain forms come first, with the Latin American form noted where it differs.

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Arrive and greet

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
Buenos días, tengo una entrevista a las diez con Laura Martínez. BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs, TEN-goh OO-nah en-treh-BEES-tah ah lahs DYETH kon LOW-rah mar-TEE-neth (dyes, mar-TEE-nes in Latin America) Good morning, I have an interview at ten with Laura Martínez. Say this at reception, with the interviewer's full name. Vengo a una entrevista con... (I'm here for an interview with...) also works.
Tome asiento, enseguida le atienden. TOH-meh ah-SYEN-toh, en-seh-GHEE-dah leh ah-TYEN-den Have a seat, someone will be with you shortly. The receptionist may say this while you wait, and tome asiento is the polite usted form. In Latin America you will also hear en un momento lo atienden (la atienden to a woman).
Encantado, gracias por recibirme. en-kahn-TAH-doh, GRAH-thyahs por reh-thee-BEER-meh (GRAH-syahs, reh-see-BEER-meh in Latin America) Nice to meet you, thank you for seeing me. Say it as you shake the interviewer's hand; a woman says encantada. In Latin America mucho gusto is the more common greeting, and it works in Spain too.
Le traigo una copia de mi currículum. leh TRY-goh OO-nah KOH-pyah deh mee koo-RREE-koo-loom I've brought you a copy of my CV. Say it as you hand it over; le is the polite usted form. In Latin America people say le traje una copia de mi currículum, and in Colombia a CV is also la hoja de vida.

Small talk before you start

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
¿Ha encontrado bien la oficina? ah en-kon-TRAH-doh byen lah oh-fee-THEE-nah (oh-fee-SEE-nah in Latin America) Did you find the office all right? Interviewers often open with this before the questions start. In Latin America you will hear ¿Encontró bien la oficina? or ¿Llegó bien?
Sí, sin problema, he venido en metro. see, seen proh-BLEH-mah, eh beh-NEE-doh en MEH-troh Yes, no problem, I came by metro. A short, friendly answer is all they want. In Latin America people say vine en metro. Swap in en coche (by car; en carro in much of Latin America).
¿Le apetece un café o un vaso de agua? leh ah-peh-TEH-theh oon kah-FEH oh oon BAH-soh deh AH-gwah Would you like a coffee or a glass of water? Le apetece is how Spain offers something politely. In Latin America you will hear ¿Le ofrezco un café o un vaso de agua?, and in Mexico ¿Gusta un café? Un vaso de agua, gracias is a safe answer.

Questions the interviewer asks

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
Cuénteme un poco sobre usted. KWEN-teh-meh oon POH-koh SOH-breh oos-TEHD Tell me about yourself. This is usually the first real question, so answer in about a minute: what you do now, your experience and why this job. You may also hear hábleme de usted, or platíqueme de usted in Mexico. Recruiters in Spain who use tú say cuéntame un poco sobre ti.
¿A qué se dedica actualmente? ah keh seh deh-DEE-kah ahk-twahl-MEN-teh What do you do for work right now? This is the usual way to ask about someone's job. Answer with trabajo como... (I work as...) or trabajo en... (I work in...).
¿Por qué quiere trabajar aquí? por KEH KYEH-reh trah-bah-HAR ah-KEE Why do you want to work here? Also asked as ¿Por qué le interesa este puesto? (Why are you interested in this job?). Name something specific about the company.
¿Cuáles son sus puntos fuertes? KWAH-lehs sohn soos POON-tohs FWEHR-tehs What are your strengths? Sus is the usted form of your, and in Latin America you will often hear ¿Cuáles son sus fortalezas?
¿Y sus puntos débiles? ee soos POON-tohs DEH-bee-lehs And your weaknesses? It usually comes right after the question about strengths. In Mexico recruiters often say ¿Y sus áreas de oportunidad? (your areas for improvement). In Spain you may also hear ¿Y sus áreas de mejora?
¿Por qué dejó su último trabajo? por KEH deh-HOH soo OOL-tee-moh trah-BAH-hoh Why did you leave your last job? Keep the answer positive and about what you want next. In Mexico you will often hear último empleo. If you still have the job, you will hear ¿Por qué quiere cambiar de trabajo?
¿Dónde se ve dentro de cinco años? DOHN-deh seh beh DEN-troh deh THEEN-koh AH-nyohs (SEEN-koh in Latin America) Where do you see yourself in five years? Se ve is the usted form, and a good answer talks about growing in the role.
¿Qué puede aportar a la empresa? keh PWEH-deh ah-por-TAR ah lah em-PREH-sah What can you bring to the company? Spanish interviewers often ask this instead of why should we hire you. You may also hear ¿Por qué deberíamos contratarle? (contratarlo or contratarla in Latin America).
Cuénteme una situación difícil en el trabajo y cómo la resolvió. KWEN-teh-meh OO-nah see-twah-THYOHN dee-FEE-theel en el trah-BAH-hoh ee KOH-moh lah reh-sohl-BYOH (see-twah-SYOHN, dee-FEE-seel in Latin America) Tell me about a difficult situation at work and how you solved it. This is a common behavioral question, so answer with what happened, what you did and how it turned out.
Vamos a seguir en español, ¿le parece? BAH-mohs ah seh-GHEER en es-pah-NYOL, leh pah-REH-theh (pah-REH-seh in Latin America) Let's continue in Spanish, is that OK? For a bilingual job in the US, the interviewer may switch to Spanish to check your level. Answer in Spanish: claro, sin problema (sure, no problem). In Spain the switch usually goes the other way, to test your English: vamos a pasar al inglés.

Talk about your experience

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
Tengo cinco años de experiencia en atención al cliente. TEN-goh THEEN-koh AH-nyohs deh eks-peh-RYEN-thyah en ah-ten-THYOHN ahl klee-EN-teh (SEEN-koh, eks-peh-RYEN-syah, ah-ten-SYOHN in Latin America) I have five years of experience in customer service. Change the number and the field: en ventas (in sales), en contabilidad (in accounting). In Mexico people also say atención a clientes.
Actualmente trabajo en el departamento comercial de una empresa de logística. ahk-twahl-MEN-teh trah-BAH-hoh en el deh-par-tah-MEN-toh koh-mehr-THYAHL deh OO-nah em-PREH-sah deh loh-HEES-tee-kah (koh-mehr-SYAHL in Latin America) I currently work in the sales department of a logistics company. In Spain the sales team is usually el departamento comercial. In Latin America people say el área de ventas. Actualmente means currently, not actually.
En mi trabajo anterior me encargaba de gestionar los pedidos. en mee trah-BAH-hoh an-teh-RYOR meh en-kar-GAH-bah deh hes-tyoh-NAR lohs peh-DEE-dohs In my previous job I was in charge of handling orders. Encargarse de (to be in charge of) is the verb people use to describe their duties. In Mexico you will also hear manejar instead of gestionar.
Estaba a cargo de un equipo de seis personas. es-TAH-bah ah KAR-goh deh oon eh-KEE-poh deh seys pehr-SOH-nahs I was in charge of a team of six people. Use it to show leadership; in Spain you will also hear llevaba un equipo de seis personas.
Hablo inglés y español con fluidez. AH-bloh een-GLEHS ee es-pah-NYOL kon flwee-DETH (flwee-DES in Latin America) I speak English and Spanish fluently. For a bilingual job, add how you use each one: uso el español a diario con clientes (I use Spanish every day with customers). Soy bilingüe (I'm bilingual) also works.

Strengths, weaknesses and why this job

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
Soy una persona muy organizada. soy OO-nah pehr-SOH-nah mwee or-gah-nee-THAH-dah (or-gah-nee-SAH-dah in Latin America) I'm a very organized person. Persona is feminine, so organizada stays the same for a man or a woman. Swap in responsable (responsible) or proactiva (proactive).
Trabajo bien bajo presión. trah-BAH-hoh byen BAH-hoh preh-SYOHN I work well under pressure. Back it up with an example, such as a busy season or a tight deadline.
Me gusta mucho trabajar en equipo. meh GOOS-tah MOO-choh trah-bah-HAR en eh-KEE-poh I really like working in a team. A natural answer to ¿Prefiere trabajar solo o en equipo? (Do you prefer working alone or in a team?).
A veces me cuesta delegar, pero estoy mejorando. ah BEH-thehs meh KWES-tah deh-leh-GAR, PEH-roh es-TOY meh-hoh-RAHN-doh (BEH-sehs in Latin America) Sometimes I find it hard to delegate, but I'm getting better. A good answer to the weakness question: a real weakness plus what you are doing about it. Me cuesta means I find it hard.
Busco un puesto donde pueda seguir creciendo. BOOS-koh oon PWES-toh DOHN-deh PWEH-dah seh-GHEER kreh-THYEN-doh (kreh-SYEN-doh in Latin America) I'm looking for a job where I can keep growing. A positive answer to why you are leaving your current job. In Spain you will also hear busco un nuevo reto (I'm looking for a new challenge).
Me interesa este puesto porque encaja con mi experiencia. meh een-teh-REH-sah EHS-teh PWES-toh POR-keh en-KAH-hah kon mee eks-peh-RYEN-thyah (eks-peh-RYEN-syah in Latin America) I'm interested in this job because it fits my experience. An answer to ¿Por qué quiere trabajar aquí? Follow it with one specific reason.

Availability and salary

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
¿Cuándo podría incorporarse? KWAN-doh poh-DREE-ah een-kor-poh-RAR-seh When could you start? Incorporarse (to join) is the HR word in Spain, and Mexican recruiters use it too. Empezar (to start) is the everyday word: ¿Cuándo podría empezar?
Tengo disponibilidad inmediata. TEN-goh dees-poh-nee-bee-lee-DAHD een-meh-DYAH-tah I can start right away. Literally I have immediate availability; it is the standard phrase in Spain and Latin America. Puedo empezar de inmediato (I can start right away) says the same thing.
Tendría que avisar en mi trabajo con dos semanas de antelación. ten-DREE-ah keh ah-bee-SAR en mee trah-BAH-hoh kon dohs seh-MAH-nahs deh an-teh-lah-THYOHN I would have to give my current job two weeks' notice. In Spain you will often hear quince días de preaviso (fifteen days' notice). In Latin America people say con dos semanas de anticipación.
¿Cuáles son sus expectativas salariales? KWAH-lehs sohn soos eks-pek-tah-TEE-bahs sah-lah-RYAH-lehs What are your salary expectations? Interviewers often ask it near the end, so have a range ready before you go in.
Mis expectativas están entre cuarenta y cuarenta y cinco mil al año. mees eks-pek-tah-TEE-bahs es-TAHN EN-treh kwah-REN-tah ee kwah-REN-tah ee THEEN-koh meel ahl AH-nyoh (SEEN-koh in Latin America) I'm looking for between forty and forty-five thousand a year. Give a range. In Spain people quote a yearly gross figure: cuarenta mil brutos al año. In Mexico pay is usually quoted per month (al mes), gross or net (bruto o neto). For a job in the US, add dólares.
Estoy abierto a negociar. es-TOY ah-BYEHR-toh ah neh-goh-THYAR (neh-goh-SYAR in Latin America) I'm open to negotiating. Say it after your range to show you are flexible; a woman says abierta.

Questions to ask the interviewer

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
¿Tiene alguna pregunta para nosotros? TYEH-neh ahl-GOO-nah preh-GOON-tah PAH-rah noh-SOH-trohs Do you have any questions for us? Almost every interview ends with this. Have one or two ready, because no, ninguna (no, none) can sound like low interest.
¿Cómo sería un día típico en este puesto? KOH-moh seh-REE-ah oon DEE-ah TEE-pee-koh en EHS-teh PWES-toh What would a typical day in this job look like? It is a safe first question, and in Spain you will also hear un día normal.
¿Cómo es el equipo con el que trabajaría? KOH-moh es el eh-KEE-poh kon el keh trah-bah-hah-REE-ah What is the team I would work with like? It shows you are thinking about how you would fit in.
¿El puesto es presencial o en remoto? el PWES-toh es preh-sen-THYAHL oh en reh-MOH-toh (preh-sen-SYAHL in Latin America) Is the job in the office or remote? Presencial means in person. In Latin America people say presencial o remoto, without en. You will also hear teletrabajo in Spain, home office in Mexico and híbrido (hybrid) everywhere.
¿Qué posibilidades de crecimiento hay en la empresa? keh poh-see-bee-lee-DAH-dehs deh kreh-thee-MYEN-toh ay en lah em-PREH-sah (kreh-see-MYEN-toh in Latin America) What room is there to grow in the company? It shows you plan to stay and move up. In Latin America you will more often hear oportunidades de crecimiento.
¿Cuáles son los siguientes pasos del proceso? KWAH-lehs sohn lohs see-GHYEN-tehs PAH-sohs del proh-THEH-soh (proh-SEH-soh in Latin America) What are the next steps in the process? It makes a good last question, and the full term is el proceso de selección (the hiring process).

Close and follow up

Spanish Pronunciation Meaning Listen
Nos pondremos en contacto con usted. nohs pohn-DREH-mohs en kon-TAHK-toh kon oos-TEHD We'll be in touch. Many interviews end this way. In Spain you may also hear le llamaremos (we'll call you); in Latin America lo llamaremos, or la llamaremos to a woman.
Muchas gracias por su tiempo. MOO-chahs GRAH-thyahs por soo TYEM-poh (GRAH-syahs in Latin America) Thank you very much for your time. Su is the usted form. As you leave, add ha sido un placer (it's been a pleasure); in Latin America people say fue un placer.
Le escribo para agradecerle la entrevista de ayer. leh es-KREE-boh PAH-rah ah-grah-deh-THEHR-leh lah en-treh-BEES-tah deh ah-YEHR (ah-grah-deh-SEHR-leh in Latin America) I'm writing to thank you for yesterday's interview. It is the first line of a thank-you email, which you send the same day or the next.
Quedo a la espera de sus noticias. KEH-doh ah lah es-PEH-rah deh soos noh-TEE-thyahs (noh-TEE-syahs in Latin America) I look forward to hearing from you. It is the standard way to end a follow-up email. In Latin America you will also see quedo atento a sus comentarios (atenta for a woman).
Le escribo para preguntarle si hay alguna novedad sobre el proceso. leh es-KREE-boh PAH-rah preh-goon-TAR-leh see ay ahl-GOO-nah noh-beh-DAHD SOH-breh el proh-THEH-soh (proh-SEH-soh in Latin America) I'm writing to ask if there is any news about the process. Use it if you have not heard back after a week or so.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say job interview in Spanish?

Entrevista de trabajo. To say you have one: tengo una entrevista de trabajo. The job itself is el puesto, the company is la empresa and your CV is el currículum (la hoja de vida in Colombia).

How do you say tell me about yourself in Spanish?

Cuénteme un poco sobre usted, or hábleme de usted. In Mexico you may hear platíqueme de usted. Recruiters in Spain who use tú say cuéntame un poco sobre ti. Answer in about a minute: what you do now, your experience and why you want this job.

Should I use tú or usted in a Spanish job interview?

Start with usted. Every phrase on this page uses it. Some recruiters in Spain, often at younger companies, switch to tú, and you can follow their lead. In Mexico and most of Latin America, usted is safer for the whole interview.

What are the most common Spanish interview questions?

Cuénteme un poco sobre usted, ¿por qué quiere trabajar aquí?, ¿cuáles son sus puntos fuertes? and ¿y sus puntos débiles? Then ¿por qué dejó su último trabajo?, ¿dónde se ve dentro de cinco años?, ¿cuándo podría incorporarse? and ¿cuáles son sus expectativas salariales?

How do you ask what someone does for a living in Spanish?

Ask ¿a qué se dedica? with usted, or ¿a qué te dedicas? with tú. Answer with trabajo como (I work as) plus the job, or trabajo en (I work in) plus the field.

What should I ask at the end of a Spanish interview?

Ask about the job, the team and the next step. Good choices are ¿cómo sería un día típico en este puesto?, ¿cómo es el equipo con el que trabajaría? and ¿cuáles son los siguientes pasos del proceso? Have one ready, because the interviewer almost always asks ¿tiene alguna pregunta para nosotros?

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