La Entrevista de Trabajo
A job interview · a free Spanish immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Buenos días, me llamo Ana García y estoy muy interesada en este puesto.
Good morning, my name is Ana García and I am very interested in this position.
Literal Good days, myself I-call Ana García and I-am very interested in this position.
A polite and professional self-introduction using 'me llamo' (my name is) and 'interesada en' (interested in).
- 'me llamo' is a reflexive verb meaning 'I call myself'
- 'estoy' uses estar for temporary states like interest or mood
Trabajé durante cinco años como gerente de proyectos en una empresa tecnológica.
I worked for five years as a project manager at a technology company.
Literal I-worked during five years as manager of projects in a company technological.
Uses the preterite tense (trabajé) to describe a completed work experience with a specific time frame.
- 'trabajé' is the preterite of trabajar, used for completed past actions
- 'como' means 'as' when describing a professional role
He liderado equipos de hasta veinte personas con mucho éxito.
I have led teams of up to twenty people with great success.
Literal I-have led teams of up-to twenty people with much success.
Present perfect (he liderado) highlights recent or ongoing accomplishments, ideal for discussing career achievements.
- Present perfect: haber + past participle
- 'hasta' means 'up to' when indicating a maximum quantity
Una de mis mayores fortalezas es mi capacidad para comunicarme con claridad.
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to communicate clearly.
Literal One of my greatest strengths is my capacity for communicate-myself with clarity.
Uses reflexive 'comunicarme' (to communicate) and abstract nouns typical in professional self-descriptions.
- 'comunicarme' is a reflexive infinitive attached to a preposition
- 'fortalezas' (strengths) is a key interview vocabulary word
Me interesa este puesto porque me permite seguir creciendo profesionalmente.
I am interested in this position because it allows me to keep growing professionally.
Literal To-me interests this position because to-me it-allows continue growing professionally.
Uses 'me interesa' (I am interested in) and 'seguir creciendo' (to keep growing) for a natural, motivated answer.
- 'me interesa' uses indirect object pronoun + verb, similar to 'me gusta'
- 'seguir + gerund' means 'to keep doing something'
En cuanto a mis expectativas salariales, estoy abierta a negociar según el paquete total.
Regarding my salary expectations, I am open to negotiating based on the total package.
Literal In as-for my expectations salary-related, I-am open to negotiate according-to the package total.
A professional way to discuss salary using 'en cuanto a' (regarding) and 'abierta a' (open to).
- 'en cuanto a' is a formal prepositional phrase meaning 'regarding'
- 'según' means 'according to' or 'depending on'
Podría incorporarme al equipo a partir del próximo mes si fuera necesario.
I could join the team starting next month if it were necessary.
Literal I-could incorporate-myself to-the team from the next month if it-were necessary.
Combines the conditional 'podría' with the imperfect subjunctive 'fuera' — a polished way to discuss availability.
- 'podría' is the conditional of poder, used for polite or hypothetical statements
- 'fuera' is the imperfect subjunctive of ser/ir, used in si-clauses
¿Podría decirme más sobre las oportunidades de desarrollo dentro de la empresa?
Could you tell me more about the development opportunities within the company?
Literal Could you tell-me more about the opportunities of development within of the company?
A thoughtful question using 'podría + infinitivo' for polite requests — essential for impressing interviewers.
- 'podría decirme' is a polite conditional construction with usted implied
- 'dentro de' means 'within' or 'inside of'
Siempre he buscado trabajos que me desafíen y me hagan crecer como profesional.
I have always looked for jobs that challenge me and make me grow as a professional.
Literal Always I-have sought jobs that me challenge and me make grow as professional.
Uses the present perfect with subjunctive 'desafíen' and 'hagan', triggered by the relative clause 'que'.
- Subjunctive after 'que' in relative clauses with indefinite antecedents
- 'hagan' is the present subjunctive of hacer
Estoy segura de que puedo aportar mucho valor a su equipo desde el primer día.
I am confident that I can bring a lot of value to your team from the first day.
Literal I-am sure of that I-can contribute much value to your team from the first day.
A confident closing statement using 'estoy segura de que' to reinforce fit and motivation.
- 'estoy segura de que' takes the indicative because the speaker is expressing certainty
- 'aportar valor' (to bring value) is a common professional phrase
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
el puesto
the position / the job
Estoy interesada en este puesto.
I am interested in this position.
Common word for a job opening or role
la fortaleza
the strength
Mi mayor fortaleza es la comunicación.
My greatest strength is communication.
Used in interviews to describe professional strengths
liderar
to lead
He liderado equipos grandes.
I have led large teams.
Common in professional contexts for leadership roles
incorporarse
to join / to start
Podría incorporarme la próxima semana.
I could join next week.
Used specifically for joining a company or team
negociar
to negotiate
Estoy abierta a negociar el salario.
I am open to negotiating the salary.
Essential for salary discussions in interviews
aportar
to contribute / to bring
Puedo aportar mucho al equipo.
I can bring a lot to the team.
Frequently used in professional self-promotion
el desarrollo
the development / growth
Busco oportunidades de desarrollo.
I look for development opportunities.
Refers to professional or personal growth
desafiar
to challenge
Busco trabajos que me desafíen.
I look for jobs that challenge me.
Subjunctive form 'desafíen' used after relative clauses
las expectativas
the expectations
Mis expectativas salariales son flexibles.
My salary expectations are flexible.
Often used in plural, though the singular 'la expectativa' is also valid and common in Spanish.
profesionalmente
professionally
Quiero seguir creciendo profesionalmente.
I want to keep growing professionally.
Formed by adding -mente to the adjective 'profesional', which is invariable and has the same form for both masculine and feminine.
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Ana llegó a la entrevista con confianza y una sonrisa. Se presentó con claridad, explicó su experiencia previa y destacó sus logros más importantes. Cuando el entrevistador le preguntó por qué quería el puesto, ella respondió con honestidad y entusiasmo. Al final, hizo preguntas inteligentes sobre el equipo y las oportunidades de crecimiento. El entrevistador quedó impresionado y le dijo que estarían en contacto pronto.
Sentence by sentence
llegó a la entrevista con confianza
arrived at the interview with confidence
Preterite of llegar (to arrive); 'con confianza' is an adverbial phrase expressing manner
Se presentó con claridad
She introduced herself clearly
Reflexive preterite 'se presentó' from presentarse (to introduce oneself); 'con claridad' means with clarity
destacó sus logros más importantes
highlighted her most important achievements
'Destacó' is preterite of destacar (to highlight); 'logros' means achievements or accomplishments
hizo preguntas inteligentes
asked smart questions
'Hizo' is the irregular preterite of hacer; 'hacer preguntas' is the standard phrase for asking questions
estarían en contacto pronto
they would be in touch soon
'Estarían' is the conditional of estar, used here for a polite near-future promise
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Conditional Tense for Polite Requests and Hypotheticals
The conditional tense (-ría endings) is used to make polite requests, discuss hypothetical situations, and express what you would do. In interviews, it softens statements and sounds professional rather than blunt.
[verb stem] + ía / ías / ía / íamos / íais / ían
Podría incorporarme el próximo mes.
I could join next month.
¿Podría decirme más sobre el puesto?
Could you tell me more about the position?
Estaría encantada de trabajar con su equipo.
I would be delighted to work with your team.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to Spanish: 'I am very interested in this position.'
Hint Use 'estar' + adjective to express interest
He ___ equipos de hasta veinte personas con mucho éxito.
Hint This is the past participle of 'liderar' in a present perfect sentence
Translate to English: 'Podría incorporarme al equipo a partir del próximo mes.'
Hint Look for the conditional verb form
Which sentence is the most polite way to ask for information in a job interview?
Rewrite using the conditional tense: 'Aporto mucho valor a su equipo desde el primer día.'
Hint Change the present 'aporto' to conditional 'aportaría'
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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