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Job Interview in Spanish: Phrases, Typical Questions and Sample Answers
Short answer: to pass a job interview in Spanish, prepare a short self-introduction, three or four stories about your experience, polite phrases to buy time, and questions for the interviewer. Use usted until they offer tú, keep sentences short, and practise out loud with feedback. Vocabulary alone won't get you through the conversation.
I'm Santiago Garnica, a native Spanish speaker from Bogotá and a lawyer trained at Universidad del Rosario. I speak English (C1) and German (B2), so I know from the other side what it feels like to be interviewed in a language that isn't yours. This guide collects what I work on with learners before a real interview. If you also need a Spanish LinkedIn profile, see Spanish for job interviews and LinkedIn.
Should you use usted or tú in a Spanish interview?
Start with usted. In Colombia and most of Latin America it is the normal register with someone you don't know in a professional setting. In Spain, interviews in young companies switch to tú quickly, but beginning formally is never a mistake. If the interviewer says tutéame or uses tú consistently, you can mirror it.
- ¿Usted podría repetir la pregunta, por favor? Could you repeat the question, please?
- Como usted mencionó… As you mentioned…
More on the four forms of "you": Tú vs usted vs vos vs vosotros.
Useful phrases for a job interview in Spanish
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Mucho gusto, gracias por la invitación. | Nice to meet you, thank you for the invitation. |
| Actualmente trabajo como… en… | I currently work as… at… |
| Tengo experiencia en… | I have experience in… |
| Me encargué de… | I was in charge of… |
| Uno de mis logros fue… | One of my achievements was… |
| Me interesa este cargo porque… | I'm interested in this position because… |
| Déjeme pensarlo un momento. | Let me think about that for a moment. |
| ¿Se refiere a…? | Do you mean…? |
| Para ser concreto/concreta… | To be specific… |
| ¿Cuáles serían los próximos pasos? | What would the next steps be? |
In Latin America, cargo or puesto is the usual word for "position". Hoja de vida is the Colombian word for CV; in Spain you'll hear currículum.
Typical questions and sample answers
1. Cuénteme un poco sobre usted. (Tell me a bit about yourself.)
> Soy ingeniera de procesos y llevo seis años trabajando en logística. Actualmente coordino un equipo de cinco personas en Hamburgo. Me interesa este cargo porque quiero trabajar más de cerca con proveedores en América Latina.
2. ¿Por qué quiere trabajar con nosotros? (Why do you want to work with us?)
> Conozco sus proyectos en Colombia y me gusta que trabajen con equipos internacionales. Creo que mi experiencia en Europa puede aportar mucho aquí.
3. ¿Cuáles son sus fortalezas? (What are your strengths?)
> Soy muy organizado. Por ejemplo, en mi último trabajo reduje los tiempos de entrega reorganizando la planificación semanal.
4. ¿Y sus debilidades? (And your weaknesses?)
> A veces quiero revisar todo yo mismo. Estoy aprendiendo a delegar más y a confiar en el equipo.
5. Hábleme de un problema difícil que haya resuelto. (Tell me about a difficult problem you solved.)
> Un cliente importante quería cancelar el contrato. Organicé una reunión, escuché sus quejas y propuse un plan con fechas claras. Al final renovó el contrato.
6. ¿Tiene alguna pregunta para nosotros? (Do you have any questions for us?)
> Sí. ¿Cómo es un día normal en este cargo? ¿Y cómo mide la empresa el éxito en los primeros seis meses?
Notice the past tense in the stories: reduje, organicé, propuse. Finished actions use the preterite. If that still feels shaky, read Preterite vs imperfect.
Common mistakes German speakers make
- Translating "seit" with the present perfect. German Ich arbeite seit fünf Jahren dort becomes Trabajo allí desde hace cinco años or Llevo cinco años trabajando allí, not He trabajado allí desde cinco años.
- Too much directness without softeners. German directness can sound abrupt. Add quisiera, me gustaría or si me permite.
- "Ich bin verantwortlich für" as soy responsable para. It's soy responsable de or me encargo de.
- False friends. Actual means "current" (German aktuell), so far so good, but eventual doesn't mean eventuell, and carrera is your degree or career, not just "Karriere".
- Switching between tú and usted in the same answer. Pick one and keep it.
- Long German sentence structure. Put the main point first, then the detail.
The mistakes German speakers make in everyday Spanish are collected in Common Spanish mistakes German speakers make.
How I prepare learners for an interview
Being a lawyer shapes the way I teach: define the message, cut what doesn't help, and rehearse the exact sentences you will say. In 50-minute 1:1 lessons we usually:
- Read the job ad together and pick the words the company uses.
- Build your introduction (about 45 seconds) and two or three stories with a clear result.
- Run a mock interview with usted, follow-up questions and interruptions, the way a real recruiter would do it.
- Correct a few high-impact errors, not every small slip.
- Repeat the interview in the next lesson until the answers come without notes.
Explanations come in English or German when a grammar point blocks you. The Spanish itself is Latin American, from Bogotá. For meetings and emails after you get the job, see Business Spanish lessons.
FAQ
How do I introduce myself in a Spanish job interview?
Name, current role, years of experience and why you're interested: Soy… Actualmente trabajo como… Tengo X años de experiencia en… Me interesa este cargo porque… Keep it under a minute.
Should I use usted in an interview?
Yes, start with usted. Switch to tú only if the interviewer offers it or uses it clearly.
What level of Spanish do I need for a job interview?
That depends on the job. For many roles a solid B1 to B2 is enough to talk about your work, as long as you've rehearsed your answers. Customer-facing or legal roles usually require more.
Can I prepare for a Spanish interview online?
Yes. Mock interviews work well online, because most first interviews today happen by video call anyway.
How quickly can I prepare?
If your Spanish is already around B1, a few focused lessons before the interview make a noticeable difference. Starting from zero, one interview isn't a realistic short-term goal.
Book a free class before your interview
Bring the job ad to your free trial class on garnica.co. We'll check your level and draft the first version of your introduction together. Lessons and packs are on the home page.
Keep reading: Spanish for job interviews & LinkedIn · Business Spanish lessons · Tú vs usted
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