A job interview in Spanish: introducing yourself, strengths, salary and contracts in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina
In an interview the gap between reading Spanish and speaking it shows most. You understand every question and answer three words at a time. This page has the sentences for introducing yourself, describing what you have done, answering the four questions that always come, asking about money and hours, and the words on the contract, with what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
Which “you” to use
Get this right in the first ten seconds and the rest is easier.
| Mexico | Spain | Colombia | Argentina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You say to the interviewer | usted | tú | usted | vos, after the first minute |
| They say to you | usted, softening to tú later | tú from the first sentence | usted | vos |
| Safe opening | Mucho gusto, ¿cómo está? | Hola, encantado / encantada. | Buenos días, mucho gusto. | Hola, ¿qué tal? Un gusto. |
In Spain people use tú in interviews, including with the boss. Usted in a Madrid or Barcelona interview sounds stiff and distant where nobody wanted distance. The exception is a very traditional firm or a much older interviewer.
Colombians stay with usted. It is the respectful default in Bogotá and most of the country and it does not soften over the hour. In Medellín and the coffee region you may hear vos, but not from a stranger interviewing you.
Mexican interviewers start with usted. The interviewer may switch to tú to relax the room. Follow their lead once they do, and not before.
Argentines use vos and get informal fast. Contame, decime and vos are normal from a recruiter. Answer in kind.
Introducing yourself
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pleased to meet you | Mucho gusto. / Encantado. / Encantada. | Ending matches the speaker |
| Thank you for seeing me | Gracias por recibirme. | |
| My name is… | Me llamo… / Soy… | |
| I’m from… | Soy de Inglaterra. / Soy inglés / inglesa. | |
| I’ve been living here for two years | Llevo dos años viviendo aquí. / Hace dos años que vivo acá. (Argentina) | |
| I’m a designer | Soy diseñador / diseñadora. | No article. Soy un diseñador sounds wrong |
| I work in marketing | Trabajo en marketing. | |
| I studied economics | Estudié economía. | |
| I have a degree in… | Soy licenciado / licenciada en… | Standard in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. In Spain say Soy graduado / graduada en… or Estudié… |
| Sorry, my Spanish isn’t perfect | Disculpe, mi español no es perfecto, pero lo entiendo todo. | Say it once at the start and then stop apologising |
| Could you repeat that? | ¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor? / ¿Me lo repetís? (Argentina) | |
| Could you speak a little slower? | ¿Puede hablar un poco más despacio, por favor? |
Experience and strengths
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I have five years’ experience | Tengo cinco años de experiencia. | |
| I worked at… for three years | Trabajé en… durante tres años. | Past, finished job |
| I’ve been working there since 2022 | Trabajo ahí desde 2022. | Present tense for a job you still have |
| I was in charge of… | Estaba a cargo de… / Me encargaba de… | |
| I led a team of six | Dirigí un equipo de seis personas. | |
| I managed the budget | Manejaba el presupuesto. (Latin America) / Gestionaba el presupuesto. (Spain) | |
| I set up the system | Implementé el sistema. | |
| I improved the process | Mejoré el proceso. | |
| We grew sales by 20% | Aumentamos las ventas un veinte por ciento. | |
| I’m good at… | Se me da bien… (Spain) / Soy bueno / buena para… (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) | |
| I learn quickly | Aprendo rápido. | |
| I work well in a team | Trabajo bien en equipo. | |
| I’m organised and reliable | Soy organizado y cumplido. / Soy organizada y cumplida. | Cumplido, someone who delivers what they promise, is high praise in Colombia and Mexico |
| I can handle pressure | Manejo bien la presión. | |
| My weakness is… | Mi punto débil es… | Follow it with what you do about it |
| I’m still improving my Spanish | Sigo mejorando mi español. |
Why you want the job
The question comes in every interview, in these words: ¿Por qué quiere trabajar aquí? or ¿Por qué te interesa el puesto?
Good answers, the kind a person actually gives:
| You want to say | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Because I know your work and I want to be part of it | Porque conozco su trabajo y quiero ser parte de él. |
| The role fits what I’ve been doing | El puesto encaja con lo que vengo haciendo. |
| I want to grow in this field | Quiero crecer en este campo. |
| I’m looking for a bigger challenge | Busco un reto mayor. (Spain, Mexico, Colombia) / Busco un desafío más grande. (Argentina) |
| I read about the project and it interests me | Leí sobre el proyecto y me interesa mucho. |
| I want to stay in this country long term | Quiero quedarme en este país a largo plazo. |
| I liked what the team is building | Me gustó lo que está construyendo el equipo. |
And the related question, ¿por qué dejó su trabajo anterior?: Buscaba algo con más responsabilidad. Terminó el contrato. Me mudé de país. Keep it short and do not criticise the old employer; people think badly of that in all four countries.
Salary, hours and the words for them
| You want to say | Mexico | Spain | Colombia | Argentina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | el sueldo | el sueldo, el salario | el sueldo, el salario | el sueldo |
| CV | el currículum, el CV | el currículum | la hoja de vida | el currículum, el CV |
| The question they ask | ¿Cuáles son sus expectativas de sueldo? | ¿Cuáles son tus pretensiones salariales? | ¿Cuál es su aspiración salarial? | ¿Cuál es tu pretensión salarial? |
| HR | RH, recursos humanos | RRHH, recursos humanos | gestión humana, talento humano | RRHH, recursos humanos |
| Payslip | el recibo de nómina | la nómina | el desprendible de pago | el recibo de sueldo |
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| What is the salary range? | ¿Cuál es el rango salarial del puesto? | Fine to ask in a second interview everywhere |
| I’m looking for around… a month | Busco algo alrededor de… al mes. | Spain usually talks in gross yearly figures instead |
| Gross, net | bruto, neto | ¿Es bruto o neto? is a normal question |
| Is it negotiable? | ¿Es negociable? | |
| What are the hours? | ¿Cuál es el horario? | |
| Full time, part time | tiempo completo, medio tiempo (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) / jornada completa, media jornada (Spain) | |
| Is there remote work? | ¿Hay trabajo remoto? / ¿Se puede teletrabajar? (Spain) | |
| Hybrid | híbrido | Dos días en la oficina, two days in the office |
| Holiday | las vacaciones | |
| Overtime | las horas extra | |
| When would I start? | ¿Cuándo sería la incorporación? (Spain) / ¿Cuándo sería el ingreso? (Latin America) | |
| Benefits | las prestaciones (Mexico) / los beneficios (Spain, Argentina) / las prestaciones sociales (Colombia) |
In Spain salaries are quoted in gross euros per year, and often across fourteen payments, twelve monthly plus two extras. ¿Son catorce pagas? is a fair question.
In Mexico salaries are quoted monthly, and by law there is also an aguinaldo, a Christmas bonus of at least fifteen days’ pay, before 20 December. In job ads you see prestaciones de ley, the legal minimum, or prestaciones superiores a las de ley, better than that.
In Colombia salaries are quoted monthly, and there is a prima twice a year, in June and December, plus cesantías held for you. Health cover through an EPS and pension are part of a formal contract.
In Argentina there is a thirteenth salary too, the aguinaldo, in two halves in June and December. Ask whether the job is en blanco, registered with tax and social security, because en negro means no obra social, no contributions and no protection.
Contract words
| Word | Where | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| contrato indefinido | Spain | Permanent contract |
| contrato temporal | Spain | Fixed-term |
| contrato por tiempo indeterminado | Mexico, Argentina | Permanent |
| contrato por tiempo determinado | Mexico | Fixed-term |
| contrato a término indefinido | Colombia | Permanent |
| contrato a término fijo | Colombia | Fixed-term, with a stated end date |
| contrato por obra o labor | Colombia | Tied to a specific piece of work |
| prestación de servicios | Colombia | A service contract, you are a contractor and pay your own health and pension |
| honorarios | Mexico | Paid by invoice as a freelancer, no prestaciones |
| monotributo | Argentina | The simplified tax category for self-employed people who invoice |
| relación de dependencia | Argentina | Employed, on the payroll |
| período de prueba | All four | Probation period |
| la vacante, el puesto | All four | The opening, the role |
| la nómina | Spain, Mexico | The payroll, and in Spain the payslip itself |
| el finiquito | Spain, Mexico | Final settlement when you leave |
| la Seguridad Social | Spain | The state system for health and pensions |
| el IMSS | Mexico | The social security institute that covers employees |
What the interviewer will say
| What you hear | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cuénteme un poco de usted. / Cuéntame de ti. (Spain) / Contame un poco de vos. (Argentina) | Tell me about yourself |
| Hábleme de su experiencia. | Talk me through your experience |
| ¿Por qué le interesa el puesto? | Why do you want this job? |
| ¿Cuáles son sus fortalezas y sus debilidades? | Strengths and weaknesses |
| ¿Dónde se ve en cinco años? | Where do you see yourself in five years? |
| ¿Por qué dejó su trabajo anterior? | Why did you leave your last job? |
| Cuénteme de una vez que tuvo un problema con un compañero. | A behavioural question, tell me about a conflict |
| ¿Tiene disponibilidad inmediata? | Can you start straight away? |
| ¿Tiene permiso de trabajo? | Do you have a work permit? |
| ¿Cuál es su nivel de inglés? | What is your English like? A common question for foreign candidates in all four |
| ¿Tiene alguna pregunta para nosotros? | Do you have questions for us? Always have two |
| Nos ponemos en contacto con usted. / Ya te decimos algo. (Spain) | We’ll be in touch |
| Pasaríamos a una segunda entrevista. | You would go through to a second interview |
| Le avisamos esta semana. | We’ll let you know this week |
Questions worth asking back: ¿Cómo es el equipo?, ¿Cómo miden el éxito en este puesto?, ¿Cuáles son los siguientes pasos del proceso?
Dress, timing and what surprises visitors
Arrive ten minutes early in all four countries. Social lateness is tolerated in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina, and interview lateness is not.
Dress up rather than down. For corporate interviews in Bogotá and Mexico City, people expect a jacket. Spanish offices are more relaxed, and a shirt without a tie is fine in most sectors.
Photographs on the CV are normal in Mexico and Colombia. On a Colombian hoja de vida there is usually a photo and your cédula number. In Spain and Argentina a photo is optional.
You may be asked personal questions. Marital status, children, age and where you live still come up in Mexico and Colombia. You are allowed to answer briefly and move on: Prefiero centrarme en el puesto is polite and firm.
Processes are slower than you would think from the interview. Two or three rounds are usual, and a gap of two weeks between them is not a bad sign. Chasing once is fine.
The follow-up email
One short message the same day or the next morning.
Estimado / Estimada [nombre]: Le agradezco el tiempo de hoy y la información sobre el puesto. Sigo muy interesado en la vacante y quedo atento a sus comentarios. Saludos cordiales, [nombre]
In Spain, tú and lighter: Hola [nombre], muchas gracias por la conversación de hoy. Me ha gustado mucho lo que me has contado del equipo y quedo a la espera de tus noticias. Un saludo.
Quedo atento a sus comentarios is the standard closing line in Colombia and Mexico and is worth learning as one block. A woman writes quedo atenta.
Ten sentences you can say tomorrow
- Mucho gusto, gracias por recibirme. Pleased to meet you, thank you for seeing me.
- Tengo cinco años de experiencia en marketing digital. I have five years’ experience in digital marketing.
- Estaba a cargo de un equipo de seis personas. I was in charge of a team of six.
- El puesto encaja con lo que vengo haciendo. The role fits what I have been doing.
- ¿Cuál es el rango salarial del puesto? What is the salary range for the role?
- ¿Es bruto o neto? Is that gross or net?
- ¿El contrato es a término indefinido? Is the contract permanent? (Colombia)
- ¿El puesto es en blanco? Is the job registered? (Argentina)
- ¿Cuáles son los siguientes pasos del proceso? What are the next steps?
- Quedo atento a sus comentarios. I look forward to hearing from you.
Questions people ask
Should I use tú or usted in an interview? Usted in Mexico and Colombia, tú in Spain, vos in Argentina. If you are unsure, open with usted and switch when they do. Nobody is offended by the formal form, and in Spain it only sounds old-fashioned.
Is it “currículum” or “hoja de vida”? Hoja de vida in Colombia. Currículum or CV in Mexico, Spain and Argentina. Both are understood everywhere.
Can I ask about salary in the first interview? In Spain and Argentina, yes, and the recruiter usually raises it first. In Mexico and Colombia it is better received in the second conversation, unless they ask you first, and they often do.
How do I answer “¿cuál es su aspiración salarial?” Give a range and a reason: Busco un rango entre X y Y, según el resto del paquete. If you say you are open to anything, you sound unprepared.
What does “en blanco” mean in Argentina? Employment registered with the state, with contributions, health cover and paid holidays. En negro is unregistered cash work with none of that. Ask which it is.
What is “monotributo”? Argentina’s simplified tax category for self-employed people. If a job is offered por monotributo you invoice the company and you are not on the payroll, so there is no aguinaldo and no obra social from the employer.
Should I apologise for my Spanish? Once, at the start, in one sentence, and then carry on. With Mi español no es perfecto, pero lo entiendo todo you set the expectation, and the interviewer slows down.
What do I say if I do not understand the question? ¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor? and, if it happens again, ¿A qué se refiere exactamente? Both are normal in a professional conversation and neither counts against you.
Practise these words
puesto, sueldo, experiencia, equipo, contrato, horario, entrevista, encargarse, manejar, vacante, prestaciones, disponibilidad, agradecer. Vozelu is a free website for practising Spanish, and it has each of these. You see a sentence with one word missing, you type the word, and a native voice reads the sentence back. Practise the words on this page.