Preparing for interviews Revision Notes for AQA GCSE Spanish

Preparing for interviews

Preparing for a job interview can feel nerve-wracking, but knowing the right vocabulary and phrases in Spanish will help you feel more confident. Whether you're discussing your experience, asking questions, or simply making a good first impression, this guide will help you master the essential language needed for interview success.

Essential vocabulary

When discussing interviews and job applications, you'll need to be familiar with key terms and concepts. Understanding these words will help you navigate both formal and informal conversations about work opportunities.

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These vocabulary items cover the most common concepts you'll encounter in Spanish job interviews. Practice using them in context to build your confidence before the actual interview.

Spanish	English
la entrevista	interview
el/la jefe/a	boss
llegar a tiempo	to arrive on time
la empresa	firm
la compañía	company
el comportamiento	behaviour
nervioso/a	nervous
el interés	interest
la confianza	confidence
buscar información	to look for information
contestar	to answer
hacer preguntas	to ask questions
llevar	to wear
preparar	to prepare
responder	to reply
sonreír	to smile
vestirse	to dress
natural	natural

Grammar focus: Using infinitives instead of -ing forms

One important difference between Spanish and English involves how we express certain actions. In English, we often use the -ing form of verbs (gerunds), but Spanish typically uses the infinitive form instead. This pattern appears frequently when discussing interview preparation and professional behaviour.

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This is a critical grammatical concept that many Spanish learners struggle with. Remember: where English uses -ing forms (gerunds), Spanish uses infinitives. Getting this right will make you sound much more natural in professional contexts.

Here are some key examples to remember:

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Grammar Pattern: Infinitives vs -ing forms

Spanish infinitive → English -ing form:

Cuando te presentas para una entrevista, llegar temprano es muy importante. When you go for an interview, arriving early is very important.

En una entrevista, hacer preguntas muestra tu interés. In an interview, asking questions shows your interest.

Sonreír muestra una actitud positiva. Smiling shows a positive attitude.

Notice how Spanish uses the infinitive forms (llegar, hacer, sonreír) where English uses the -ing forms (arriving, asking, smiling).

This grammatical pattern will help you sound more natural when discussing professional activities and interview strategies.

Useful phrases for interviews

During an interview, certain phrases can help you communicate effectively and demonstrate your professionalism. These expressions are particularly valuable for showing confidence and engagement.

Intenta... (Try to...)

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This phrase introduces advice or suggestions for interview behaviour and is commonly used when giving professional guidance in Spanish.

This phrase introduces advice or suggestions for interview behaviour.

...responder con confianza ...reply with confidence
...dar ejemplos de tus aspectos positivos ...give examples of your positive aspects
...actuar de manera natural ...act naturally

These phrases work well when giving advice about interview preparation or when describing how you approach professional situations.

Example conversation context

Understanding how interview discussions unfold in real situations helps you prepare for similar conversations.

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Real Interview Experience: Alba's Story

Alba is sharing her interview experience with a friend:

She arrived un cuarto de hora antes (a quarter of an hour early) to avoid the stress of running late
The interview took place in la oficina del jefe (the boss's office)
She was asked many questions about her cualificaciones universitarias (university qualifications)
Although she answered everything, she admits to feeling algo nerviosa (somewhat nervous) during the experience

This conversation shows how people typically discuss their interview experiences, mixing factual details with personal feelings and reflections.

Translation practice

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Translation Exercise: Interview Scenarios

Spanish to English:

Llegué un cuarto de hora antes para evitar el estrés de llegar tarde.
Me van a llamar el viernes para decirme si tengo el trabajo o no.

English to Spanish: 3. I think I managed to act naturally when she asked me about my experience. 4. At the end I also asked some questions about the work and the number of people who work for the company.

Solutions:

I arrived a quarter of an hour early to avoid the stress of arriving late.
They're going to call me on Friday to tell me whether I have the job or not.
Creo que logré actuar de manera natural cuando me preguntó sobre mi experiencia.
Al final hice algunas preguntas también sobre el trabajo y el número de personas que trabajan para la empresa.

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Key Points to Remember:

Timing matters - Use llegar a tiempo to emphasise the importance of punctuality in Spanish-speaking professional contexts
Infinitives over -ing - Remember that Spanish uses infinitive forms where English often uses -ing forms when discussing professional activities
Confidence vocabulary - Words like confianza and natural are essential for describing positive interview behaviour
Question phrases - Hacer preguntas is a key phrase for showing engagement and interest during interviews
Professional courtesy - Phrases like "Gracias por venir" demonstrate politeness and professionalism in formal situations

Preparing for interviews (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes