Preparing for interviews (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Preparing for interviews
Understanding interview preparation vocabulary
When preparing for job interviews in Spanish-speaking contexts, you'll need to master essential vocabulary that covers both the preparation process and interview behaviour. These terms will help you discuss interview experiences and demonstrate your professional knowledge.
Essential interview vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el jefe / la jefa | boss, manager |
| llegar a tiempo | to arrive on time |
| vestirse | to dress |
| llevar | to wear |
| hacer preguntas | to ask questions |
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| preparar | to prepare |
| buscar información | to look for information |
| la empresa / la compañía | company, firm |
| natural | natural |
| sonreír | to smile |
These vocabulary items are frequently tested in GCSE Spanish exams and are essential for discussing professional situations and interview experiences.
Example sentences using this vocabulary:
- Es importante preparar bien antes de una entrevista. (It's important to prepare well before an interview.)
- Siempre debo llegar a tiempo para causar buena impresión. (I should always arrive on time to make a good impression.)
- Me gusta hacer preguntas sobre la empresa durante la entrevista. (I like to ask questions about the company during the interview.)
Grammar focus: Using infinitives instead of -ing forms
Spanish uses the infinitive form where English often uses the -ing form of verbs. This is particularly relevant when discussing interview preparation activities.
Key pattern: When talking about actions as subjects or after certain expressions, Spanish uses infinitives whilst English uses -ing forms.
Worked Example: Infinitive vs -ing patterns
Spanish infinitive → English -ing form:
- Llegar temprano es esencial. → "Arriving early is essential."
- Hacer preguntas muestra tu interés. → "Asking questions shows your interest."
- Sonreír muestra una actitud positiva. → "Smiling shows a positive attitude."
Notice how Spanish keeps the infinitive form (llegar, hacer, sonreír) where English uses the -ing form.
Useful interview phrases and behaviour
Successfully navigating interviews requires specific expressions and understanding of appropriate behaviour. These phrases will help you discuss interview strategies and demonstrate professional attitude.
Key expressions for interview success
Intenta... (Try to...)
- actuar de manera natural (act naturally)
- responder con confianza (reply with confidence)
- dar ejemplos de tus aspectos positivos (give examples of your positive aspects)
These phrases are essential for describing effective interview techniques and can be used when giving advice or reflecting on interview experiences.
The structure "Intenta + infinitive" is a useful pattern for giving advice in Spanish. Remember to follow "intenta" with the infinitive form of the verb.
Professional behaviour vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la entrevista | interview |
| el comportamiento | behaviour |
| nervioso/a | nervous |
| el interés | interest |
Example sentences:
- Mi comportamiento en la entrevista fue muy profesional. (My behaviour in the interview was very professional.)
- Aunque estaba nervioso/a, mostré mucho interés en el puesto. (Although I was nervous, I showed great interest in the position.)
Analysing interview experiences
Understanding how to describe interview experiences is crucial for both speaking and reading comprehension tasks. When discussing interviews, focus on key elements: preparation, timing, questions asked, and emotional responses.
Common interview scenarios
Typical interview discussions include:
- Arrival and timing - describing punctuality and preparation
- Location details - where the interview took place
- Questions and topics - what was discussed during the interview
- Feelings and reactions - emotional responses and confidence levels
- Follow-up processes - next steps and outcomes
When describing interview experiences in Spanish, pay attention to tense usage. Use the preterite tense for completed actions and the imperfect for ongoing states or descriptions.
Translation practice
Translation Practice: Interview Experiences
Spanish to English:
- Llegué un cuarto de hora antes para relajarme.
- La jefa me hizo preguntas sobre mis títulos.
English to Spanish:
- I was a bit nervous during the interview.
- They will call me on Friday to tell me if I got the job.
Answers:
- I arrived a quarter of an hour early to relax. / 2. The boss asked me questions about my qualifications.
- Estaba un poco nervioso/a durante la entrevista. / 2. Me van a llamar el viernes para decirme si conseguí el trabajo.
Exam tips for interview topics
Essential Exam Strategy for Interview Topics:
When answering questions about interviews in your GCSE exam:
- Focus on key details - arrival time, location, main topics discussed
- Use appropriate tenses - past tense for completed interviews, future or conditional for expectations
- Include emotional responses - describe feelings using adjectives like nervioso/a, confiado/a, emocionado/a
- Show understanding - demonstrate comprehension of professional situations and appropriate behaviour
Key Points to Remember:
- Master infinitive usage - Spanish uses infinitives where English uses -ing forms when describing actions as subjects
- Learn core vocabulary - Focus on terms related to preparation, timing, and professional behaviour
- Practice key phrases - Use expressions like "Intenta..." followed by infinitives to give interview advice
- Understand interview structure - Be prepared to discuss preparation, the interview itself, and follow-up processes
- Show professional awareness - Demonstrate understanding of appropriate interview behaviour and expectations