Jobs and Careers (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Jobs and careers
This topic covers essential vocabulary and expressions for discussing employment, career paths, and the world of work in Spanish. Understanding these terms will help you express your future aspirations and discuss workplace experiences confidently.
Key vocabulary
The following table contains fundamental terms you'll need when discussing jobs and careers. Focus on the gender of nouns and note any irregular patterns.
| Español | Inglés |
|---|---|
| el trabajo / el empleo | job / employment |
| la carrera profesional | career |
| la profesión | profession |
| el oficio | trade |
| el sector | sector |
| la experiencia laboral | work experience |
| las habilidades | skills |
| las cualificaciones | qualifications |
| la entrevista de trabajo | job interview |
| el currículum vitae (CV) | CV / résumé |
| el contrato | contract |
| el sueldo / el salario | salary / wage |
| las condiciones laborales | working conditions |
| el horario | schedule |
| el ascenso | promotion |
| la estabilidad laboral | job stability |
| el desempleo / el paro | unemployment |
| el mercado laboral | job market |
| el emprendimiento | entrepreneurship |
| el jefe / la jefa | boss |
| los compañeros de trabajo | work colleagues |
Grammar note: Notice that many job-related terms are masculine (el trabajo, el empleo, el contrato), while others like la carrera and la profesión are feminine. Pay attention to articles when learning these terms.
Useful phrases for discussing careers
These expressions will help you discuss career choices and workplace situations naturally. Practice using them in different contexts.
Key Expressions for Career Discussions:
Master these phrases to sound natural when discussing professional topics in Spanish.
- Es importante tener habilidades técnicas y blandas. (It's important to have both technical and soft skills.)
- La experiencia laboral puede marcar la diferencia en una entrevista. (Work experience can make the difference in an interview.)
- El mercado laboral es cada vez más competitivo. (The job market is becoming increasingly competitive.)
- Muchas personas deciden emprender su propio negocio. (Many people decide to start their own business.)
- Un buen currículum debe ser claro y conciso. (A good CV must be clear and concise.)
Grammar note: Notice the use of cada vez más (increasingly) to show progression, and debe ser (must be) to express obligation or necessity.
High-value expressions and idioms
These idioms add authenticity to your Spanish and demonstrate advanced language skills:
- Buscarse la vida - To make a living / to fend for oneself
- Estar en las nubes - To have your head in the clouds (distracted or unrealistic)
Exam tip: Using idioms correctly shows sophisticated language use, but make sure you understand their meaning and context before using them in written work.
Model sentences using the vocabulary
Practice these sentences to see how the vocabulary works in context:
Worked Examples: Using Career Vocabulary in Context
These model sentences demonstrate how to use the vocabulary naturally in different situations:
-
Mi hermana busca trabajo en el sector de la tecnología. (My sister is looking for work in the technology sector.)
-
Para conseguir un ascenso, necesitas demostrar tus habilidades. (To get a promotion, you need to demonstrate your skills.)
-
El desempleo juvenil es un problema serio en muchos países. (Youth unemployment is a serious problem in many countries.)
-
Mi jefa siempre llega temprano a la oficina. (My boss always arrives early at the office.)
Sample writing piece
Here's an example response to a career-related writing prompt, incorporating the vocabulary and expressions from this topic:
Sample Writing: Career Choices Essay
Spanish: Elegir un trabajo o una carrera profesional es uno de los retos más importantes para cualquier persona. En el mundo actual, el mercado laboral es muy competitivo y exige cualificaciones y experiencia. Por eso, muchos jóvenes buscan prácticas o trabajos temporales para ganar experiencia antes de decidir. Buscarse la vida requiere esfuerzo, adaptabilidad y una actitud positiva. Aunque algunos sueñan con trabajos creativos, otros prefieren empleos estables y bien remunerados. En mi opinión, lo más importante es encontrar una carrera que combine intereses personales y oportunidades profesionales, aunque estar en las nubes y no tener un plan claro puede ser un riesgo.
English translation: Choosing a job or career is one of the most important challenges for anyone. In today's world, the job market is very competitive and demands qualifications and experience. For this reason, many young people look for internships or temporary jobs to gain experience before deciding. Making a living requires effort, adaptability, and a positive attitude. While some dream of creative jobs, others prefer stable and well-paid employment. In my opinion, the most important thing is to find a career that combines personal interests and professional opportunities, although having your head in the clouds and not having a clear plan can be risky.
Language highlights:
- Range of tenses: present (es, exige, prefieren), conditional (puede ser)
- Complex connectors: aunque (although), por eso (for this reason)
- Sophisticated vocabulary: retos, cualificaciones, adaptabilidad
- Natural use of idioms in context
Key Points to Remember:
- Learn job vocabulary with correct articles (el/la) as gender affects adjective agreement
- Practice using cada vez más (increasingly) to discuss trends in employment
- Master the phrase buscarse la vida - it's commonly used and exam-relevant
- Use a variety of tenses when discussing career plans (future) and work experience (past)
- Remember that discussing careers allows you to use both formal and personal language registers