Spanish · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 8 of 12
Work and careers
El trabajo y la carrera profesional
Handle a job interview in Spanish: describe your experience with llevar + gerund, explain your goals and use para and para que.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Describe your work experience in a formal interview
- Say how long you've been doing something with llevar + gerund
- Explain your reasons with para + infinitive and para que + subjunctive
- Use polite, formal language with usted
Listen
Daniel Romero has a job interview with Montse Puig, head of human resources at an events company in Barcelona. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Montse
Buenos días, señor Romero. Siéntese, por favor. He leído su currículum con mucho interés.
Good morning, Mr Romero. Please sit down. I've read your CV with great interest.
Daniel
Muchas gracias por invitarme a la entrevista.
Thank you very much for inviting me to the interview.
Montse
Cuénteme un poco sobre su experiencia.
Tell me a little about your experience.
Daniel
Llevo seis años trabajando en una empresa de eventos en Valencia. Organizo congresos y ferias.
I've been working at an events company in Valencia for six years. I organise conferences and trade fairs.
Montse
¿Y antes?
And before that?
Daniel
Antes trabajé dos años en la recepción de un hotel. Allí aprendí a resolver problemas con calma.
Before that, I worked on the reception desk of a hotel for two years. That's where I learned to solve problems calmly.
Montse
Muy bien. ¿Y por qué quiere cambiar de trabajo?
Very good. And why do you want to change jobs?
Daniel
Porque busco un puesto con más responsabilidad. Me gustaría dirigir un equipo.
Because I'm looking for a post with more responsibility. I'd like to lead a team.
Montse
En este puesto tendría un equipo de cinco personas. ¿Qué idiomas habla?
In this post you would have a team of five people. What languages do you speak?
Daniel
Hablo inglés y un poco de francés. Además, estoy estudiando catalán para poder trabajar mejor aquí.
I speak English and a little French. I'm also learning Catalan so that I can work better here.
Montse
Perfecto. Le enviaremos más información por correo electrónico para que pueda preparar la segunda entrevista.
Perfect. We'll send you more information by email so that you can prepare for the second interview.
Daniel
Estupendo. Muchas gracias por su tiempo.
Great. Thank you very much for your time.
Understand
Para + infinitive, para que + subjunctive
To say why you do something, use + infinitive when it's about the same person: (I'm learning Catalan so that I can work better).
When the purpose involves another person, use + subjunctive: (We'll send you information so that you can prepare for the interview). “We” send, but “you” prepare, so the second verb goes into the subjunctive.
- Llamo para pedir información.I'm calling to ask for information.
- Te lo explico para que lo entiendas.I'll explain it to you so that you understand it.
- Os envío las fotos para que las veáis.I'm sending you the photos so that you can see them.
Llevo seis años trabajando
To say how long you've been doing something that's still going on, you know (A2): . Another very common way is + length of time + gerund: (I've been working here for six years). To ask, say ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas…?
For experience in general, use the present perfect: (I've worked in hotels). For a finished period, use the preterite: .
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| I've been working here for six years. | |
| I've been working here for six years. | |
| How long have you been learning Spanish? | |
| I've worked in hotels. | |
| I worked in a hotel for two years. |
Formal language in an interview
In a job interview in Spain, many people use , especially at the start, although some companies use with everyone. Listen to how the interviewer speaks to you and do the same.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| What experience do you have? | |
| … | Tell me a little about… |
| Why do you want to work with us? | |
| … | I have experience in… |
| … | I would like to… |
| Thank you for your time. |
More in the grammar: Por and para · The present subjunctive: que sea, que tenga · Verb phrases: acabar de, volver a, seguir + gerund
New words
- el currículumCV, résumé · masculine; plural:
- invitarto invite · : thank you for inviting me
- sobreabout, on (a topic)
- llevar seis años trabajandoto have been working for six years · + time + gerund: , I've been working for six years
- organizarto organise
- el congresoconference · masculine
- la feriatrade fair; fair · feminine
- resolverto solve, to sort out · o → ue: ; participle:
- con calmacalmly
- el puestopost, position, job · masculine;
- dirigirto lead, to manage, to run · , …
- el equipoteam · masculine
- el correo electrónicoemail · masculine; also or
- estupendo / estupendagreat, wonderful
Practise
1.Complete: “Le enviaremos información para que … preparar la entrevista.”
2.Complete with or : “I'm learning Catalan so that I can work better.”
I'm learning Catalan so that I can work better.
3.Complete with : “I've been working here for six years.”
I've been working here for six years.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I'd like to lead a team.
5.Match the Spanish with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Which sentence means “I worked in a hotel for two years” (and that job is over)?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Llevo seis años trabajando en una empresa de eventos.
I've been working at an events company for six years.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.