Day 10: Interview Practice in the Back Seat
In a taxi heading to an industrial park outside Monterrey, Alonso (A), an engineer from Querétaro, nervously rehearses for a job interview until his driver, Bernardo (B), joins in.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Spanish word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Spanish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
-
A
Perdone que ensaye en voz alta: tengo entrevista en una planta de autopartes.
Sorry for rehearsing out loud: I've got an interview at a car parts plant.
-
B
Fui gerente de recursos humanos, así que practiquemos: ¿por qué renunció a su último trabajo?
I used to be an HR manager, so let's practice: why did you resign from your last job?
-
A
Aprendí mucho ahí; sin embargo, me sentía estancado. De hecho, llevaba cuatro años en el mismo puesto.
I learned a lot there; however, I felt I'd stalled. In fact, I'd been in the same position for four years.
-
B
Bien, sin hablar mal de su exjefe. Ahora la difícil: ¿cuáles son sus pretensiones económicas?
Good, without badmouthing your old boss. Now the tricky one: what are your salary expectations?
-
A
Cuarenta y cinco mil al mes, siempre y cuando la empresa me pague la mudanza.
Forty-five thousand a month, as long as the company pays for my move.
-
B
Se está vendiendo barato: pida cincuenta, a menos que le ofrezcan más.
You're selling yourself short: ask for fifty, unless they offer you more.
-
A
Entendido. Y le pago doble, con tal de que me lleve también a la segunda entrevista.
Got it. And I'll pay you double, provided you drive me to the second interview as well.
Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 11: Arguing Over Pedro Páramo
If this free course has helped you in your Spanish journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.