💡 Jobs are looked up on InfoJobs, Indeed, at the employment service or on notice boards; oferta de empleo is a vacancy, puesto a position, currículum (CV) a résumé.
💡 In a CV (currículum) give contacts, experience, education and languages; in Spain a photo is often attached; write in Spanish or two languages; submit without mistakes.
💡 Conditions: horario (schedule), jornada completa (full time), media jornada (half time), turno (shift), sueldo (salary), contrato; ask ¿Cuál es el horario?
💡 Salary is quoted bruto (before tax) or neto (take-home); often per year or month; ask ¿Es bruto o neto?
💡 You arrive on time in neat clothes; greet with a handshake and say Encantado/a; answer politely and clearly; you may ask about schedule and conditions.
💡 About experience: he trabajado como..., tengo experiencia en..., durante dos años; about skills: sé usar..., hablo...
💡 About availability: disponibilidad, incorporación inmediata (start at once), horario flexible, fines de semana (weekends).
💡 At the end of the interview you may ask: ¿Cuándo sabré algo? (when will I know); thank and say goodbye politely; watch for a call or email.
💡 A trial day is a día de prueba: it may or may not be paid - ask beforehand: ¿Se cobra?; remember the contract (contrato) from the first day.
💡 Take a refusal politely: Gracias por la oportunidad; you may ask for feedback and ask them to keep your CV for the future.
💡 In an employment contract (contrato de trabajo) read position, salary, hours, duration (indefinido or temporal) and the periodo de prueba (probation); ask for a copy.
💡 Holiday is vacaciones: by law at least thirty calendar days a year; ask ¿Cuántos días de vacaciones tengo? and ¿Cómo se piden?
💡 The payslip is a nómina: it shows salario bruto, retenciones (deductions: income tax and social security), salario neto; issued monthly; keep it.
💡 The employer must register you with Seguridad Social (alta) before work starts and give you a document; check later via your vida laboral.
💡 When meeting people greet with a handshake or kiss on the cheek (dos besos); say Encantado/a and your name; they switch to tú quickly; personal questions don't come in a hurry.
💡 Coffee with colleagues is part of the culture: around eleven they take a pausa para el café; each pays their own or take turns; a good chance to chat.
💡 To ask for repetition: ¿Puede repetirlo?; to check: ¿Quiere decir que...?; say Entendido (understood) or No lo he entendido (I didn't understand).
💡 Swapping a shift is cambiar el turno; say ¿Puedo cambiar el turno con...?; agree with the boss and colleague; say thanks.
💡 You tell the employer about illness as early as possible, usually in the morning; later give the sick note (parte de baja) from the health centre; do not come in ill.
💡 Leave on certain days is asked of the manager in advance: ¿Podría coger unos días libres?; give dates and offer to arrange with colleagues.