I am studying Spanish currently, can I say that I speak Spanish at the job interview? (application, career)

[jackmccullough]

Tell the truth.


"In order to enhance my ability to talk to a range of people I've been studying Spanish on my own time. I know I'm not fluent, but I've made great progress, and I believe it would increase my value to the organization."


Unless the job specifically requires Spanish fluency, how could this answer hurt you?

[stan4]

Originally Posted by monkeyjobs

Hey guys, I have been doing some intensive Spanish studying.

I can read and understand just fine, but listening is still quite difficult as I pretty much never talk to anyone in Spanish.

So when I get a job interview, can I say that I can speak Spanish? Or would that be considered lying?

You just said you don't. So why would you say you do?

[Mr_Geek]

You generally shouldn't lie about things that can be proven untrue in a second. Save those little white lies for embellishing your work experiences.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by jackmccullough

Tell the truth.


"In order to enhance my ability to talk to a range of people I've been studying Spanish on my own time. I know I'm not fluent, but I've made great progress, and I believe it would increase my value to the organization."


Unless the job specifically requires Spanish fluency, how could this answer hurt you?

This, if in fact it would help the organization in some manner.

Unless the job requires Spanish, or there is a tangible benefit to the company, such as customer service in a heavily Hispanic area, there is no advantage to mentioning it. In fact, it can come off sounding like you are bragging or grabbing at straws to get an advantage over other candidates. If it is in fact a benefit to that particular employer, do not exaggerate and risk being discovered as a fraud. In a previous career in the San Francisco Bay Area, people in Customer Service were actually paid an additional percentage for speaking a second language.That has ended, since translation software has come into use.

[sedimenjerry]

At least just put something like "intermediate proficiency" on your resume. Or break it down by reading/writing is X and speaking/listening is Y.

[damba]

Originally Posted by sedimenjerry

At least just put something like "intermediate proficiency" on your resume. Or break it down by reading/writing is X and speaking/listening is Y.

Don't bother. The person looking at the resume won't care unless it's a component/requirement of the position(s).

It's mostly only relevant if you are completely fluent to add it carte blanche.

[ocnjgirl]

It's fine to say you are learning to, but implying you are capable of conversing with customers who speak Spanish would be a lie.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by monkeyjobs

Hey guys, I have been doing some intensive Spanish studying.

I can read and understand just fine, but listening is still quite difficult as I pretty much never talk to anyone in Spanish.

So when I get a job interview, can I say that I can speak Spanish? Or would that be considered lying?

Just be honest about what you know. You really need to go for awhile to where you can speak and hear Spanish to get it down. I can read Spanish fairly well but when I speak it in conversation, a struggle....I also want to live for awhile again in Spanish speaking culture and get my Spanish skills up.

[southwest88]

Originally Posted by monkeyjobs

Hey guys, I have been doing some intensive Spanish studying.

I can read and understand just fine, but listening is still quite difficult as I pretty much never talk to anyone in Spanish.

So when I get a job interview, can I say that I can speak Spanish? Or would that be considered lying?

If you can read & write passable Spanish, that might be sufficient. (For processing orders, answering letters, etc.) But conversational is different - there's some accent & vocabulary to tune into, plus whatever cognitive content there is to handle, plus the time pressure of responding in real time. You'll likely become fluent in conversational Spanish in time, with practice & effort. But it's dangerous to claim expertise you don't yet have.


& yah, a careful employer will check to make sure you can actually carry out a conversation in Spanish. There's no point to inviting disaster. Bide your time, study, & don't make the claim until you can actually do it.


¡Suerte, che!

[the_grimace]

That would be a terrible lie and you can easily get caught red handed with this one. There is a big difference in between reading a language and being able to speak it or even decipher it verbally. I wouldn't even dare try this lie.