Reading Spanish Job Advertisements and Identifying Requirements

Reading Spanish Job Advertisements and Identifying Requirements

In this reading lesson, you will identify the job role, duties, essential requirements, preferred qualifications, employer information, and application method. Then you will compare the advertisement with a candidate's real experience without assuming suitability beyond the evidence.

Job advertisement

Hotel Centro busca recepcionista para turno de tarde. Responsabilidades: atender a los clientes, gestionar reservas, responder correos y coordinar entradas y salidas. Requisitos: experiencia mínima de un año en atención al cliente, nivel B2 de inglés y disponibilidad para trabajar algunos fines de semana. Se valora experiencia con sistemas de reservas hoteleras. Para solicitar el puesto, envíe CV y carta de presentación a través del formulario de la empresa antes del 20 de mayo.

Identify the role

recepcionista para turno de tarde — receptionist for the afternoon shift.

Identify the duties

• atender a los clientes — assist customers
• gestionar reservas — manage bookings
• responder correos — answer emails
• coordinar entradas y salidas — coordinate check-ins and check-outs

Identify essential requirements

• experiencia mínima de un año en atención al cliente — minimum one year of customer-service experience
• nivel B2 de inglés — B2 level of English
• disponibilidad para trabajar algunos fines de semana — availability to work some weekends

Identify a preferred qualification

Se valora experiencia con sistemas de reservas hoteleras. — Experience with hotel booking systems is valued.

This is an advantage, but the advertisement does not state that it is mandatory.

Identify the application method

Envíe CV y carta de presentación a través del formulario de la empresa. — Send a CV and cover letter through the company's form.

Identify the deadline

antes del 20 de mayo — before May 20.

Candidate profile

Ana tiene dos años de experiencia en atención al cliente, un certificado B2 de inglés y puede trabajar los fines de semana. Ha usado un sistema de reservas en una clínica, pero no en un hotel. — Ana has two years of customer-service experience, a B2 English certificate, and can work weekends. She has used a booking system in a clinic, but not in a hotel.

Match the evidence

Ana clearly matches:

• the customer-service experience requirement
• the B2 English requirement
• the weekend availability requirement

She has related booking-system experience, but the advertisement specifically values hotel booking-system experience. Do not silently treat those as identical.

Do not assume suitability

Matching the listed requirements does not guarantee that Ana will be selected. The advertisement only tells you the stated criteria and application process.

Do not invent missing requirements

The advertisement does not state that a university degree, driver's license, or native-level English is required. Do not add those conditions.

Employer information versus job requirements

If an advertisement says:

Somos un hotel de 120 habitaciones en el centro de Madrid. — We are a 120-room hotel in central Madrid.

this describes the employer. It is not automatically a requirement for the candidate.

Useful questions when something is unclear

• ¿La experiencia con sistemas hoteleros es obligatoria? — Is experience with hotel systems mandatory?
• ¿Cuántos fines de semana hay que trabajar al mes? — How many weekends per month must be worked?
• ¿Cuál es el horario exacto del turno de tarde? — What is the exact schedule of the afternoon shift?

A practical job-ad method

1. Identify the role and work schedule.
2. List duties separately from requirements.
3. Separate essential requirements from preferred qualifications.
4. Identify employer information that is descriptive rather than required.
5. Record the application method and deadline.
6. Compare each candidate claim with one stated requirement.
7. Do not assume selection or add requirements that are not written.

From Job Ads to Writing a CV

You can now read a job advertisement and identify what the employer requires, prefers, and asks applicants to submit. The next lesson teaches you to write a Spanish CV with clear dates, roles, and relevant skills.