Hospitality Interview Practice for Spanish Speakers (Australia)
Practise the questions a hospitality worker interview actually asks, and see where your English is costing you marks before the real thing. Built for people who moved from Latin America and Spain and are interviewing in Australia.
What a hospitality worker interview asks
These recur across employers because they are what the decision turns on.
- A guest is angry about their room and is raising their voice. What do you do?
- Tell me about a time you handled several guests at once during a rush.
- A guest asks for something you are not allowed to give them. How do you answer?
- How do you keep service warm when you are tired at the end of a long shift?
- Tell me about a mistake you made with a guest and how you fixed it.
What Spanish speakers commonly say in English
These are habits, not mistakes about intelligence — your first language works differently, and it shows through under interview pressure.
False cognates
Often said: I'm actually working on it (meaning currently).
Instead: I'm currently working on it.
Missing 'do' in questions
Often said: You have experience?
Instead: Do you have experience?
Adjective placement
Often said: The interview technical was hard.
Instead: The technical interview was hard.
Progressive overuse
Often said: I am wanting to learn.
Instead: I want to learn.
Missing subject 'it'
Often said: Is very important.
Instead: It is very important.
How interviews run in Australia
Talking about your own work
Confident but humble. "Tall poppy syndrome" — don't oversell. Let achievements speak.
What interviewers here tend to value
- Team spirit ("mateship")
- Humility
- Honesty
- Outdoor enthusiasm
- Resilience
What catches people out
- Overselling yourself
- Being too formal
- Not being genuine
What is expected of your English
Native English-speaking country
High — multicultural
Reading about it only takes you so far
Answer a few of these out loud and you will find out, in about five minutes, which part of your English is costing you marks — and what to fix first. Free, and you do not need a card.