Overview: In this business Spanish lesson, we will teach you the basics of how to converse in Spanish during business networking. These include questions you can ask when you meet someone in a professional setting to common responses for these questions as well. He’ll even include some basic tips to follow when attending a formal event!
Who it’s for: Professionals who have desires to attend Spanish-speaking events, whether they’re for business or not.
Skill level: For all levels (Ideal for intermediates and advanced)

Learn Business Spanish

In this free lesson for business Spanish, you will learn the ABCs of networking in Spanish. We will cover everything from how to dress, to the most common and useful phrases, and conversing in business terminology. You may not be attending a specifically Spanish networking event anytime soon, but with 399 million Spanish speakers in the world, you are likely to come across someone that you can impress with your newly acquired Spanish skills at any networking event. This video will help set you apart from the majority.

Know how to dress

Business networking means presenting yourself in a professional manner. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie or a ball gown, but try to opt for the “business casual” look. Steer clear of flip-flops, ripped jeans, etc.

Network with Purpose

Consider the reasons why you are attending this networking event beforehand. Without intent you might end up wasting your time as well as the time of others. Even if your only interest is having fun and participating in interesting conversations, bring those experiences to the table yourself. Come prepared with your positive energy and intriguing questions in mind.

Do your research

At networking events you are likely to meet people much smarter and more successful than you are, and that is a good thing! As my friend once told me: “If you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” However, it is a good idea to research the topic you wish to speak about beforehand so you are not completely lost in the conversation. In the case that someone is speaking about something you have absolutely no idea about (and it happens to the best of us) you can avoid coming across as ignorant by showing genuine and thoughtful curiosity about the subject.

Common Business Spanish vocabulary

• Negocios = Business
• Ingeniería = Engineering
• Economía = Economics
• Bolsa de Valores = Stock Market
• Acción = Share
• Educación = Education

How to Introduce Yourself

• Sp/ Mucho gusto, mi nombre es ___________ .
• En/ Nice to meet you, my name is __________.

How to state your profession in Spanish

• Sp/ Soy _________.
• En/ I am ________.

To use for specifying the area of your work:

Sp/ Trabajo en ________. Trabajo para ________.

En/ I work in __________. I work for __________.

To specify the organization for which you work:

Sp/ Trabajo para ________.

En/ I work for __________.

Questions to Ask to Start a New Conversation

• Sp/ Es tu primera vez en este evento?
• En/ Is it your first time in this event?
• Sp/ Es tu primera vez en un evento como este?
• En/ Is it your first time at an event like this?
• Sp/ ¿En que área trabajas?
• En/ In what area do you work?
• Sp/ ¿Que experiencia tienes en tu área?
• En/ What kind of experience do you have in your area of work?

To build more personable relationships you can try changing the subject to something other than work:

• Sp/ ¿Te gustan los deportes?
• En/ Do you like sports?
• Sp/ ¿Practicas algún deporte?
• En/ Do you practice any sports?
• Sp/ ¿Qué tipos de libros te gustan?
• En/ What kind of books do you like?
• Sp/ ¿Te gusta viajar?
• En/ Do you like travelling?
• Sp/ ¿Qué lugares has visitado?
• En/ What places have you visited?

Hopefully by now you have shared some meaningful conversation. This would be the time to exchange information so that you will be able to contact one another in the future.

• Sp/ ¿Cuál es tu correo electrónico?
• En/ What is your email address?
• Sp/ ¿Cuál es tu número telefónico?
• En/ What is your phone number?

Or as a statement:

• Sp/ Mi correo electrónico es _____.
• Sp/ Mi número telefónico es ______.

Now that you have learned the art of conversations using business Spanish you can impress future mentors and contacts with your Spanish speaking abilities at the next business-networking event. Knowing just these few simple phrases can be the gateway to an interesting and memorable conversation.

Good luck!

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