Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
HIRING in Spanish: CONTRATACIÓN
Contratación · noun · kon-trah-tah-see-OHN
The Spanish noun contratación covers the entire hiring process, from posting a job to signing a contract. When you see a sign that says Se busca personal or Estamos contratando, both signal that a business is actively hiring—making this vocabulary essential for job seekers in Spanish-speaking markets.
kon-trah-tah-see-OHN
La empresa está contratando personal nuevo este mes.
The company is hiring new staff this month.
hiring in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for hiring, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| contratación | hiring | kon-trah-tah-see-OHN | Default, widely understood |
| contratando | hiring | gerund: currently hiring | |
| reclutamiento | hiring | recruitment process |
How Native Speakers Use Contratación
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Job Posting
Estamos contratando: se requiere experiencia en ventas.
We're hiring: sales experience required.
How hiring announcements appear in job listings.
HR Department
El departamento de contratación revisará tu solicitud.
The hiring department will review your application.
Referring to the recruitment team within a company.
Casual Conversation
¿Sabes si están contratando en esa tienda?
Do you know if they're hiring at that store?
Asking about job availability informally.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Contratación
Using Alquilar for Hiring People
Incorrect: La empresa está alquilando empleados.
Correct: La empresa está contratando empleados.
Alquilar means to rent objects or property. For hiring people, always use contratar.
Word Form Confusion
Incorrect: El contrato de personas es difícil.
Correct: La contratación de personas es difícil.
Contrato means a contract (the document). Contratación is the act or process of hiring.
Lock in hiring Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Contratación used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using contratación in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La empresa está contratando personal nuevo este mes. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About hiring in Spanish
- How do I say We are hiring on a sign in Spanish?
- The most common phrases are Estamos contratando, Se solicita personal, or Se busca empleado. In more formal contexts, you might see Vacante disponible (position available).
- What is the difference between contratar and reclutar?
- Contratar means to hire—to formally bring someone on board with a contract. Reclutar means to recruit—to actively seek and attract candidates. Recruitment (reclutamiento) comes before hiring (contratación) in the process.
- How do I ask if a place is hiring in Spanish?
- You can say ¿Están contratando? or ¿Hay vacantes disponibles? For a more formal approach, try ¿Tienen alguna posición abierta? (Do you have any open positions?).