Negotiating salary: Responding to a job offer

💬 Spanish says son "they are" because the pesos are plural, while English says "it's." The same goes for time: son las tres "it's three o'clock".

💬 esperaba "I was expecting" sounds softer than espero "I expect". Talking about the past turns a demand into a gentle hint.

🇲🇽 Countering an offer is normal in Mexico, but people do it indirectly. A hedge like this keeps the conversation friendly.

💬 In Mexico, the c in veinticinco sounds like an s, never th: (bain-tee-SEEN-ko).

💬 Numbers from 21 to 29 are written as one word: veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés. A few of them, like veintidós, carry an accent mark.

💬 le can also attach to the end of the second verb: puedo ofrecerle means the same thing. Both orders are common.

🇲🇽 Mexican law guarantees some prestaciones, such as vacation days and a year-end bonus. Employers often compete with prestaciones superiores a las de ley "benefits above the legal minimum", so it's worth asking.

🇲🇽 Formal employees already get public healthcare through the IMSS. Private seguro de gastos médicos mayores "major medical insurance" is the perk people really value.

🇲🇽 The aguinaldo is required by law, not a favor: at least 15 days' pay, due by December 20. Many companies offer more, so ask how many days it is.

💬 This changes depending on who is being welcomed. Say bienvenida to a woman and bienvenidos to a group.

💬 Spanish often uses the plain present for something that will happen soon: mando "I send" here means "I'll send." Same idea: le llamo "I'll call you".

💬 With la in front, mañana means "morning" instead: la mañana "the morning". So mañana en la mañana means "tomorrow morning".

💬 tenga is the formal form, used with usted. Use que tengas buen día with a friend.