TRUE STORY: HOW I LOST A ₦600K CUSTOMER SERVICE JOB BECAUSE I COULDN'T ’t SPEAK SPANISH

Story Time...

I  started like every hopeful job application does: with a little excitement, a silent prayer, and that mental image of myself finally working a job that pays well, respects my time and has real growth potential. When I saw the listing - ₦600,000 monthly pay for a hybrid customer service role with a global brand - I told myself, "This is it. This is the one."

I had the experience. The empathy. The voice. The drive.

I even updated my CV twice. You know, just to be sure.

Fast-forward a few days - I got the interview email. Hmmm! You could not talk to me anyhow that day! I cleaned my background, ironed a smart shirt, rehearsed my “Tell me about yourself” like a TED Talk, and logged in early.

The interview was going well - so well that I was already calculating my salary for the next three months in my head. 🧮

Then, it happened.

.

.

The interviewer smiled and said:

“We’re almost done, but just to confirm… this role supports our Latin American customers. So we need basic conversational Spanish. Can you please introduce yourself in Spanish and tell me briefly why you want this role?”

Wait. What? Spanish?!

You mean, like... Hola? Dora the Explorer? Despacito?

I froze.

My brain tried to gather all the Spanish I’d ever accidentally overheard on Netflix and regurgitate something that "sounded" like I knew what I was doing. I managed to stammer:

 “Uhm... Hola. Me... me llamo Elizabeth...?” 😅

And that was it.

The polite smile from the recruiter said it all.

She thanked me for my time, promised feedback, and I already knew: the dream job had just slipped through my fingers like fine sand.

 💭 The Lesson?

I didn’t lose the job because I wasn’t good. I lost it because I lacked one "crucial" thing: a second language. Just one extra skill. One bridge I hadn’t built.

In a global world, speaking one language sometimes just isn't enough - especially if you’re aiming for international roles or remote work.

🧠 My Toughts and Takeaway:

I’m not here to cry over missed opportunities (okay, maybe just a little 😭), but to say this -  don’t wait till you lose a ₦600k job to realize the power of language. It might be Spanish, French, German, or even basic sign language, but one extra language can open more doors than your degree ever could.

🛠️ What I’m Working On:

I’ve downloaded Duolingo and started learning Spanish for 10 minutes a day.

- I’m watching more Spanish Netflix shows with subtitles (fun and educational!)

 - I’m saying YES to new skills, even the ones that seem small.

💬 Final Note...

Next time an opportunity comes that asks, "Can you speak Spanish?" I want to smile confidently and say:

...“¡Sí! Me llamo Elizabeth, y estoy lista para este trabajo.”

Because trust me - no amount of missed opportunity hurts as much as knowing you were almost there… but not quite.

Thanks for reading. And hey — if you speak Spanish or know a good language app, don’t gatekeep! Drop a comment or suggestion below. Let’s grow together ❤️.