Spanish majors
studying towards a bachelor's degree have a variety of job prospects upon graduation. In fact, it can be hard to find a career where speaking Spanish isn't an advantage.
Potential
According to the last U.S. census, Hispanics are the fastest growing demographic (see Resources). This means bilingual college graduates are in demand. Any business that deals with people could potentially need bilingual staff.
Entry Level Careers
Entry-level careers can be found in fields such as customer service, collections, banking, social services, teaching and international business. Jobs for these areas are routinely advertised in newspapers and online.
Specialized Careers
There is a need for bilingual employees in specialized fields such as medicine, legal professions and engineering. Jobs in these fields require additional training.
Function
Bilingual employees, with their language skills and cultural knowledge, allow businesses to expand into Hispanic markets both in the United States and overseas.
Considerations
Spanish majors should gain experience with a variety of regional accents and idioms. Puerto Ricans speak a different Spanish than Mexicans, who speak differently from Argentinians.
Misconceptions
There is still a disconnect between what is said--that bilingual employees are vital--and what is actually done. Pay premiums for language skills also tend to be less than expected, averaging just a few thousand dollars for a skill that takes years to develop.
Expert Insight
Spanish majors often find they have a learning curve on business vocabulary, slang and written business correspondence. It helps to keep notes on new vocabulary and to read the business section of Spanish newspapers. A good business phrasebook is essential.
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