Spanish Career Options
Life After Graduation
According to a 1994 article in The State newspaper, 40 percent of company executives surveyed indicated that their companies "had been active in hiring Spanish-speaking people." The same article reported that in the Southeast, 53 percent of the companies surveyed said they have hired or are planning to hire personnel fluent in Spanish.
The United States now has the fifth largest Spanish speaking population in the world and there is a steadily increasing response to market demands from Hispanics in this country and abroad. Throughout the Southeast, interest in Hispanic cultures is steadily growing in the business community. Currently the Hispanic population in South Carolina is growing almost six times faster than the overall population. Right here in Greenwood County, Greenwood Mills, Fuji Photo Film, Capsugel and other industries are actively expanding their markets in Spanish-speaking nations.
What does all of this mean? Whether you are interested in teaching Spanish or pursuing a career in a field such as business, social work, or communications, mastering the Spanish language will enhance your chances of landing a good job after graduation.
If graduate school interests you, you will find a bachelor's degree in Spanish is a good springboard to further study in fields such as literature, law, and public relations. According to an article in Changing Times magazine (1/90) titled "Jobs With a Bright Future," foreign language study is often looked upon as the "best all-purpose cross-training."
If teaching is your goal, you can be encouraged by reports from the Department of Education that indicate that there is a critical need for foreign language teachers, with the demand for Spanish teachers being the greatest. Your Spanish major will prepare you for a Master of Arts in Teaching program in Spanish education at another institution.
Your Spanish degree tells prospective employers that you have discipline, a sense of adventure and cross-cultural awareness—traits many companies are looking for as they compete in the global market place these days.
