Careers for Spanish Majors
For those seeking to expand their knowledge of language and culture, a Spanish degree is the perfect option. The need for diverse language skills continues to grow, making careers for Spanish majors and those focused on other languages that more essential.
Key Skills for Success in Jobs with a Spanish Degree
Along with being fluent in Spanish, there are a variety of other key traits you’ll want to enhance or obtain to be successful in your future career. Some skills you may want to hone include:
- Attention to detail – This skill guarantees that nothing is being overlooked or misinterpreted and that your work is of the highest quality. Attention to detail is crucial when keeping track of communications and managing schedules and resources.
- Critical thinking – Critical thinking will help you to determine the ideal ways to convey meaning while also considering cultural context in a project. Translations must be accurate and appropriate, so acquiring this skill helps avoid any possible misunderstandings and facilitates effective communication.
- Interpersonal skills – These skills allow you to engage with others respectfully and help you build strong, positive relationships. Such skills also help you create a productive atmosphere in the workplace and ultimately help your projects run more smoothly.
- Organization – Being organized helps you to easily access any documents or resources when needed, leading to increased efficiency. Plus, organization ensures that projects run smoothly and deadlines are met.
- Time management – This skill is crucial in jobs with a Spanish degree since many roles will require handling multiple tasks at once, and having proper time management ensures each task is completed when needed.
- Problem-solving – Various challenges can arise in bilingual environments, so it’s important to have strong problem-solving skills to help navigate them.
What Can I Do with a Spanish Degree?
If you’ve ever wondered what you can do with a Spanish degree, know that there is a wealth of opportunities available to you. If you’re passionate about the Spanish language or culture, you can turn that passion into a fulfilling career. Earning a degree in this field opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities, which can include the following roles:
- Bilingual recruiter – In this position, you will identify and reach out to viable candidates able to communicate in both languages. You will also interview and assess candidates to ensure that they will be a good fit for your organization.
- Medical interpreter – As a professional medical interpreter, your role will be to facilitate clear and effective communication between healthcare workers and patients in settings like hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. This helps to promote effective patient care and ensures key information is not lost.
- Nursing – Meanwhile, some students choose to use their Spanish degree as part of a nursing career. Being bilingual opens up a wide range of career possibilities, and Spanish speaking nurses can better serve patients from diverse communities.
- Event coordinator – As a Spanish event coordinator, you will plan and manage events for those that require Spanish language proficiency. This could be include working with clients, vendors, or guests, as well as organizing events with members of Spanish-speaking regions.
- Travel agent – You will specialize in assisting Spanish-speaking clients or planning trips to Spanish-speaking destinations, using your language skills to communicate effectively and navigate any necessary local arrangements in those areas.
- International business interpreter – In this role, you will use your skills to bridge the gap of communication between English and Spanish within a corporate setting. You will facilitate communication between people who don’t speak the same language, ensuring that key points and fine details aren’t lost for proposals, deals, deliverables, and more.
- Editor or proofreader – Your responsibility as a Spanish editor or proofreader will be to edit and revise documents written in the Spanish language. You could be reviewing any Spanish document for grammar and clarity, as well as helping a client publish Spanish translations of their work.
- Tour guide – Another possible job with a Spanish degree is that of a tour guide, where you will provide information and guide tourists through locations while communicating primarily in Spanish.
- Legal interpreter – As a court interpreter, you will facilitate clear communication between parties in a courtroom to ensure everyone can fully understand the legal information being presented and any language barriers are overcome. Other legal roles where you could apply your Spanish degree include as an interpreter for a law firm, as part of a company’s legal department, and other possibilities.
- International relations consultant – As a professional in this career, you will find yourself advising businesses, organizations, and governments on foreign policy, diplomatic relations, or international trade relating to Spanish-speaking regions or countries.
- Teacher – Many with a Spanish degree choose to give back and help others to progress as well, leading them to roles within the teaching field. This can include those within the K-12 system, at the college level, or as a private tutor.
- Graduate student – Another opportunity for Spanish majors is to pursue graduate education, focusing on areas like literature, linguistics, Hispanic culture, teaching, and more. Any of these can help you to further your knowledge and prepare for many viable careers.
Careers for Spanish Majors: Where to Start Your Journey
At Kent State, our sole focus is giving students the skills that are essential in today’s job market. Our courses and instruction will help you stand out in the career market with multilingualism, important in both U.S. culture and the global economy. When it comes to specializing in Spanish, we offer two programs: our bachelor’s degree in Spanish and our master’s degree in Spanish.
No matter if you choose to pursue your Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts in Spanish, there are many benefits of earning these degrees at Kent State, including:
- Career development resources – For extra support, you can take advantage of our career advising and meet with advisors, or join career communities
- Networking opportunities – We give students opportunities to connect with professionals in the language field through events and workshops, allowing them to build strong professional networks for their careers
- Expert faculty support – We have a faculty dedicated to providing you with personalized guidance and support to help you achieve your academic and career goals while pursuing your degree
- Study abroad opportunities – Immerse yourself into the language and culture through our study abroad programs offered by the Office of Global Education, further enhancing your learning experience
Take the First Step Toward Jobs with a Spanish Degree
If you are looking to further advance your education and reach success in jobs with a Spanish degree, apply to Kent State online today. If you have any questions or are eager to learn more, reach out to us.