What Can I Do With a Major In Spanish?

• Department of Romance Languages - Spanish Program

To find additonal clubs and organizations, visit the Center for Student Organizations.

And connect with your Career Consultant!

SKILLS

The study of languages develops a core set of skills sought after by employers in a wide range of occupational settings. A sampling of representative skills and abilities follows.

Communication

• Multilingualism
• Cross-cultural communication
• Expressing & understanding multiple viewpoints
• Presenting information logically
• Reading critically
• Writing effectively
• Linguistic sophistication

Human Relations

• Understanding cultural differences
• Sensitivity to cultural issues
• Flexibility in thinking and learning
• Ability to adjust to new environments
• Appreciation of cultural history, literature, politics, music, and more

Critical Thinking

• Thinking collaboratively
• Analyzing information, cultures, and complex problems
• Comparing & contrasting interpretations
• Offering diverse perspectives
• Assessing cultural differences
• Synthesizing themes
• Research skills

Problem Solving

• Assessing needs
• Defining problems
• Understanding alternative perspectives
• Gathering information from a variety of sources
• Weighing alternatives
• Generating creative solutions

SAMPLE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

• U.S. State Department
• Government agencies (e.g. National Security Agency)
• Embassy (U.S. & foreign)
• Museums (e.g. Smithsonian Institutions)
• Educational Programs (e.g. Summerbridge)
• Consulting firms (e.g. Social Technologies)
• Media (e.g. ABC Nightline, Dateline NBC)

TIPS

• Choose an additional academic area of study to supplement the foreign language, preferably one that requires a high degree of technical skill. Most people with foreign language ability use those skills to assist them in a different career field such as business, education, journalism, law, etc.
• Related courses to study include geography, history, civilization, foreign relations, international law, and world economics.
• Plan to attend a private language institute to learn additional languages and cultures.
• Utilize a number of learning methods to develop language fluency.  Combine listen and repeat drills, textbooks, audio lessons, and learning apps.
• Travel to a foreign country or study abroad in international exchange programs to develop your language skills and international/intercultural competency.
• Study and practice your foreign language skills by reading foreign newspapers, magazines, and books.
• Seek opportunities to interact with international students on your campus or members of your local community. Host international students, join relevant student organizations, and participate in international campus events.
• Watch foreign movies and listen to foreign broadcasts to maintain your fluency.
• Volunteer your language skills to churches, community organizations, and programs that work with people who speak your target language.
• Correspond with someone from a foreign country.
• Contact professional associations and read their publications to learn about job opportunities.
• Research job postings on the Internet to get an idea of jobs in which knowledge of a foreign language is useful.
• Participate in summer programs, co-ops, and internships to improve your skills.
• Network with others in the field to learn about job opportunities.
• In general, international positions are competitive and difficult to obtain. Be very proactive in developing the skills and experiences international employers seek.
• Get your foot in the door in domestic positions because many international employers promote current employees into international positions.
• Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your career interest. To search, select “groups” under the “interests” tab. Also, review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined and consider joining them as well.

Interested in graduate school? Find current information on getting into graduate school at UGA’s Career Center webpage.

• My Next Move
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
  • Interpreters and Translators
  • Adult Literacy and GED Teacher
  • Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
  • Postsecondary Teachers
  • Flight Attendants
• Idealist Careers - Helping You Find a Nonprofit Career

General:

• GoinGlobal 
• Idealist - Nonprofit
• USAJOBS - Federal

Major/Career Specific:

• Internships
• Working Abroad
• Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) 
• CIA Foreign Language Positions 
• FBI Jobs
• The American Chamber of Commerce in Spain
• The Electronic Embassy: U.S. Foreign Embassies
• Spain-US Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Department of State Careers
• U.S. Travel Association
• United Nations Internships/Careers

• National Association for Bilingual Education
• American Association of Language Specialists
• American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese
• American Dialect Society 
• American Translators Association
• College Language Association
• Modern Language Association
• Society for Spanish & Portuguese Historical Studies