How the Spanish Major Prepares You for the Job Market
Knowing a second language is becoming more important as the world shrinks thanks to major advances in communication and travel technology. Although English is the most widespread language in the world, with it being the official language in 52 countries as well as various colonies and territories, according to the Behavioral Sciences Department at Palomar College, Spanish is on the rise as well in terms of popularity. Currently, there are 43 countries with a substantial number of Spanish speakers, Palomar College asserts. With the proliferation of the Spanish language, majoring in Spanish prepares students for work in a multinational company, or in any field where interaction with native Spanish speakers is crucial. To prepare for a future working in a diverse organization, Spanish majors take courses in advanced Spanish conversation, reading and writing, interpretation, and other topics related to increasing fluency and understanding of the language. These skills will help Spanish major graduates make a seamless transition into the multicultural workforce.

Best Career Paths for Spanish Majors
Spanish majors can choose to work in a variety of vastly different fields, depending on their interest. The best career paths for Spanish majors are:

• Spanish Education. Spanish educators can work in middle and high schools as well as in higher education. They have the responsibility of introducing the language to non-native speakers learning it for the first time, ensuring that the coursework is in-depth but yet catered to those who do not have previous experience with the language. Some Spanish educators also work with native speakers in increasing their understanding and cultural immersion to literature. The average salary for Spanish educators is $53,985, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Translation/Interpretation. Spanish translators and interpreters work with the government, companies, and other entities to facilitate communication between Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers. Translators specialize in the written word and work on converting legal documents, literature, engravings, and other works from Spanish into another language or vice versa. Interpreters, on the other hand, specialize in the spoken word, and thus work in speech conversion. Translators and interpreters make an average salary of $38,850 annually, according to the Bureau.

Both of these positions utilize business skills, administrative techniques, and industry knowledge that Spanish majors possess.

How to Market Your Spanish Degree
Earning a Spanish degree is an important step towards starting your career. However, you will also need to know how to market your degree to potential employers in order to prove that your education makes you an excellent candidate for the position. To do this, be specific about the skills you learned in class. For example, mention how you learned advanced conversational and formal Spanish from your degree courses. Be sure to mention the challenging projects you tackled and how those projects helped you hone your skills in the field. Reassuring employers and clients that your educational background helped you develop real-world skills is the most effective way of marketing your Spanish degree.