Many bilingual job applicants have an edge over their competition.
Many people are interested in learning a foreign language at some point in their lives, and many high school and college students must take foreign language classes. Spanish is one of the most popular options when people choose a second language, since it offers many professional and cultural benefits.
Career Opportunities
The largest minority group in the United States is the Hispanic population, and the number of Spanish speakers is growing each year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This means that U.S. companies are looking for ways to attract and gain Spanish-speakers' business, and this often helps determine their hiring practices. According to CareerBuilder, corporate America recognizes the need for bilingual staff and has made efforts to recruit, hire and retain bilingual Spanish-speaking employees. Many jobs require Spanish speaking and writing skills, and people who learn Spanish have an advantage over their competitors. Several industries need bilingual personnel, such as healthcare organizations, banks, retail stores, social services, schools, consumer credit agencies and financial services.
Pay Increases
Bilingual employees give their companies the option to target the Hispanic market, and in return, they often make more money than their non-Spanish speaking counterparts. According to an article in the "North County Times," bilingual Spanish employees are able to snag promotions and gain pay raises by simply being able to speak Spanish. Many Latino customers who do not speak English very well feel more comfortable buying products and services from salespeople who speak their native tongue.
Travel Opportunities
Unlike other popular foreign language offerings, such as French or German, Spanish is spoken all over the world. It is spoken in Europe, North America, Central America and South America. Many of the Spanish-speaking locations, such as Spain and Mexico, are popular tourist destinations for Americans. Travelers and tourists may have an easier time getting around and bargaining for the lowest market prices if they speak the local language.
Gateway to Other Languages
Spanish is a Latin-based romance language, and has the same roots as several other languages, including Italian, Portuguese and French. Once you master one of the Latin languages, the others are much easier to learn. Americans who are interested in becoming multilingual can benefit from learning Spanish first, because it is widely spoken throughout America, which means it is easier to practice via hearing, speaking and reading than other Latin languages.
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