Minoring in a different language

Dear Maeve,

My response will also be a bit long-winded, but we have a lot of things in common, so hopefully you'll bear with me!

I majored in Public Relations and am currently working for an international social impact organization whose primary activities are in the Latin American region. Like you, I studied Spanish in high school (International Baccalaureate program), and continued taking courses while in college, but I did not major / minor in it. It is my personal belief that a language is a skill - something to have in your toolkit of 'things that make me awesome' - that requires practice but not necessarily something you should specialize in while at University.

Ten years from today, the biggest test of your language skills won't be how well you did on the AP exam, but how well you can actually communicate in the language. Particularly if you are interested in PR, you will need to know how to tailor your verbal and written communication to many different kinds of audiences and the best way to learn to do that is to spend some time immersing yourself in the language. To that end, you should obviously study for the exam, and if it's easy to get a minor out of it, then go for it! But if that means sacrificing the opportunity to take courses that will either provide you with technical expertise or allow you to explore something creative and new, then I don't think it's worth it.

Here are some more tips:
Take loads of writing and research courses - those will be essential!
Take some international relations and political science courses and consider a specialization - geographic focus, security studies, international organizations, etc.
Spend at least one semester abroad in a Spanish speaking country.
Take on at least two internships in very different areas. Work experience will help you land that first job post-college and help you avoid applying for jobs that are not a good fit for you.
* Build your network while at college, especially with professors who should be your mentors and who you will be able to contact in the future for advice or recommendations.

College is a time where you should build on fundamental skills and have some flexibility to explore and find what you are passionate about. I hope that helps and good luck with your studies!

Hi Maeve,

You should definitely continue your studies in Spanish! There are many benefits of being able to communicate in foreign languages that are not necessarily career-specific (as I am sure you are aware of).

In terms of careers in as publicists, event planner, or fundraiser - and specifically for non-profit companies: I have, in multiple occasions referred friends and acquaintances to job openings for fundraising, campaign management, and program management that specifically asks that the applicant be fluent or conversant in Spanish (that was a long run-on sentence; gasping for a breath). It is particularly useful for international opportunities or positions that require someone to travel to foreign countries or correspond with Spanish-speaking counterparts.

It just opens up a lot of doors for you. Put yourself in the shoes of an employer - wouldn't you rather teach someone how to develop a proposal, than teach your employee how to develop a proposal in Spanish?

The ability to speak additional languages is your strength. Use it to your full advantage - and I don't just mean for work. Think of all the great experiences you will have when you take vacations abroad :)

Good luck!

Another option would be working in PR for a company with a global presence. For example, you could work for a technology company who conducts business in Latin America or somewhere else where you could utilize your Spanish. Just another option to consider.

Being able to speak a second language is a huge benefit and makes you more marketable as an employer! Look into companies or organizations that would allow you to travel if that is something you are interested in. Reach out to employers that work in the fields you work in and ask them about their experiences and what advice they specifically have.

First off, just for life itself, I think that knowing a foreign language is a great asset. Whether it be for simple friendly communication or for networking it can open a plethora of opportunities. When it comes to career progression, foreign language aptitude can also greatly influence professional opportunities and more. My area of “expertise” is government work and I can tell you that in the U.S. government your pay is even influenced by your level of experience in foreign language. For example, if you score at a certain level on the language assessment courses, you will get a monthly bonus to your paycheck. This can vary from 50$ a month (for commonly spoken foreign languages) to as much as 500$ a month (for less commonly spoken foreign languages). These are only examples and only in government work, but I definitely recommend continuing your language skills even out of school as I think they will be a great asset to carry with you throughout your life. Keep up the great work!

Hi there,
Great thinking!!! Spanish is one of the growing languages in the world and you can built many relations with different companies around the world.
Think it this way, if you are able not only to speak a different language but interpreter and know what different idioms and culture you are more than prepare to enter a marketing and PR career.
Many decades ago when Japanese and American where building relations; they had the need not only to learn english and Japanese but to know the how each culture works just to make better business decisions and have a better understanding of how and why people behave certain way.

Good luck!!!