The World Awaits: Building a Career with Spanish

The 2019 report, Making Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers, indicates an urgent and growing demand for language skills across sectors:

9 out of 10 U.S. employers rely on employees with language skills other than English.

56% say their language demand will increase in the next 5 years.

47% state a need for language skills exclusively for the domestic market.

1 in 3 language-dependent U.S. employers report a language skills gap.

1 in 4 U.S. employers lost business due to a lack of language skills.

Spanish majors, especially those who take an interdisciplinary approach, can pursue a wide range of careers that go beyond traditional language-focused roles. Here are 20 career paths where Spanish skills can lead to exciting career opportunities:

1. Sustainable Tourism Specialist – Promoting eco-friendly travel in Spanish-speaking regions.
2. Cultural Heritage Manager – Preserving and managing historical sites and traditions.
3. Digital Storytelling Producer – Creating multimedia content with a focus on Latinx and Hispanic narratives.
4. Humanitarian Aid Coordinator – Working on global crisis response efforts in Latin America and beyond.
5. Medical Interpreter & Health Equity Advocate – Bridging language gaps in healthcare while addressing disparities.
6. Food and Wine Industry Consultant – Specializing in Spanish and Latin American gastronomy.
7. Urban Planner & Community Developer – Designing inclusive cities with a focus on immigrant and Latinx communities.
8. Forensic Linguist – Assisting law enforcement with language-based analysis and investigations.
9. Social Media & Digital Marketing Strategist – Engaging Spanish-speaking audiences through storytelling and campaigns.
10. International Business Consultant – Helping companies expand into Spanish-speaking markets.
11. Environmental Policy Analyst – Addressing sustainability challenges in Latin America and Spain.
12. Latinx Market Research Analyst – Understanding cultural trends to shape business strategies.
13. Game Localization Specialist – Adapting video games for Spanish-speaking audiences.
14. Museum Curator & Exhibition Designer – Showcasing Latin American and Spanish art and history.
15. Human Rights Investigator – Documenting social justice issues in Spanish-speaking regions.
16. Legal Consultant for Immigration & Asylum Cases – Supporting legal advocacy with language and cultural expertise.
17. Tech Ethics & AI Bias Analyst – Ensuring AI and language models fairly represent Spanish-speaking cultures.
18. Nonprofit Program Director – Leading initiatives in education, social justice, or community development.
19. Diplomatic & Foreign Service Officer – Representing international interests in Spanish-speaking countries.

LatPro.com – The essential job board for Hispanic & bilingual professionals.
ESL Cafe Job Center – ESL jobs around the world

• Klemm Fellow International Internship Program.The Klemm Fellow International Internship Program is a highly selective program which places Union students in a foreign country where they work as an intern in a local organization and stay with a local host family. Projects Abroad is Union’s partner organization and arranges the internships and host families for Union.
• Jacobson Community Engagement Fellowship with the Kenny Center for Community Engagement and Outreach give the opportunity for a Union student to support local education initiatives and coordinate volunteer efforts for peers.
• Language and Translation Internships perfect for linguists looking to stand out from their peers in the competitive job market.
• Each Spring, ACTFL invites applications for its Summer Internship and Scholars Program. This program gives young professionals hands-on skills and opportunities to pursue their research in a supportive, enriching setting.
• Internship Opportunities with the Office of International and Foreign Language Education.
• Internships at the United Nations.
• Foreign Service Related Opportunities.
• Spanish Internships Abroad
• Advice on jobs, internships and careers via Union College’s Becker Career Center

Community Connections links Union College students to the Schenectady community and beyond. Here you can find ways to engage, volunteer, and make a difference with your knowledge of Spanish language and culture.

• What does research show about the benefits of language learning?
• There is a correlation between language study and higher scores on the SAT and ACT tests.
• There is a correlation between language learning and students' ability to hypothesize science
• Language learning correlates with higher academic achievement on standardized test measures.