Double Spanish and Business Major: Job Options? (graduate, degree, skills)

[zzguy2]

Hello,

I am a sophomore at a small liberal arts college near Chicago. After deciding not to major in Spanish and English, I thought about Urban Planning. However, I soon realized that my school's program is not very good, and that most planning jobs are in the suburbs. So I decided to go for a degree in which I would actually learn something, so I have now decided on Spanish and Business Administration. I decided on business because 1) my school has a good business program, and 2) people have told me I would have a lot of opportunities with a double Spanish and Business degree. Is this true? What kinds of job would I be able to get? What would the salaries be like? What would the hours/quality of life be like?

Also, I'm just going for general business administration. I plan on taking a few courses in a couple concentrations so that I can get a feel of what I want to concentrate in when I go to grad school, hopefully right after undergrad. Also, I love geography and languages, so I plan on taking some geography and French courses before I graduate.

I also plan on doing more study abroad. I've already done a month stay in Chile, and will probably do a month in Spain next year, and another month in Chile later on, and possibly a month in Montreal to practice French sometime. Will this help me, too?


Thank you

[Wisteria]

ZZguy2: After deciding not to major in Spanish and English, I thought about Urban Planning. However, I soon realized that my school's program is not very good, and that most planning jobs are in the suburbs. So I decided to go for a degree in which I would actually learn something, so I have now decided on Spanish and Business Administration.

Your question is a good one, and I see no one has replied yet. I don't really have an answer, just guesses.

My daughter will be majoring in the same areas: Spanish and Business Administration at a California college. She also spent time in Chile (6 months) and is now fluent in Spanish.

I agree that English and Urban Planning don't sound like majors that could lead to "good" jobs after college -- unless you already knew someone in those fields.

Why are you only doing a month abroad? More time would seem to make more sense -- one month doesn't give you much of a feel for a place. Your school must have study-abroad programs that would give you an entire semester's or year's worth of business credits -- check into that.

Spanish is a good language for working in the U.S. I know lots of people who receive "bilingual 'differential' pay" because they can speak Spanish. My daughter just got a summer job (starting now for weekends) because she is bilingual -- it's very useful.

At least you are thinking through your options. Quite honestly, I think that it really comes down to you, not necessarily the major. The major is good to a point, but you have to pick up the slack on the rest. Certainly, a business degree would seem a much better bet than an English degree!

As for what kinds of jobs you could get? Why not be proactive and call around to various businesses and tell them you are exploring job fields for the future, and would they give you five-minutes of time to let you know what kinds of positions they have and the ballpark figure for them using the skills you are interested in?

Focus on what you are doing now -- don't bite off too much. It sounds like you are looking at your possibilities, and that's good. Get a part-time job, at least, using those skills -- that would help.

The next step is to check with your college advising/career office, and be very proactive on your own. Asking people here will not give you the information you really want -- which seems to be: Can I get a good-paying job with Spanish/Business? You'll never know until you actually try.

Good luck to you.