Speaking Spanish in San Antonio (Alamo, Alamo Heights: university, income, to live)

[ashbeeigh]

It's beneficial but not required. Well, unless you work at mall during Holy Week or Christman.

[giz2000]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

There are plenty of people here who don't speak Spanish. A fair portion of the hispanic population here doesn't speak Spanish.

I have known people who said they had trouble with their coworkers because they didn't speak Spanish. They weren't doing the kind of jobs you'f want to move here to do, though.

I agree....many people here who are, for all intents and purposes, Hispanic don't speak a word of Spanish.

[OnlyonthursSA]

Que

[Lee W.]

There are jobs that require being bilingual English/Spanish, but it's normally stated in the qualifications listed for the job. Then there's jobs where speaking Spanish is a plus. Nothing wrong with that...if it helps the employer, that just makes sense. But a LOT of people are employed in the city without speaking any Spanish at all.

[Bonehoner]

In my case, it was a clear case of discrimination...and we're currently in court with it (can't say much now). It's with a well known company that's mentioned all the time here on CD, and was an upper-middle management position that paid around 80K (I've since found something better).
Folks, I would like to think that this doesn't happen anywhere these days, but it does. It's sad.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by SeattleGuy98121

Hello, my name is Michael and I currently live in Seattle. I have given some thought to moving away from Seattle and one of the places that seems interesting to me is San Antonio.

My only concern about moving to San Antonio is that I'm afraid that it would maybe be harder for me to get a job there because I don't speak spanish. I realize that I could try learning spanish but that would take some time. I only know english right now.

If I were to apply for any kind of customer service job, would it be almost impossible for me to get a job in San Antonio? Most of my work experience is in customer service. If I were to apply for work at a hotel in San Antonio, would I pretty much have a slim chance of getting hired because I don't speak spanish? Also, I have heard that San Antonio is about 75% Mexican or Mexican-American. Not that it matters to me, but is that true? Thanks for your time

Michael

I relocated here from Massachusetts, without speaking a lick of Spanish. Most of the reps in the call center where I work do not speak Spanish. Many of the Hispanic people here are third or fourth generation Mexican-American and do not speak Spanish. There are neighborhoods in the west and south sides where Spanish is the primary language, but you probably won't be moving there. If you would have said Laredo, McAllen, or Brownsville, I might be concerned, but SA is the seventh largest city in the US. No worries.

[ohmanthatsneato]

Originally Posted by SeattleGuy98121

Hello, my name is Michael and I currently live in Seattle. I have given some thought to moving away from Seattle and one of the places that seems interesting to me is San Antonio.

My only concern about moving to San Antonio is that I'm afraid that it would maybe be harder for me to get a job there because I don't speak spanish. I realize that I could try learning spanish but that would take some time. I only know english right now.

If I were to apply for any kind of customer service job, would it be almost impossible for me to get a job in San Antonio? Most of my work experience is in customer service. If I were to apply for work at a hotel in San Antonio, would I pretty much have a slim chance of getting hired because I don't speak spanish? Also, I have heard that San Antonio is about 75% Mexican or Mexican-American. Not that it matters to me, but is that true? Thanks for your time

Michael

Prepare for culture shock.

You ever visit Mexico?

San Antonio is extremely similar to Mexico.

Although most of San Antonio is overrun with crime(mainly drug related), there are some pockets of nice communities.

Yes, you will need to know Spanish to get a job and to interact with others. San Antonio is for all intents and purposes in Mexico rather than the USA.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by OnlyonthursSA

Que

I don't know why, but that was funny.

[LindaGrace]

Originally Posted by ohmanthatsneato

Prepare for culture shock.

You ever visit Mexico?

San Antonio is extremely similar to Mexico.

Although most of San Antonio is overrun with crime(mainly drug related), there are some pockets of nice communities.

Yes, you will need to know Spanish to get a job and to interact with others. San Antonio is for all intents and purposes in Mexico rather than the USA.

The last paragraph is completely untrue. If the first sentence of the last paragraph were true, only bilingual people would have jobs, which isn't even close to reality. The rest of the post is opinion only.

I am quite gainfully employed and don't speak Spanish. My husband speaks Spanish but has no use for it at work because everyone speaks English.

[ohmanthatsneato]

Originally Posted by LindaGrace

The last paragraph is completely untrue. If the first sentence of the last paragraph were true, only bilingual people would have jobs, which isn't even close to reality. The rest of the post is opinion only.

I am quite gainfully employed and don't speak Spanish. My husband speaks Spanish but has no use for it at work because everyone speaks English.

You must live and/or work in Stone Oak, Helotes, Boerne, Alamo Heights.

Aside from those areas, San Antonio is purely an extension of Mexico in terms of crimes, income, culture and mentality.