Personal assistants exist in a unique position of authority, working closely with senior team members and directors, while taking control and responsibility of numerous tasks. Beyond administrative duties, the workload of a PA can require a host of organisational and practical skills.
But even with this abundance of skills, a personal assistant can still become more skilled. Certain abilities and qualifications will open doors to more niche and better paid PA roles. One way of accessing new employment opportunities is to become proficient in a foreign language.
According to translation service company London Translations, Spanish is currently the second most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin, and is prominent in both the Americas and in Europe.
Here are three ways in which the skill of Spanish translation could help to boost your career prospects as a personal assistant.
Spanish is a language of the world
Although Mandarin may be the most spoken language today, its prevalence is centred mainly around China, the world’s most populous country. Whilst the popularity of Mandarin appears to be dropping, it has been estimated that by 2030, 7.5% of the world will speak Spanish, rising to 10% within three to four generations time.
These statistics point to the rapid rise of Spanish as a world language. Senior staff, such as CEOs and Directors, not only travel the world but also communicate with businesses in foreign markets. Having one of the most widely spoken languages under your belt could set you apart from the crowd and give you access to prestigious positions.
Spanish is the new language of business
According to a report by the British Council entitled Languages for the Future, Spanish has been revealed as the most important language to learn because of its cultural, educational, and economic priorities in the United Kingdom’s future. Spain is the eighth largest goods export market in the UK, with automotive manufacturing, machinery, and electronic equipment among their top exports.
South American nations are being identified as upcoming economies by the Confederation of British Industry through agriculture and mining, and Price Waterhouse Cooper has forecast that the Mexican economy will overtake that of the UK by 2030. Because current trade relations with the economies of South America are underdeveloped, opportunities have been highlighted for British firms to operate in Spanish in order to develop contacts and secure business.
This economic growth is what has increased the desire for businesses to employ those that are able to speak Spanish. Personal assistants with Spanish translation capabilities have the potential to be highly desirable in this growing sector.
Learning Spanish is not as hard as you think
Spanish is a Romance language, meaning that it derives from Latin and is in the same language family as French and Italian. Furthermore, Spanish comprises of an alphabet we as English speakers are largely familiar with, unlike with Mandarin or Arabic,and is therefore easier for native English speakers to pronounce.
There are many available mediums from which to learn a new language, be it books, CD’s, or smartphone apps. There are also courses that aim to teach you Spanish in the time it takes to fly from the UK to Madrid, highlighting the necessity for innovation within the industry.
With so much to gain, and the drudgery of intensive studying almost eliminated, there has never been a better time for a personal assistant to impress companies with a new language.
