Spanish Speakers in Nashville (Franklin, Nolensville: sales, real estate, mortgage)

[katcha70]

Hi, we plan on moving to the Nashville area in the next year or so and I was wondering if there is any benefit to being bilingual as far as employment goes. My work experience is in Real Estate, however, I wouldn't mind a career change. Does anyone know of any well paying jobs that require spanish? Also, I would like an honest answer before I pack up my entire family to Nashville.... Because we have a Spanish last name, I was wondering if there would be any discrimination towards us? Please advise. Thanks!

[TNEmily]

You might want to connect with the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute (google them; I don't have the web address handy). I believe they have a jobs listing or could at least be a good start. There is a good size Hispanic population in the area and therefore your skills would be handy.

I can't speak as far as discrimination...I think you would be fine.

[Anna Haislip]

Originally Posted by katcha70

Hi, we plan on moving to the Nashville area in the next year or so and I was wondering if there is any benefit to being bilingual as far as employment goes. My work experience is in Real Estate, however, I wouldn't mind a career change. Does anyone know of any well paying jobs that require spanish? Also, I would like an honest answer before I pack up my entire family to Nashville.... Because we have a Spanish last name, I was wondering if there would be any discrimination towards us? Please advise. Thanks!

There is discrimination everywhere. Unfortunately Nashville is not exception. Tennessee, I think has had one of highest rate of hispanic immigration in the last few years. South Nashville is choked full of our previously really southern neighbors. There is so much need helping them interface with government, medical institutions,etc. I would think there would be plenty of jobs. How well they pay I do not know. Try Nashville.gov for more indepth information.~Anna

[NashVol]

First, are there bilingual opportunities in Nashville? Yes, but I do not know how you define "well-paying" as that is relative. I used to work with a boricua (actually born in Massachusetts) and an ecuatoriana (raised in Chicago). Now, one translates at Vanderbilt (though she cannot roll her "r's") and one is a mortgage loan consultant.

Second, as noted in prior posts, there has been a lot of growth in the Hispanic community in Nashville both con papeles y sin papeles. My guess is now is the time to get in on a business in Nashville's Hispanic community.

I think your advantage with Spanish would be in call centers, in sales or any job that interacts with Hispanics los cuales hablan la lengua castellana. Maybe use the links below and make some phone calls to network. Buena suerte y Dios le bendiga en su busqueda.

Here are some links for you:
Hispanic Nashville

http://www.nashvillehispanicchamber.com/

Tennessee Hispanic Chamber (broken link)

Tennessee Foreign Language Institute - TFLI - serving the World, located in Nashville, TN. (TN Foreign Language Institute)

La Campana - Nashville's Spanish Newspaper

La Noticia Newspaper

Finally, stay away from this guy:
Nashville Scene - The Bad Man of Nolensville Road (broken link)

[Mike in TN]

My wife is bilingual. They offered her an extra $0.50/hr. to handle Spanish calls at the Nissan call center in Cool Springs. She declined.

[2004idiot]

Yo no habla espanol, yo habla ingles..... that's about it... besides Como esta?

I don't know where you are moving from, but "good paying" does not compute here.

[nycastoria]

Uh I have been two Nashville twice. Once in 2006 and once this summer. I was there for a week. I did not hear Spanish being spoken at all. I did not see any hispanic community. absolutely none. It was just white and black.

[THASPECIAL]

Originally Posted by nycastoria

Uh I have been two Nashville twice. Once in 2006 and once this summer. I was there for a week. I did not hear Spanish being spoken at all. I did not see any hispanic community. absolutely none. It was just white and black.

try near Nolensville road and Old Hickory..there are lots of Mexicans down there.....there are mexicans in Franklin too..I think they are too busy working the hard jobs to be seen in the community speaking spanish ...maybe since they aren't Puerto Ricans that's why you didnt see them because Puerto Ricans are loud and cocky so you know they are there..but Mexicans are more reserved at least the ones in Nashville are

[katcha70]

I wasn't looking fo any mexicans or puerto ricas, just a well paying job...lol

[alleycat]

I would think that in some businesses being bilingual would be a plus in getting a job, but probably not that great of a plus as far as additional salary is concerned.