Jobs for non-bilinguals in Puerto Rico?

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Puerto Rico Insider

As an English speaker living in Puerto Rico, I can tell you that you should not plan to live here without getting prepared to learn Spanish.

While many Puerto Ricans (to their credit) do speak English, their capabilities vary greatly. This is usually, but not always, correlated with their level of education. Those who have lived in the United States for any period of time will usually have a much stronger command.

But another important note for you is that in most settings, Puerto Ricans (even if bilingual & fluent in English) will naturally prefer to speak in their native language.

For you this will become frustrating and a major disadvantage. Imagine having a hearing aid that you could turn off and on to either hear correctly or hear nothing. When you are in a conversation that switches between Spanish and English, this is what it is like for your brain unless you are actively working to learn Spanish. You'll hear the English and then completely lose track of the conversation when it turns to Spanish. Translations on your behalf will never be as detailed or as eloquent as they were originally stated. Much of what you hear in English will be inaccurate due to weaker English skills or English methods of expression heavily rooted in Spanish *thinking* that do not allow them to translate well.

If you communicate with someone with weak English skills *using English* it will be like two toddlers talking. I.e. limited vocabulary, limited understanding. The same is true if you have almost no Spanish skills and try to communicate in Spanish.

FYI This is a *gringo* problem, not a Puerto Rican one. If you come here to a Spanish nation, the only method of really being able to communicate effectively here is to know Spanish. Tourists and short term visitors can get away with letting it slide. Residents cannot.

The decision of whether or not to seek a job here without knowing Spanish should also depend on your assertiveness and abilities in language learning. If you don't mind asking questions and trying to speak in Spanish even when you are not very skilled, you will do much better than someone who just avoids communications (obviously). Likewise, some people have a natural ability to pickup languages, whereas others are not as capable. If you have that natural ability, being immersed should allow you to make rapid progress as a fluent conversational Spanish speaker. From there, it would just be a matter of expanding your vocabulary, polishing your grammar, and discovering the colloquialisms and Spanish expressions, etc.

Bebe

Yes there are jobs needed for english speakers. However, the problem is that there are many puerto ricans who speak fluent english as well as fluent spanish. Why would they pick a only english speaker over a billingual? Its not impossible, I just want to let you know that it will be very hard to find something unless you have a needed skill. Research before you come so you don't get stuck in a bad situation.

http://www.clasificadosonline.com/

http://jobsearch.monster.com/Puerto-Rico/San-Juan/get-jobs-12.aspx

http://www.snagajob.com/jobs/Puerto_Rico_jobs.html

Darth Eugene Vader

A federal agencies job, or maybe university proffessor (Engineering? Physics?, English Literature? Law?). Puerto Rico Insider's answer is accurate (maybe some people do not like it, but true). Tourism is another option, but I think as more languages you are able to manage the better opportunities will be available.

Adriana D

airlines, airport, touristy areas (Isla Verde, Condado, Old San Juan)...it's tough though, because there aren't an overabundance of jobs to begin with.

Mr. Vitamin C

Just learn the local dialect, what's the problem? Stop being such a Yank!

SANDRA Q

I own a business in Rincon where there are many non - bilinguals. You can get a job at a bar restaurant, hotel or guest house. Check out rincon's website.

Adarah

I'm considering moving to PR myself, after my husband and I visited there earlier this year. I'm asking the same question myself, and the only answer I've found is to work in the tourist areas. Fluent english-speakers are needed for the cruise -docks where the tourists are richer and usually English-speaking. Hotels, restaurants, shops...anything in the tourist districts should be promising. Good luck!

Its me !!!

well im puertorican...
maybe you could work in a bilingual school?
I went to a private bilingual catholic school and the nuns were american and didin't speak a word of spanish... you wouldn't have any problems communicating in a place like that since everyone speaks fluent english

other than that I have no clue where you could work without speaking a word of spanish

hope I helped
:)

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