Name: Rachel Outram
Degree: French and Spanish Joint Honours
Year of graduation: 2002
Current Job title: Assistante Commerciale (for 6 months) and Director of a watersports company (6 months)
Background
I am from West Sussex, I studied French, Spanish, Maths and Biology at A level
Why Manchester and why languages?
I have always loved languages and it was what I was best at. I chose Manchester because it was exactly what I was looking for in terms of choices and courses. The Spanish department is one of the best in the country.
Year abroad
I worked as a "stagiaire" for an international electronic company in Paris for 6 months, spent 2 months in the French Alps (on holiday) and then spent the summer in a Spanish seaside resort working in a hotel. I really enjoyed Paris, and the Alps(!), less so Spain because I was working in a hotel. If I had had a more satisfying job I would have enjoyed it more. I decided against going to a university in either France or Spain because I didn't want to end up speaking English with everybody, and am very pleased that I went off and found myself jobs away from the beaten track.
What next?
Once I had graduated, I moved out to the Alps and worked for a few companies whilst setting up my own watersports company in Spain for the summer months. I did the ESF-MBS entrepreneurial course (European language management and entrepreneurial business program) at Manchester Business School the year after I graduated. This gave me a much clearer idea of running my own company.
Where are you now?
For 6 months of the year I live in the French Alps, working for an events and seminar company in Courchevel as an "Assistante Commerciale". For the summer months I run my own watersports business in the South of Spain, Torrevieja (just south of Alicante) doing activities such as parasailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and inflatables.
Do you still use your languages?
I use my languages all day everyday, I probably speak more French and Spanish per day than English. Trilingual, I am far more valuable to employers with my languages, especially in the tourism industry. Languages are a must in the tourism industry; no matter which country you find yourself in, if you speak their language a little, and you speak English then you will find a job. The more you speak their language, the better the job. The greater the number of languages, the better the job.
Anything else?
My fiancé is French, and we speak French at home. We will be getting married in the Alps and I have no intention of returning to the UK on a permanent basis in the near future. I love returning home every now and again to see my parents and friends, but everyone comes out to see me on their holidays - and it's a treat all round.