Malia Sprague

Home Loan Officer at Umpqua Bank
Business Major – Specialized in Business Analytics and Sports Marketing w/ Spanish Minor from the University of Oregon
Spanish

Question & Answer

How is proficiency in another language useful or important in home mortgage lending?

She found that being able to say “I can” and that ability as a resource was valuable. It’s one of the reasons why she was selected for an interview. Employers seek people who can reach all types of clients. She also advised that once I graduate to still stay in touch with the language, as it is easy for the skill to get rusty. Whether that’s speaking to other people or watching shows, it’s important to keep that skill.

How is the ability to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds useful or important in this field?

Malia said this skill was very important, but not very common in the field. There are lots of Spanish speakers, especially immigrants, who value someone who can help them in their native language. It helps build trust with clients who don’t feel like banks are there for them. It also assures that they’re not alone and it bridges the gap between them as immigrants and the financial institutions.

How have Malia’s language and cultural skills supported and enhanced her opportunities in this field?

In Banking, there is a strong shift to diversify to help all kinds of people and to grow the client base. By speaking Spanish, an uncommon skill, it can accomplish that goal and build a relationship with new clients. It’s a skill that employers look for in their applicants as they emphasize community lending. Knowing a second language makes you available to clients when they’re ready to purchase a home.

What are some other skills that are important for success in this field?

There are not many hard skills you can prepare for, it’s centered around soft skills, especially communication. In her field, she found that her sales skills from college are extremely helpful and said “Communication is the number one thing you have to do” in English but also with Spanish-speaking clients.

What did Malia do to prepare for this field?

Her previous jobs and internships as a student were unrelated to her current position. Her previous position was in marketing, which helped her build soft skills. The hard training for her career was mostly hands-on and on the job for 6-8 weeks with support from Umpqua.

What languages does Malia speak? Did she have the opportunity to study abroad or spend time in a language-speaking country?

Malia lost study-abroad opportunities in college during the Pandemic. After graduation, Malia visited Costa Rica and said the experience was amazing. She says it was “so good to use those skills you spent years building”. The trip greatly helped with immersion and getting to practice Spanish in a real-world setting. She recommends it as much as possible. It built her abilities and confidence in speaking Spanish. She also added that it, “shows yourself how much you know, which is a really encouraging thing”.

Did she know what she wanted to go into after college?

-She didn’t have her career in mind during college like many college students. In hindsight, she would have liked to explore a bit outside her current major with a variety of different classes. She wasn’t sure where she wanted to concentrate and taking different business classes helped her find her interests. I found her advice to be reassuring in that you don’t have to have everything planned out yet during college. She was able to find a successful career along the way without knowing precisely her future career during college.

Where does she see herself in 10 years? Where does she see this field in 10 years?

She sees the industry as a whole as an opportunity for lots of growth. Her advice is the harder you work, the better off you will be. She appreciates that she is rewarded based on how much effort she puts into her job, rather than being paid the same amount as someone else who doesn’t do the same amount of work. The industry is expanding outwards, and there’s an opportunity to diversify the client base as new people enter her market.

Are there any unique challenges to this field or barriers to entry a recent graduate should know about?

She says the keys to a successful career in this field are being willing to make mistakes and being willing to learn. Being outgoing is a huge benefit both and being comfortable with being uncomfortable. She was rarely the smartest person in the room and when you’re asked a question, you have to say sometimes “I’m not sure, let me get back to you on that”. Although it can be overwhelming, if you keep moving forward, you can be successful.

Reflection

I interviewed Malia Sprague, a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Business Major and a Spanish Minor. She entered the home mortgage industry after college and currently works as a Home Loan Officer for Umpqua Bank. In her position, she helps her clients through the home buying and mortgage process along with teaching a First Time Homebuyers Workshop once a month. I interviewed her over the phone and I learned a lot about her position and industry. She had valuable insight into how Spanish helps her position as a Home Loan Officer and emphasized the value of speaking two languages to communicate with more people. I found her advice to be helpful in any profession involving people and sales. In her experience, success is driven by soft skills and the willingness to adapt and grow to a changing environment.

About the author

name: Colter Sprague

institution: Boise State University

I’m a Business Administration student studying at Boise State University with a minor in Finance and a double major in Spanish. I enjoy watching movies, practicing my acoustic and electric guitars, playing with my dogs, and travelling!  I’m interested in entering procurement or a related field in business after college and I hope to have many opportunities to use my Spanish skills!