Language Careers

How many languages do you speak? If you speak more than one, chances are you have better career opportunities than monolinguals. If you only speak one language, this is a chance you try to learn a new language. Here are some of the reasons that learning a language can help you land a good job:

Translation

The most obvious career is a translator, with your language skills you will be aksed to translate manuals, business reports, business correspondence, legal documents, diplomatic communication, websites, subtitles for films, song lyrics, and literature. You can work for a company or become a freelance translator, which means you are working for yourself and deal directly with clients.

Interpreting

Becoming an interpreter requires you to have higher speaking skills than writing. You need to be fluent at both languages. Given the time pressure, you also do not have the luxury of using a dictionary. If you're a simultaneous interpreter you will work in big conferences and be required to interpret speeches while the speaker is still talking. It seems difficult but in reality, you will be sitting in a room with headphones and a microphone. The only thing you will hear is the speaker's voice. If you are a consecutive interpreter then you will be asked to interpret after the speaker finishes each sentence or several sentences. Consecutive interpreting requires you to either have a good memory or a notebook because sometimes speakers forget to stop so that you can interpret, whch leaves you with a 3 min long speech to interpret. Don't worry, there are techniques which allows you to take notes using symbols while the person is speaking, which you can translate later or use mnemonic techniques to enhance your memorization of long segments.

Education

There are many jobs in the education field which require language skills. You can be a teacher, for a school, university, or organization such as the Peace Corps. You can also be a researcher in the history of language, sociolinguistics, artificial intelligence. You can work as a Curriculum Specialist, ESL instructor, Guidance Counselor and much more.

Diplomacy

Working in the diplomatic field could allow you to travel, and enjoy different cultures while being paid for it. Foreign ambassadors, consuls, foreign affair officers, liasons, diplomatic courier, embassy and consulate staff members need to speak a foreign language because part of their job is to communicate with foreign leaders and individuals.

Health care

Hospitals usually witness patients from different backgrounds, and some do not speak the language of the country in which they live. In professions such as registered nurse, physician’s assistant, paramedics, home health aide, etc. being a multilingual will definitely be favorable to you.

Hospitality

Hospitality jobs are related to fields such as travel, hotels, and restaurants. In this field, the more languages you speak the better because that means being able to communicate with more clients. Positions such as Resort/ Hotel Manager, Airline Steward/Stewardess, Front Desk Representative, Concierge, and Event Manager/Coordinator are all common in this field.

Customer service

This field is not limited to one industry. You have a wider career path in terms of choice. Any company with clients requires a customer service position. Priority goes to bilingual individuals in case one of the client speaks a different language. You can work as a Bilingual Sales Clerk, Customer Service Representative, Host or Hostess, Information Desk Agent at airports just to name a few.

Law enforcement

Being part of the law enforcement industry, means dealing with people from various ethnic backgrounds. Speaking multiple languages will actually help to save your time in dealing with situations, without waiting for an interpreter. There are positions which rely at a higher degree on language skills such as: cryptologic language analyst, intelligence specialist, forensic officer, border patrol officer, and citizenship and immigaration services employees. Some government agencies will actually increase your salary for each extra language you speak as long as you use those languages in the job.

Communication

As a media person, there is no doubt that language is key to your success. It does not matter if you work as a public relations specialist, a journalist or a media relations officer, but equally important is your ability to learn multiple languages which will put you at the forefront while conducting an interview or while writing a news piece as words are your bread and butter.

Finance

As money travels, so do opportunities related to finance and accounting and as this profession is more in demand lately, it will be a boon to your financial knowledge to acquire the knowledge of several languages which will come as a great help while dealing internationally in foreign currency.

Social Services

Social service covers a huge range of work and includes dedicated work with those in need. In this field, it's critical to eliminate as many language barriers as possible to ensure that every client's unique needs are being met. Potential Jobs: Child Welfare Worker, Substance Abuse Worker, and Social Work Administrator.

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