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Thursday, 20 October 2011

A second language is a real asset

According to a recent international survey (www.kornferry.com) of more than 12,000 people, 31 per cent of executives who responded are bilingual, and the need for bilingual executives will be even greater in 10 years.
Anyone from marketers to software developers can find it beneficial to have another language on their CV. Industries where knowing another language can have added value include:

IT industry: The impact that outsourcing has had on the technology industry means those who possess foreign language skills have an advantage when managing large projects that often have an international workforce and span several continents. With technology and software support being a large part of the industry, straightforward communication regarding highly technical work is key. Knowing another language also gives an advantage when creating software for global consumption and helps employees understand the needs of some international consumers.

Marketing industry: As marketing strategy is now a global phenomenon, another language can make employees more valuable to the marketing department of multinational companies. Anything from translating key documents to using international knowledge to appeal to another culture can come in handy.

Hospitality:  As the tourism industry grows and air travel increases, knowing another language can be a huge advantage when working in hospitality. Visitors may find an environment more welcoming if someone can speak to them in their own languages.

Airline industry: In the airline industry, customer service representatives and cabin crew are often expected to speak another language in order to communicate with clientele from all over the world. With an increase in international air travel and customers who speak many different languages, fluency in several languages can often be a requirement.

Government: Anything from intelligence work to working in foreign embassies requires thorough knowledge of another language. Additionally, the need for bilingual security experts will mean growth for those who are fluent in various languages.

Library science: Working with research collections and books can be an obvious tie-in for those who want to use their language skills. Selecting and cataloguing books can require knowledge of a non-English language. Additionally, many libraries located in various immigrant neighbourhoods have a need for bilingual librarians to help patrons with their needs.

Healthcare industry: Many medical facilities are in need of multilingual personnel. While translators commonly work in the hospital, knowing another language can help healthcare workers connect both with patients and other hospital workers. It’s especially useful in emergency situations.www.kornferry.com