"After the Peace Corps, the fact that I knew Spanish was an important factor in helping me get a job with the Urban Institute, where I worked on international development projects," he says. Now a financial management associate in the Latin American & Caribbean Department of the World Bank, Cutler says his Spanish skills continue to propel his career climb. "Knowing Spanish has opened the doors for me into a community of international experts who are really smart and have traveled all over the world," he says. "I love seeing new parts of the world, and this job is really a dream for me in that respect."
When Kit Cutler went to Paraguay with the Peace Corps in 2003, he knew his already strong Spanish language skills would be essential to his work there
How Being Bilingual Can Boost Your Career
By Paula Andruss
Provided by ClassesUSA.com
When Kit Cutler went to Paraguay with the Peace Corps in 2003, he knew his already strong Spanish language skills would be essential to his work there. What was more surprising was how much those skills helped him once he returned to work in the U.S.
"After the Peace Corps, the fact that I knew Spanish was an important factor in helping me get a job with the Urban Institute, where I worked on international development projects," he says.
Now a financial management associate in the Latin American & Caribbean Department of the World Bank, Cutler says his Spanish skills continue to propel his career climb.
"Knowing Spanish has opened the doors for me into a community of international experts who are really smart and have traveled all over the world," he says. "I love seeing new parts of the world, and this job is really a dream for me in that respect."
In today's global economy, the ability to communicate is key, and as more companies expand internationally, the ability to communicate in another language has become a significant advantage in the workforce. Research from Rosetta Stone found that people who speak at least one foreign language have an average annual household income that's $10,000 higher than the household income of those who only speak English. And about 17 percent of those who speak at least one foreign language earn more than $100,000 a year.
Whether you're fresh out of college or a seasoned executive, insiders agree that fluency in a second language can not only help you stand out among prospective employers, it can also open doors to opportunities that those without foreign language skills might miss.
More options, more money
A recent survey from Los Angeles-based recruiter Korn/Ferry International found that nearly nine out of 10 headhunters in Europe, Latin America and Asia say that being at least bilingual is critical for success in today's business environment. And 66 percent of North American recruiters agreed that being bilingual will be increasingly important in the next ten years.
"In today's global economy you really have to understand the way business is done overseas to maximize your potential. A second language equips you for that," says Alister Wellesley, managing partner of Stamford, Conn.-based recruiting firm Morgan Howard Worldwide. "If you're doing business overseas, or with someone from overseas, you obtain a certain degree of respect if you're able to talk in their native language."
Key languages span many countries, industries
So which languages can give you a leg up on the job market? Insiders agree the most popular - and marketable - languages are Spanish, German, French, Italian, Russian and Japanese, with a growing emphasis on Mandarin, given China's booming economy.
And while any business may have a need for bilingual employees based on where it operates and with whom, the individual sectors with a strong demand for bilingual workers include (but aren't limited to) finance, sales, technology, manufacturing, professional services and government jobs.
"We see demand from a full range of industries," says Wellesley. "It really depends on which company you're working for and the country in which they're located."
Learning options abound
As business becomes more global, studying a foreign language can be a resume booster. There are several different kinds of foreign language certificate and degree programs available, from continuing education and community college classes to instructional books, DVDs and CDs.
Jesse Boeding, director of undergraduate programs at the Kogod School of Business at Washington D.C.'s American University, says her school recently implemented its first interdisciplinary degree in business administration and language and culture studies in response to demand from employers looking for students with both business and language expertise.
"There are many organizations where being able to communicate in a second language is very important," she says, adding that this degree will help make students distinguished candidates for such positions. "It definitely makes them more appealing to the global market."
Global thinkers in demand
Learning a second language can be beneficial in many ways even if you don't ever plan to use it professionally. Wellesley says being bilingual shows prospective employers that you bring a somewhat broader vision to the table.
"Even though it may not be relevant to the actual job that we're searching to fulfill, I like it when I interview people with a skill in a second language," he says. "It shows a potential employer that you retain knowledge and that you've studied something outside your likely jurisdiction, so it's absolutely an advantage, no matter what the job."
