The need for language skills is rising as the range of different types of job that require this skills increases to as part of the evolution of the economy. This development means that jobs which might not previously have required a language skill, may now specify language skills in the application process. The jobs that may come to mind when thinking of language skills include translation, interpreting, tourism and teaching. However, there is a much wider network of jobs where an additional language could provide your child with a competitive edge over other applicants. Here are three job roles you may not have contemplated where language skills are either a requirement or very beneficial.
The Public Sector – Including Police and Health Services
Due to migration there is now a broad mixture of different languages spoken within towns and cities throughout Europe. This means that the ability to speak additional languages in the public sector - such as police, medical or local government - can be a real advantage. Potential employers will benefit as internal language skills decrease the need for interpreters and allow you and your colleagues to solve problems faster. If travel is something you yearn after, there may also be the more traditional but interesting fields of foreign embassy, intelligence or security work, for which language skills are a necessity.
Marketing
Sales and marketing are now global operations in many companies. Therefore, companies need people with language skills who can communicate with colleagues abroad and work on marketing strategies across multiple countries. Additional languages may not be a direct job requirement, but they will be attractive to an employer as they add flexibility and show a dedication to learning a difficult to master skill. Many people find that an additional language will open up opportunities within a company outside of the scope they expected when applying for the role.
Video Games Tester
Language skills can lead to jobs that you may not expect. Some of these might be quite unique or unusual, depending on your situation. For example, many software companies require end user testers to check for problems, one of which may be to test or translate the game or software to ensure it is available in different languages. Whatever profession your child is looking to explore, additional language skills - supplemented by immersion experiences to develop their skills - build a solid platform to enter a wide range of traditional language based jobs, and new and exciting opportunities in a global market.
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