How Learning Another Language can Boost Your Career
Learning a second (or third!) language can significantly boost your career in several ways:
1. Increased Job Opportunities
Companies that already operate internationally prefer employees who can communicate effectively with clients, partners, and colleagues in different languages. While companies who are expanding business into diverse markets, need employees who can communicate their brand message, and their goals, clearly to potential customers and partners. Being bilingual or multilingual can set you apart from other candidates. Demand for bi/multilingual candidates more than doubled between 2010 and 2015, and since 2020, there has been a 30% increase in bilingual remote jobs. This trend is not expected to change.
Employers, such as healthcare centres, hospitals, and state and local governments, often require multilingual speakers to comply with laws and regulations. In addition, the demand for bilingual employees is incredibly high in hospitality, healthcare, and international business.
Departments with the greatest foreign language skills needs are customer service, sales, marketing, management, and IT. This article from Indeed lists the top 13 best career choices for bilinguals.
A survey of U.S. employers conducted by ACTFL revealed:
- 9 out of 10 employers rely on employees who can speak languages other than English.
- 56% reported that their demand for bi/multilingual speakers will increase in the next five years.
- 1 in 3 reported a language skills gap.
- 1 in 4 has lost business due to a lack of foreign language skills.
2. Higher Salary Potential
Bilingual employees often earn higher salaries due to their ability to effectively communicate across cultural divides and handle international business. In fact, research shows that those who are bilingual or multilingual can earn 5%-20% more per hour than those who aren’t. Furthermore, bilingual and multilingual jobs are on the rise. Multinational employers are looking for versatile candidates, and that means, as a bilingual or multilingual candidate, you possess a competitive advantage over your monolingual peers.
3. Enhanced communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and multitasking skills
Learning another language improves your ability to express yourself clearly, making you a better communicator overall. Understanding another language helps you appreciate cultural nuances, making you more effective in international business and teamwork.
There are multiple studies that show cognitive advantages of multilingualism. For example, a study done by the National Institute of Health shows that multilinguals are much better and faster at switching tasks than their monolingual counterparts. Another study found that multilingual speakers process information faster and more efficiently than their monolingual colleagues, making them excellent problem solvers and quick thinkers. In fact, research also suggests that children who grow up using two languages do better on standardised tests than their monolingual peers. So make sure you highlight your language skills on your CV!
Find out more: The bilingual brain | MIT Technology Review
4. Expanded Networking Opportunities
Knowing another language allows you to connect with professionals globally, opening doors to more collaborations, mentorships, and career growth.
5. Career Flexibility & Mobility
Many multinational companies prefer employees who can relocate to different countries. Speaking another language provides opportunities to work in different countries or with international clients. Bilingual freelancers (e.g., translators, content creators, consultants) can tap into a broader client base. And, knowing multiple languages makes it easier to advance into managerial or executive roles.
We offer Business English classes!
In today’s globalised business environment, effective communication in English is not just an asset — it’s a necessity. Whether you are an executive preparing for an international presentation, a manager striving to communicate clearly with global teams, or a professional aiming to refine your language skills to better understand industry-specific terminology, Stephen Whiteley Oliván’s one-to-one Marketing and Business English classes are designed to meet your needs.
Stephen Whiteley-Oliván offers a premium, highly personalised language teaching service for professionals and small groups. Whether you prefer face-to-face sessions at your company’s premises (in the Greater Barcelona region) or remote learning via online platforms, Stephen’s comprehensive approach guarantees improvement in your Business English proficiency in areas that matter the most. His focus is clear: helping busy professionals enhance their English for business contexts with practical, real-world solutions that fit into their schedules.
