How can you make sure that you stay employable amid all the ups and downs in the economy? One of the smartest moves to make for your career is becoming bilingual. As corporate language trainers, we see every day how much businesses need bilingual employees and how much language skills benefit our clients’ careers. Here are just a few of the reasons that learning a second language can put you on the fast track to success.
1. The Global Economy Needs Bilingual Professionals
Business is changing—and changing fast. The English-speaking world’s share of the global economy is shrinking. As businesses expand globally, they must provide sales and services in the languages their customers speak around the world.
2. Demand for Bilingual Workers is Growing
As the economy becomes more global, it’s not surprising that the demand for bilingual workers more than doubled in the U.S. from 2010 to 2015. This year, translation is No. 9 on the list of the most in-demand hard skills.
3. Language Skills Are Useful in Many Jobs
But you don’t have to be a translator or work in international business to benefit from being bilingual. Knowing another language can open opportunities for you in fields ranging from HR to customer service.
4. Your Language Fluency Could Lead to Higher Pay
Knowing a second language is correlated with earning about 2 percent more annually. Hey, every little bit helps, right? Of course, the actual boost to your income depends on your career field and the language you study.
5. Being Bilingual Could Help You Land an International Assignment
A recent report by Gallup pointed out that companies don’t have a pipeline of the globally minded leaders they need for the future. One way they can start filling the pipeline is by offering more international assignments. If that sounds like a great opportunity to you, being bilingual can give you the edge in getting an overseas job.
6. Language Skills Make Living Abroad Easier
However, getting that international assignment is only the beginning. Then you have to get used to speaking a different language and living in a different culture every day. Now we hope that your company will offer you language training as part of your relocation package. But that’s not always the case. In one recent survey of expat employees, 43 percent said their company did not provide language training in connection with their move. So if know you want to work in a particular international location one day, we recommend proactively pursuing language training, or asking your HR team to consider making it mandatory as part of the relo package.
7. Leadership Requires Language Fluency
If you want to move up the ladder at a multinational company, becoming bilingual is an essential investment. Business executives need the ability to connect with employees from other countries using the employees’ language. Our case study about the training that Fluency Corp provided for Envoy Air is a great example of how being bilingual benefits leaders.
We’d love to talk with you more about how language training can help you fulfill your career ambitions. We also welcome questions from HR professionals who are seeking language training for their company’s workforce. Set up a free consultation with Fluency Corp by contacting us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.
