Top Languages To Broaden Employment Prospects

While a college education and job experience are common factors for employment, learning a second language just might give you the extra support you need to get a new job, a promotion, or a departmental transfer. The world is expanding; globalization is taking us to places we could not reach even 50 years ago. Many businesses have clients in other countries, and Lingholic says that “employers are much more likely to hire you if you are able to communicate with their foreign partners in their native language.”

If you’re looking to expand your opportunities for employment, or just want to broaden your horizons, here are 5 languages that you should consider learning.

1) Mandarin

According to Teacher Finder, Mandarin is one of the most important business languages thanks to the fact that China is “the world’s second-largest economy, with nearly one-billion native Mandarin speakers.” Being a very difficult language to learn is what deters many people from attempting to learn it. For this reason, if you can study and master the language, you’ll already have the edge that companies are looking for.

2) Arabic

Though you might think that only those in the petroleum and defense industries need to think about Arabic, this language is growing around the world and over the internet. According to the World Economic Forum, it is not only one of the “official languages of the United Nations,” but it’s one of the most powerful languages to learn today.

3) Spanish

Even if you never plan to leave the United States again, this is one language that you will likely encounter anywhere you go. Spanish is the official language for over 20 countries and is commonly spoken in the Americas; plus, it’s one of the easier languages to learn. If you work in “healthcare, banking, or retail, learning Spanish would give you a leg up on the competition” says Teacher Finder.

4) French

Before English became the top language spoken around the world, French held that distinction. Though not as common as it once was, it’s still spoken by over 70 million people and is the official language of 3 of the 5 fastest growing economies in the world which are found in dominantly French-speaking Africa (Kroulek, 2017).

5) Russian

Another language that is difficult to learn for those who speak English, knowing Russian can help you stand out in a crowd. Though Kroulek says that the business climate is “difficult” to navigate, the economy is growing and there are plenty of potential opportunities in “trade, diplomacy, and education.”

At ITC, we hire people who can translate all of these languages and more. We are women-owned and are proud to provide the services and tools that can help bridge the gaps and increase profitability in any language. In a world where competition in the job market is fiercer than ever, having an edge over your competitors can be the difference between hearing “you’re hired,” and “thank you for your application.”