by Izabela Wisniewska
It never hurts to speak a second language. There are very few instances were it could be considered detrimental, and none jump to mind immediately. Which is why it can be so beneficial to learn a second, third, or even fourth language.
Today, however, we're going to look specifically at the benefits it can bring in your career. Regardless of what industry you are in, being multilingual can bring huge benefits, both obvious and unexpected.
As we opened by saying, it is never a bad thing to know more than one language. In the business world, the main benefit of this fact is that there is, and always will be, a place for a multilinguist. The world is not going to see a unified language come to fruition any time soon, so you're covered for life basically.
And this doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to seek work strictly as a translator. While that is a big employer in today's modern business world, speaking a second language lends itself directly to many more career posts. Is a company you work for as a manager expanding into China? If you can speak Mandarin, you make yourself a prime candidate for a senior role in this new branch of the company, chiefly because of the innate ease of communication you bring.
Thanks to the non-stop progress of the internet, the world suddenly seems like a much smaller place. Whereas just a few decades ago, the thought of becoming an international business was laughable to a vast array of businesses, the internet now means that even small businesses can make money across the globe.
With this interconnected world, having someone who can bridge the gap between two cultures is important. A lot of things can get lost in translation when dealing with international business, but if you can step in as a middle man, you could make a lot of difference. And you will only further cement that position as more and more businesses look to make money abroad.
Learning a language is hard. Undeniably so. So if you have already learned one (or several) it tells employers one thing - you have the ability to learn. Even if the job you are applying for won't need your second language skills, just the fact that you have shown you can master a second tongues tells them that you can absorb information, making you instantly more employable.
The great thing about speaking another language is that there are infinite uses for it. You have a skill that businesses in every sector across the globe need. What does that mean for you? Essentially, you are among some of the most versatile employees on planet earth. Just think of the monetary benefits alone!
If you only studied language, that isn't too much of a problem, as we've made plain that you are in high demand. On the other hand, if you have a secondary qualification, there is almost guaranteed to be a position open in your field of study that can use someone with knowledge of the sector and a second language. And if you are so uniquely qualified for a certain job, you can afford to be a little brave when it comes to salary negotiations.
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