Why Learning Languages Makes You a More Appealing Job Candidate

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• October 22, 2014
• By Mishka Tolentino
• No Comments

In this ever-changing world, more employers are seeking the best people for their workforce. Graduating with honors and partaking in extra-curricular activities alone aren’t enough to be considered in the company anymore.

Nowadays, employers and headhunters are looking for more skills — like being multilingual. Here’s why multilingualism is important in the workplace.

1. Better communication fuels more sales

If you’re into sales, a lot of talking and persuasion is required to close a sale. Practicing a sales pitch and being confident when meeting clients are steps to get you there. But acquiring the native language of your customer will help you further seal the deal.

This makes people feel more comfortable and at ease when talking with you. Earning their trust will also be easier. This is why recruiters hire people who are bilingual or even multilingual speakers. Aside from sales, you’ll have plenty of career opportunities waiting if you have the language ability they’re looking for.

2. Cognitive advantages make you smarter

Science Magazine states that knowing how to speak in multiple languages makes people become smarter. Having to comprehend words in other languages improves your cognitive skills. (Click here to tweet this thought.)

The New York Times, in their article “The Benefits of Bilingualism” published in March 2012, also agreed that being bilingual makes you more powerful. The brain is exercised and forced to process multiple languages at once. This hones your ability to solve problems.

3. Globalization

With globalization, employers are in the search for people who are good at communicating in multiple languages, as they’re seen as better at cooperating, negotiating and compromising. Multilingual individuals also have intercultural sensitivity and they can think more efficiently.

Language teachers, interpreters, translators, customer service assistants and representatives, and tour guides are positions most likely to demand experts at speaking in multiple languages.

But this doesn’t discount that as businesses’ supply chains and customers become increasingly global, professionals who know how to speak another language become more prominent.

For instance, if you’re an IT executive, it would be great to enroll in higher studies like an information technology course in the Philippines, learning a new language at the same time. This will improve your IT skills and take advantage of your language capabilities to meet the business’s goals.

Learning a foreign language isn’t easy. But being multilingual gives you an edge wherever you go, so be eager to learn and take the time and effort to improve your speaking ability.

Other perks of being multilingual include more travel opportunities and increased salaries as you’re recognized as an asset of the company. By improving your foreign language skills, you can more easily transform into a stellar performer who helps drive the business through its next phase of evolution.

Mishka Tolentino is a business student at University of Westminster, a freelance writer, and web enthusiast. Follow her on twitter @mishkatolentino.

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