Nine ways to use language skills to get a job and boost your career

1. Combine your language degree with a core subject

If you want to be able to use a language within a specific field, it’s essential to combine subjects, as a straight language degree may not command a big enough premium on the job market. Adam Marshall, executive director, policy and external affairs, British Chamber of Commerce, London says: “Companies look at language as part of a wider skills base – very few recruit on this alone. Pure language degrees are often seen as less valuable by prospective employers than degrees that combine other core skills.”

2. Set your career goals early on

Don’t leave these decisions until the end of your degree when you are applying for jobs. For Darren Paffey, lecturer in Spanish and modern languages, and employability officer at the University of Southampton, it’s crucial to think about employability all the way through your degree. You should refer to the aims and objectives of modules for job applications he adds. Marshall also thinks you need to track your progress throughout: “You should be able to see the potential return on your degree from the start.”

3. Sell your study abroad experience

None of the panelists could deny that taking a year out isn’t as novel as it used to be. But what you do during your stint abroad can set you apart from the crowd. “You have to show that you’re aware of the soft skills it has taught you. This could include cross-cultural awareness, maturity and resilience from time spent abroad – and even logical problems,” says Jack Porteuous, language and culture adviser for UK Trade and Investment.

Furthermore, you need to be able to apply the skills you had to use to become fluent in a language to a professional environment to prove your worth to employers, says Arti Sharma, head of UK youth campaigns at the British Council. “By highlighting the added advantage of learning and becoming proficient in a language shows you have gained other skills for real business needs: multitasking and perception,” she adds.

4. You don’t need to be near native fluency

Employers aren’t necessarily looking for linguists. If you’re applying to a job that emphasises fluency, don’t be put off if you’re not at native speaker level – this doesn’t deter employers. “We have seen organisations intentionally employing functionally fluent graduates.” Employers will often look to see that you can communicate in a certain field and look to nurture your skills and potential in the long term. “We have seen organisations intentionally employing functionally fluent graduates,” says Humair Naqvi, enterprise and education regional director of Rosetta Stone.

5. Don’t over inflate your skills on your CV

On the flip side of that, although it might be tempting, avoid exaggerating how well you know a language. If your language prowess was once more polished but now needs fine-tuning, Marshall believes honesty is the best policy: “If you can demonstrate that you have the fundamental skills, but need practice and support so that the company can get the best out of you, say it upfront. They may be impressed by this.”

6. Instead, spell out your language experience

Lizzie Fane, founder of thirdyearabroad.com and globalgraduates.com, which helps connect young people with international career opportunities, advises expanding the detail of your language skills: “Your CV says you speak a language to a certain level but does it say you’ve worked in that foreign language five days a week? Or that you brought in new clients for the company because of your bilingual abilities?”

7. Be specific with your job search online

Avoid typing in “languages” because you will get a very narrow set of results that exclusively revolve around just that. “Job searching in the digital age has become less, rather than more innovative,” says Marshall. “Candidates use search engines to match up what they have to offer to a business rather than understanding what the business needs.” Graduates are often under the false pretence, Marshall believes, that there is a market for what they’ve studied, rather than a market for skills demanded by business – which could include their speciality. Fane also notes that you need to do your research and apply speculatively to a company that you’d like to work for.

8. Look for internationally oriented companies

Trying to find an outlet for your language skills in a UK-based retail company, for example, won’t be as useful as applying for a market research company undertaking cross-country research, says Dasha Amrom, founder and managing director, Career Coaching Ventures. “Internationally oriented companies recognise the significant importance of language knowledge at recruitment stage and further into employment. Try companies such as WPP Group, Euromonitor, Mintel – they all need qualified language professionals for a lot of their posts,” he adds.

9. Expect the unexpected

Languages can get you far, literally. Porteous, who works with businesses who export all over the world, has noticed Japan as a key player in the export market in the fashion sector. “Any candidate with Japanese language skills and effective communication with Japanese consumers alongside other business skills and knowledge would be an attractive candidate.” It’s also worth noting, according to Miranda Reid, associate director, Multilingualvacancies.com, that “German is a particularly sought-after language across all sectors. Definitely in sales and marketing, operations roles, even gaming would have a demand.”