How Can Languages Help You Further Your Career?- Akmal Hafiiz Abd Rani

Languages are an incredible asset for the career minded. Not only do they open doors to business opportunities, they cement trust and understanding between collaborators and strangers. The number of jobs requiring language skills is considerable and keeps growing. Here are some examples!


Work as a tour guide

If you have the soul of a traveler and the savings account of a broke student, then learn a couple of languages and work as a tour guide! Most guided tours consist of a detailed plan in a somewhat controlled environment. You can travel and work as you go, jumping from continent to continent, while either providing services for your employer or kickstarting your own tours.


Work in the corporate world

If you’re someone who can’t get into the professional mindset without a tall ladder to climb, then the corporate world is the way to go. Finance, business, industry — it’s where the big money is. But big money requires big skills, and company growth will always depend on your flair for communication. Hence the need for languages.


Work as a writer


We usually associate language with one exclusive nation or culture, but writers such as Nancy Huston have written in French and English and have amassed a transcontinental audience. Her skills as a multilinguist have given her additional control over book translations. This ability to feel at ease in different languages can also be an asset if you decide to work as a translator.


Work as a journalist

So you love writing but crave the aforementioned social butterfly element? Then dive into journalism and discover the world through the lens of current affairs. Traveling to Asia while writing your article on an airplane; tracking down an elusive source in Grozny, Chechnya; recording vox pops in a busy South American city — journalism is the perfect career for an adventurous spirit!


Work for an embassy


The two main obstacles of traveling or living in a country are money and visas. Overcome these two hurdles in one jump by applying for a job in an embassy. Not only will officials speed up the required bureaucracy, but the body will probably pay handsomely for a simple entry level job. Being able to speak the locals’ language may not be an essential requirement for all positions, but it will benefit you immensely in the application process.


Time to perfect them and apply for that dream position!


Prepared by

Akmal Hafiiz Abd Rani
Lecturer,
Language Department,
Faculty Of Education And Human Development,
Kolej UNITI Port Dickson