Having knowledge in several languages, is to have the doors open to access a large number of jobs. If you are interested in knowing which are the best professions for people who speak languages, this is the article for you.
Knowing languages is a great advantage to access a large number of jobs in different areas. Not only to access to job offers related to languages.
Have you ever come across job offers where you were not selected or could not even apply for the position because of the language level required?
This is a reality today, knowing languages opens the doors to a globalized world.
But... What are the best professions for people who speak languages? You'll find out below.
Although language skills are an advantage to access certain job offers, in fact, most of the job offers that we currently find require language skills, there are a number of specific professions for people with language studies.
Translators
Working as a translator is one of the main jobs we find for the multilingual public. It is a very flexible career with the possibility of working from home.
Normally, it is required to have studied translation and interpreting in order to fill one of the jobs offered to work in companies, institutions, etc. In addition, many of these translators tend to specialize in various subjects; legal, medical or technical translation, in order to qualify for a well-paid job.
In addition to working for companies or public or private organizations, there is also the possibility of working as a freelancer or freelance for translation agencies.
Is it compulsory to have a degree to work as a translator? It is desirable, but not mandatory, at least for certain jobs. Yes, there are possibilities for people without a degree in translation and interpreting.
In fact, through the internet, there are many options to earn money as a translator where you can earn extra money.
Another great option is to set up your own online business and offer your services as a translator as well as other products. If you want to work from anywhere in the world as a true digital nomad, this option is highly recommended.
Interpreter
Interpreting, although not for everyone, is another recurring option for people who speak several languages.
An interpreter is in charge of translating an oral speech from one language to another. There are several modalities: simultaneous interpretation; when it is done in real time or consecutive interpretation; when a person speaks and the interpreter translates during the pause.
Logically, in order to get a job as an interpreter, it is necessary to have training related to the position. However, depending on the job offer, you may find opportunities for people with no training, or simply people who are bilingual.
Where you can work as an interpreter
There are many options, from working for private companies to working for international organizations, professional congresses, embassies, medical services, courts, schools, or other public services.
You can enter one of these jobs as a civil servant, working permanently for a single organization, usually offering high monthly salaries, job security, as well as other benefits that come with being a civil servant.
The other option is to work as a freelancer; it offers more freedom to work in different organizations and can combine work with other activities. For example, having a professional blog or doing translations for extra money.
Language Teacher
Everything you know, you can teach, remember that.
Language teacher is another professional opportunity for people with knowledge in several languages. However, in most cases you will need a degree to teach.
Working as a language teacher you will find employment wherever you go. In a globalized world, languages are becoming more and more necessary.
Where to work as a language teacher
Language teacher is one of the most promising careers. The options for working as a language teacher, both nationally and abroad, are very wide and you can teach in schools, universities, academies, official language schools, NGOs, public and private organizations, online classes, creating language courses,...
What are the most used languages
There are hundreds of languages in the world, but as you may well know, some are more widely used than others and therefore, you will have more outlets, although there may also be more competition.
Let's take a look at the main languages most in demand for language learning.
English is the most demanded language. This implies that there is a great demand for teachers in this language, although the competence is high and the number of people from all over the world who can teach this language is high, since there are many English-speaking countries.
Other languages in demand with which you can find opportunities to work as a language teacher will be German, Chinese, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Italian.
However, there are also languages such as Norwegian or Finnish which, although they are less in demand, are also in demand, especially for work in these destinations.
As you will see, the most demanded languages have nothing to do with the order of the most spoken languages in the world. Here is an infographic with the most spoken languages.
Training to work as a language teacher
Training to work as a language teacher is essential. There are several options for acquiring training to enable you to work as a language teacher. Depending on where you want to teach languages, you will need to have one or another type of training or qualification.
You can obtain this training through courses in academies, online courses or through a degree such as philology or an equivalent master's degree.
For example, to work as a Spanish teacher at a university, they generally require a master's degree in teaching Spanish as a foreign language or a doctorate in philology.
If you are going to offer English classes, it will also depend on where you are going to give your classes, it is not the same to give classes in an online academy, in a school or in a university. However, in most cases you will have to have the TELF or CELTA and have a good level of English. Sometimes, you may also be required to have a Master's degree in English teaching.
In addition, you must take into account that, in order to access a place in an institute or Official Language School, you have to pass some previous exams that will give you access to a place in one of these centers.
Tourist guide
If you have language skills, are passionate about travel and tourism, working as a tour guide is another recurring employment option for people with language skills.
However, you must meet a series of requirements such as customer service, public speaking skills, organizational skills, a taste for history, art and architecture, or a passion for sports and travel.
To work as a tour guide, in some cities, or countries, you need to have a special tour guide card that certifies your work. This is due to the fact that in many destinations unofficial tour guides sneak in.
These cards can be obtained in the agencies of each autonomous community or even through the tourist guide agencies themselves, where they can facilitate the procedures.
Be careful, there are not only options to work as a tour guide in cities showing churches and museums.
Working as a guide encompasses much more, and sometimes, it becomes a profession that can take you around the world. You can also work as an active tourism guide, hiking, diving, biking... and languages will always be essential since you will be working with a group of foreigners.
Training to work as a tour guide
Ideally, you should have a university education in tourism, although this is not always the case. On the other hand, having knowledge of languages and even diplomas can open the doors to work as a tour guide both nationally and internationally.
There are also specialized courses to become a tour guide.
Languages are essential to apply for this type of jobs.
Sign language interpreter
Working as a sign language interpreter (ILS) is also an option for people with language skills. These professionals enable communication between sign language users and speech users (or vice versa).
Sign language is officially recognized as having its own grammar, vocabulary and structure, very different from Spanish. In sign language, hands, forms and expressions are used to communicate, not words.
Each country has its own version of sign language.
Where to work as a sign interpreter
The options for working as a sign language interpreter are as wide-ranging as in other translation-related jobs.
The workplaces where you can find a job as a sign interpreter could be divided by environment:
Legal - Meetings with lawyers, collaborating with the police or in the courts and prisons...
Business - Conferences, job interviews, meetings, events...
Education - Schools, vocational training, usually in the classroom.
Medical - Working in medical settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics and others with healthcare professionals.
Religious, social and cultural events, galas...
Training to work as a sign interpreter
The training to work as a sign interpreter is essentially based on courses or training cycles to learn the language and interpretation. These courses usually last between one and two years.
In some universities it has begun to be studied as a university degree, as is the case of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Other foreign universities such as the University of Hamburg, Trinity College Dublin or the University of Bristol also include this training program among their degrees.
Other jobs where language skills would be useful
There are other professions that require language skills to carry them out. They are professions that complement each other very well with languages. It can be another good option if you are not interested in the previous ones.
Journalism
Although languages are an essential complement to work, especially as an international journalist, if you want to work as a foreign correspondent, having language skills will open doors. Even more so if you speak languages other than the usual ones.
Logically, to work as a journalist, you have to have a background in journalism.
Finance
Many international banks, insurance companies and other accounting firms operate on an opportunity basis and offer opportunities to work in overseas offices.
Import - Export
Companies conducting import or export business often hire professionals who speak different languages to conduct their business.
On a technical level, the ability to speak a foreign language is important in any industry involving the transportation of goods or services across international borders.
You see many such job offers for people who speak languages such as Russian, Arabic or Chinese. To find such job offers, just go to the main search engines and search for translator/interpreter. Linkedin is a good tool to locate this type of job offers.
Legal
Another of the great fields where knowledge of other languages can open the doors to a very attractive job.
International legal issues are the order of the day. Many multinational companies have large teams of professionals of this type to solve any incidents that may arise.
Tourism
Languages are essential for working in the tourism sector, a sector that is experiencing strong growth.
In most tourism-related training programs, several languages are studied. A tourism manager, for example, must have knowledge of several languages to be able to communicate adequately and communicate internationally with other professionals.
Working at the front desk of a hotel or resort will also require knowledge of several languages.
Other possible jobs in the tourism sector include managing accommodation (from hotels to hostels, cruise ships, campsites...), food services, reception services, information, intermediation, tourism consultancy, etc.
If you enjoy working in the tourism sector and have knowledge of several languages, you will have an advantage in accessing a job position over other professionals.
Event management
If you want to dedicate yourself to event management at a high level, you should have, in addition to the related training in event organization, language skills.
If you have to organize a large international wedding, music event, international music festival, or even an Olympic Games, you will need to be fluent in at least several languages to properly organize the event with hundreds of people from different destinations.
Flight Attendants or Flight Attendants
In addition to languages, working as a flight attendant offers you something that all Trabajarporelmundo.org followers love, traveling.
You will be able to travel and get to know different destinations, although sometimes, depending on the flight, it does not give much time. It all depends on the company and the routes you take.
However, working as a flight attendant offers you a unique opportunity to combine your passion for travel, languages, and people.
Flight attendants, in addition to assisting passengers on flights or serving drinks, are also in charge of passenger safety. They check emergency equipment, toilets, etc. to ensure that everything is in order.
As for training to become a flight attendant, you will have to pass a Flight Attendant (Flight Attendant) course in an approved school. Here you have access to some flight attendant training programs.
The requirements to work as a flight attendant are rigorous, they will vary depending on the company, however, they ask to be in good health, know how to swim, minimum height (will vary depending on the company), minimum high school education, knowledge of languages, good presence, good vision, or be between 21 to 30 years old approximately, as well as geographical availability.
Editor
Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, there are many websites that are looking for people who speak several languages to work translating blog articles.
This type of offers can be found on websites or newspapers where they publish job opportunities for copywriters.
These jobs usually hire freelancers to work remotely. Sometimes, to fill one of these jobs, knowledge of WordPress is required.
How to increase your chances of getting a job where languages are required
Nowadays, training is essential to access a good job.
Training
If you are going to look for a job for a company, institution or organization, you must take into account that they will ask you to have training related to the position.
Skills
In addition, adding that you have skills is a plus for employers to look at your profile. Technological skills are fundamental nowadays. Having a minimum of knowledge in technological and computer tools is essential.
Language Certificates
Having certificates of the languages you speak will be an added value. For example, having the TELF, TOELF, IELTS, Cambridge English... (In case of English language). DELF A1, DELF A2, DELF B1, DELF B2, DALF C1 or DALF C2 (for French).
Personal Branding
Last but not least, you will earn much more by having a well-established personal brand.
Work on your brand from the first moment, give it attention, effort and desire to stand out. If you work your personal brand well, they will end up looking for you to work for them instead of you looking for a job. Here you will find some tips to create your personal brand.
Reference: (https://trabajarporelmundo.org/profesiones-personas-hablan-idiomas/)
