| Adding skill with multiple languages to an existing | | | | languages to their proficiency in business. Typical tasks |
| education can only improve a resume with potential | | | | for a bilingual employee in business might include: |
| employers. The demand for speaking and writing skills | | | | • Translating internal documents for localization |
| in multiple languages drives the employment search | | | | • Hosting clients or guests from foreign offices |
| across a variety of careers, and workers with bilingual | | | | • Creating marketing materials to appeal specifically |
| proficiency enjoy the benefits. | | | | to Hispanic or bilingual culture |
| ¿Habla usted español? The nation's Hispanic | | | | Consulting is another popular field for workers with |
| community is nearly 33 million people strong and | | | | bilingual or multilingual proficiency. Bilingual consultants |
| pumps almost a trillion dollars annually into the U.S. | | | | bridge the gap between clients and business operating |
| economy. This powerful group is only expected to | | | | in two separate cultures. The consulting field is |
| grow stronger in the coming years, increasing the need | | | | expected to grow faster than average in the next |
| for bilingual proficiency in the workplace. | | | | decade, as the U.S. moves further into the global |
| Bilingual Workers Meet a Growing Demand | | | | market. |
| Hispanic and Asian populations in the U.S. are | | | | TEACH Grants for Bilingual Teachers |
| expected to triple over the next fifty years, according | | | | Bilingual teaching is always an in-demand career, but |
| to population projections by the U.S. Census Bureau. | | | | many students don't know that they can drop their |
| With the number of non-Hispanic whites dropping to | | | | federal student aid debt by taking on a career in |
| one-half of the total population by 2050, the American | | | | bilingual education. Obtaining a TEACH Grant may |
| demographic is expected to look vastly different. | | | | mean up to $4,000 per year for higher education, if |
| In this evolving cultural picture, bilingual workers in skilled | | | | students intend to teach in a bilingual education |
| trades become more and more valuable. Opportunities | | | | program after graduation. |
| for Spanish speakers can be easily found in finance, | | | | Federal Student Aid Cancellation |
| social work, business, and healthcare. On the West | | | | When federal student aid debt comes from Perkins |
| Coast, job seekers speaking Japanese, Chinese, and | | | | Loans, a teaching career may mean loan forgiveness. |
| Mandarin are looking more attractive to prospective | | | | Each year a teacher serves full time in a public or |
| employers. | | | | nonprofit elementary school in foreign languages, |
| Popular Industries for Bilingual Workers | | | | bilingual education, or other high-need areas, a |
| From translation to tourism, government to healthcare, | | | | percentage of Perkins Loan is canceled: |
| trained bilingual workers are seeing more career | | | | • 15 percent canceled per year for the first and |
| opportunities than ever. Here are just a few of the | | | | second years of service, |
| most popular industries for workers with bilingual skill: | | | | • 20 percent canceled for the third and fourth |
| • Law Enforcement | | | | years, and |
| • Civic Organizations | | | | • 30 percent canceled for the fifth year. |
| • Social Service Agencies | | | | After five years of service, the total Perkins Loan debt |
| • Banks and Financial Institutions | | | | is forgiven. Working to educate the next generation is |
| Bilingual employees may enjoy higher salaries than | | | | its own reward, and canceling student debt is just |
| those who only speak one language. In law | | | | another incentive to begin a career in education. |
| enforcement, it is common to see hiring bonuses for | | | | Enhance & Market Bilingual Ability |
| bilingual workers in addition to monthly stipends. | | | | Workers with proficiency in multiple languages are a |
| High-Tech Bilingual Careers | | | | valuable asset across industry, but it's up to the |
| As the world becomes more dependent on | | | | individual to prove their value to prospective employers. |
| technology, the need grows to translate it to a wider | | | | Here are a few tips bilingual workers can use to |
| audience. A day in the life of a bilingual IT worker may | | | | highlight and enhance their skills: |
| involve: | | | | • Highlight bilingual ability in the interview. Language |
| • Working with a Spanish-speaking client in a tech | | | | skills should always be noted on a resume, but |
| support environment | | | | prospective employees should also note proficiency |
| • Translating help files and user guides for global | | | | during a face-to-face interview. |
| product releases | | | | • Combine a bilingual background with education. |
| • Creating software applications tailored to a | | | | Education remains a standard for employers, and |
| worldwide market | | | | prospective employees should note any career training, |
| Specialized jobs in technical writing, customer service, | | | | college, or university education. |
| and software development benefit greatly from | | | | • Improve written skills in both languages. Bilingual |
| multiple language support, and bilingual ability is typically | | | | workers may be expected to use their second |
| preferred by potential employers. | | | | language in speech and writing. Taking advanced |
| Healthcare and Social Services Careers | | | | language classes can improve the written skills of |
| Careers in healthcare can be lucrative and rewarding | | | | native speakers, further enhancing marketability to |
| and, for bilingual workers, they may be easier to find. | | | | employers. |
| Jobs in hospitals, private offices, and public clinics can | | | | Analytical Thinking in the Bilingual Workforce |
| be enhanced by bilingual workers, who provide a | | | | The benefit of bilingual employees goes deeper than |
| necessary skill in communicating with patients who do | | | | language. Bilingual people use different frames of |
| not speak English. | | | | reference to approach problems, thereby increasing |
| In the social services industry, workers trained as | | | | analytical ability. "Bilingual and bicultural people see |
| cross-cultural counselors, social workers, and case | | | | things from a different angle," notes Octavio Mateo, |
| workers can use their bilingual skills to communicate | | | | human relations manager for Citibank, in Best Careers |
| with a wider range of clients. | | | | for Bilingual Latinos. |
| Bilingual Ability in the Business World | | | | Enhancing bilingual ability with formal education may be |
| "Bilingual and bicultural Latinos can offer valuable | | | | the most efficient way to attract attention in job |
| assets to any firm wishing to compete in the global | | | | interviews. While bilingual skill cannot guarantee a |
| market," says Graciela Kenig in her book Best Careers | | | | particular career or salary, workers who know how to |
| for Bilingual Latinos. Investment firms, import/export | | | | market their language ability show an added dimension |
| companies, and marketing firms traditionally have a | | | | of their ability to prospective employers. |
| strong need for workers that can add multiple | | | | |