Today, being bilingual has become a HUGE asset to job applicants since we live in a diverse nation where a multitude of languages are present, and businesses want to be capable of serving a wide range of clients and customers. While some college graduates choose a second language as part of their course of studies, other potential employees come from a bilingual background, and in many cases, English is actually their second language. Regardless of how you came to know two (or more) languages, here’s how it can help you when it’s time to enter a career:
It makes you more marketable and sets you apart. Being bilingual is a request, or even a requirement, in many job openings now, and having a secondary language in addition to English automatically puts you in the running for the position. Having “bilingual” on your resume means your marketability goes up by several points and that means you are already head and shoulders above the initial wave of applicants without that skill.
It expands your horizons. Being bilingual means you have more job opportunities at your fingertips, since there are jobs from right down the street, to halfway around the world, looking for applicants that speak multiple languages. Instead of being limited to a very localized type of position, you are eligible for a career far outside of your city, state, or even country.
It makes you better at your job. Being bilingual doesn’t only affect your skill in speaking. Because you have to navigate between two or more sets of vocabulary and grammar, your brain is wired to multitask, and that is a huge benefit in the working world. Additionally, being bilingual can improve your “people skills” since you are more sensitive to other cultures and those that might have a hard time navigating in an “english only” environment.
If you speak a second language, highlight your bilingual skill on your resume! If you’re currently looking for a job, bring that resume to us and let us partner with you in finding a position that meets your desires and matches your qualifications. We even have a bilingual position open right now, as a receptionist here in a local Polk County business. Find it with our jobs listings here on our site, or apply for one of our other current openings, and get hired with PHR Staffing Solutions.