In many parts of the world, particularly in the West, where Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States attract new foreigners to come and live in their lands, one can find themselves living in an increasingly multicultural society. For example, in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, while English is the official language, people from all over Europe, Asia, and Africa speak over 300 languages, more than any other city in the world.
While English is the official language of the United Kingdom, it is also commonly taught as a second modern language in schools around the world. Indeed, English is the most common language taught at the lower secondary level in the EU. English is learned by exactly 92% of European children. Chinese, French, German, and Spanish are other languages that are frequently taught as second languages in schools or universities.
Learning a new language is beneficial for a variety of reasons, including: it is good for the brain; it boosts intelligence; it improves memory; it keeps the mind sharp; it makes travel much easier; and it can help your career in a number of ways. If you are an immigrant living in another country, knowing the language well will help you get hired and work for any successful company.
Language skills have become increasingly important in the workplace as globalization and the rise of global e-commerce have transformed how businesses conduct international trade.
Following this brief introduction, we will look at some of the reasons why having language skills will benefit your career.
Reason No. 1: Language Skills Open Up Better Career Opportunities
Knowing a second or third language makes it easier to get certain jobs, but it can also lead you to a career you did not know existed. Businesses are always looking for people who can speak multiple languages. Having good language skills makes you an indispensable employee who can be sent all over the world to close deals and negotiate with others.
Many business owners and managers have stated that if they had to choose between two candidates, all other factors being equal, they would go with the one with good language skills. So, right there, if you speak multiple languages, your career has a competitive advantage.
Reason No. 2: Enhance Communication
Strong language skills enable more effective communication with clients, colleagues, suppliers, and partners. For companies operating internationally, communication is multilingual.
Furthermore, having English language skills, as well as other key language skills such as French, Spanish, German, or Arabic, can help employees network more effectively, particularly through conferences, trade shows, and social media platforms such as LinkedIn.
Reason No. 3: Help You Build Better Relationships
Consider who makes a lot of money in their careers. Typically, it is those who are involved in the relationship-building process. Successful sales and marketing professionals earn the most money because they must go out and establish relationships and networks for their employers.
Knowing a second language makes it easier to network with others. Not only do you improve your sales skills, but understanding other cultures allows you to connect with communities that others cannot. That means being able to advance and become more successful.
Reason No. 4: Improve Customer Satisfaction
With improved communication skills, your customers will feel seen, heard, and taken care of. Because your company speaks your customers’ language, they will recall their positive interactions with your employees.
Reason No. 5: Enhance Business Opportunities
A multilingual workforce often provides increased cultural insight as well as unique access to networks that your company may not currently have access to. This translates to exciting opportunities to expand your business into new regions and markets, increasing productivity.
What are the four common language skills? The four common language skills are listening, speaking, reading and writing. Mastering these skills could transform you into a more thoughtful communicator who understands the needs of those around you.
However, despite their strong language skills, multilingual workers are not qualified to translate any of the company’s content because speaking two or more languages does not qualify a person as a translator. Get expert mother-tongue translators to do the job right away, as we do at Ya-Hub Translations.
In today’s global business world, the ability to communicate effectively across cultures and boundaries is essential. The benefits of hiring a professional translator include:
- Accuracy in idiomatic and technical language
- Subject or industry-specific knowledge
- Consistency in style and terminology: both within and between documents over time
- Cultural sensitivity
- Efficiency in personnel and time resource use and the reliability of delivery schedules
- Improved credibility
We have a team of professional translators and interpreters. They are proficient in multiple languages, allowing them to provide accurate translations and interpretations. Contact us today to learn more about our services!