World wide workplace

Published 14 Apr 2010 14:19

In 1993, when the European Union was created, it seemed that everyone wanted to study a language, and there were many employees across the various countries that were keen to show an aptitude for languages, confident that it would put them above other candidates in the battle for jobs.

A new era was beginning for a united Europe, and we were getting to know our neighbours in a way we hadn't had to before.

As the euphoria subsided, the attitude that 'most people in business speak English' prevailed, but evidence suggests this attitude is changing.

With the rise of the internet, our business world has gone global in a way we could never have anticipated. According to a recent survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the importance of languages to UK firms is set to grow as companies operate in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. The majority, (75%) of UK international trade is with non-English speaking countries - but it is estimated that only one in ten British workers can speak a foreign language.

Can having an additional language really improve your job prospects?

Kathryn Board, chief executive of The National Centre for Languages thinks so. "In the current economic climate, being able to speak more than one language will give a competitive advantage in the job market over monolingual English speakers, as well as the chance to take advantage of job opportunities in the EU and elsewhere in the world."

It's not just translation and teaching agencies where languages are needed - the ability to speak a foreign language can be valuable in many industry sectors including engineering, manufacturing, retail, leisure and hotels. Languages are equally useful in the arts and culture, sports, professional services, finance, technology, media, aerospace and defence, transport, charity, government and telecommunications.

Louise from Manchester works for marketing company Barratt Dixon Bell Ltd, and finds her knowledge of French, German and Spanish invaluable. "One of our company's key strengths is that it implements global marketing communications campaigns from one office in the UK.

"The ability to communicate with journalists, clients, distributors and suppliers in their own language greatly increases the success of these campaigns. Cultural understanding of the markets being targeted also adds great value. I regularly use my languages to check translations of PR material and liaise with client spokespeople."

Knowledge of a foreign language is much more than just being able to speak to someone in their own tongue.

It's about showing empathy for another culture, being culturally aware of differences, of being sensitive to others' needs - all skills that are hugely attractive to potential employers.

In sales, it's easy to buy in English, but to successfully sell, you've got to speak the language of the interested party.

As the European Commission website states: "Each year, thousands of European companies lose business and miss out on contracts as a result of their lack of language skills and intercultural competence.

The challenge for internationally active firms is to integrate different organisational cultures and communicate efficiently in order to maximise performance - languages mean business!"

So you mean business too, this is the right time to start to learn a new language and acquire skills that will have a benefit socially and in business. Jobsite.co.uk

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