The Bilingual Boom!

According to a CareerBuilder survey, 29 percent of companies say when deciding between two equally qualified candidates, the bilingual candidate wins out.

It’s clear, learning another language can advance your career. But, how do you know which language is going to give the best ROI?

Ann Robertson, Human Resources Manager at MultiLing, tells PINK that with the growing number of patents coming out of Asian countries, particularly China, Mandarin is fast becoming the most marketable language for international business.

“As a result, international businesses – and professionals wanting to grow their careers – would benefit from being able to communicate with Chinese companies and U.S. and European companies wanting to do business in China,” says Robertson.

With the high number of patents coming out of China and Japan, it’s not surprising that the highest number of incorrect translations come from there, too.

Companies are looking for highly specialized translators familiar with the target language.

“Those who aren’t native speakers, but are fluent in Chinese, can still help with the translation process, which will benefit their companies,” says Robertson.

Understanding the culture behind the language is equally as important.

“Taking the time to understand the Asian culture shows commitment and demonstrates that you are invested in developing a meaningful business relationship,” says international business consultant Chantel Medina.

She says this approach gave her an ROI greater than she could imagine.

Middle Eastern and Latin American countries are also among the world’s fastest growing markets; and, Spanish and Arabic language skills are becoming increasingly valuable assets in the business world, too.

Bonus PINK Link: See how Julie Sweet’s decision to study Chinese before most Americans paid off!

Did speaking a second language boost your career?

By Sarah Grace Alexander

“There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all.” Anonymous