Advantage #5: More fun at work; more learning for everyone.
I believe that when bilingual people from different countries work together, they might connect more to each other than the average company personnel. They could have many things in common, like knowledge of more cultures, different values, music, beliefs, foods, dance, and other diverse cultural identities.
When I lived and worked in New York City, I recall being in the subway and hearing two people speaking, and asking myself “what language is that?” After living there for a while, I would challenge myself, and was able to tell when people were speaking Greek, Japanese, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, French, Hindi, Korean, Russian, and so on. It all fascinated me.
At the advertising agency I worked for, there were people from Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and many other Latin American countries. I loved to learn more about their respective dishes, native cultures, dances, music, about their families, and to hear about their individual American dream stories. All of the employees were bilingual, and it appeared that we had an International day each day at work.
When a company has bilingual employees in the US, those employees have usually moved here from other countries. Consequently, they have their own ‘American dream story’ and have worked hard to ‘make it’ in America. A company can have an International Day, and can have employees bring homemade dishes from their respective countries. Companies can have more fun events at work and enjoy the teamwork that builds and develops from having a pleasant work environment for everyone. To learn more about having a diverse work environment, click here.
In summary, globalization is changing the world – and we all need to get a better worldwide picture in our respective companies. Globalization not only goes for the economics, but it also goes for our communication with each other. Bilingual employees will become essential to get a better worldwide picture.
April 21, 2010
Advantage #4: Traveling overseas can be easier because the company has their own ‘tour guides’ who speak the native language and can communicate with local residents.
Picture this. Your company is expanding into Brazil and you have to hire a General Manager, who will be in charge of your expansion…but you do not speak Portuguese. You have to conduct focus groups as well, to see about the feasibility of bringing various products into Brazil but you are concerned about communicating with the local residents, and describing your products well enough to the target market. Can you imagine the position you will be in?
When a company has bilingual personnel, the bilingual employees can travel with management, and the company’s representatives can have their own local connection to the market.
As I indicated in ‘Advantage #3’, the bilingual employee can understand the market better and can provide a better cultural identity with the local residents. Picture the Brazil example I provided above, but now add a couple of dynamic sales people to the trip with you and a product engineer who speaks Portuguese. The trip would be easier because there will be true contact, accurate positioning of the products, and communication of the bilingual employees with the Brazilian market and with the future customers.
Language is a critical aspect of connecting with a culture. Bilingual employees provide that connection.
April 14, 2010
Advantage #3: Companies can successfully expand into other countries with established and proven bilingual personnel.
If the company has an experienced bilingual staff, who is familiar with the products and services, and who have proven themselves in their field; the company has a bigger winning potential and can better penetrate and reach new markets.
Bilingual employees can assist the company with the knowledge of the new location, what the culture likes, dislikes, and with the knowledge of their purchasing habits. For instance, if I was advising a client and they were reaching the Hispanic market, I could tell them that the Latino population is brand oriented and loyal to the products and services they like. If the particular company wanted to translate their company material into Spanish, I would tell them to use ‘neutral’ Spanish, which can be understood in the various Latin American markets. I know the Hispanic market well, and can illustrate the Hispanic culture to a company.
Each language is inter-related to a specific culture, and the bilingual employee can help the company understand the specific market. Consequently, the company can get a better cultural identity and a better connection to the market, through their bilingual employees.
April 7, 2010
Advantage #2: A more culturally diverse group.
It has been my experience that people who are bilingual are more inclined to want to learn more about other cultures, they take more risks with people who they don’t know yet, and they can handle unfamiliar circumstances a bit easier. Have you noticed this as a manager? Bilingual folks are usually fascinated by other cultures and languages therefore they enjoy the challenges that lie ahead. I can include myself in this group since I love to learn about other cultures, global trends and global markets.
In addition, bilingual folks usually connect to their local community to a larger degree and like to get more involved with the organizations within the area. So, if a company hires bilingual employees, they might get the benefit of having local representation at an event. You can read my personal story of “What motivated me to become Bilingual”. You can also read the two blogs I wrote about “Mr. Brown: My First Friend in the US – part 1 and 2”.
April 2, 2010
When companies want to sell their products and or services to people in other countries, or want to target a different demographic whose language is different than their own, they hire bilingual staff to get the work done. The bilingual employees are able to communicate and connect with the new perspective customers. The bilingual staff starts with the face of the company; the bilingual receptionist. It can also include managers, sales, accounting personnel, customer service and others. There are many advantages to having a bilingual staff, and I plan to condense the advantages to the ‘Top 5’.
Advantage #1: Better internal and external communication with employees, vendors and customers of the company.
Below is a true example that illustrates the importance of having a bilingual staff.
A company in the US is expanding overseas to Latin America and India. They will need to have all of their HR policies, procedures and company benefits translated into Spanish and Hindi, as well as, their web site, services and products brochures. In addition, they will need to interview and hire personnel overseas to work with local suppliers and vendors in the newly established locations. Can they make all of these new additions and adjustments without bilingual personnel? With so much to do, the company decided that it was necessary to have a bilingual staff. Not only would it help strengthen their knowledge of the language, but also help them to communicate more effectively with the international markets.
Check back later this week for more advantages of having a bilingual staff. You can also click here to learn more about the ‘Five Emerging Industries for Bilingual Careers’.
March 23, 2010
If you have visited a company that conducts business worldwide, you might have heard their bilingual receptionist switching from English to Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, Japanese or any other language, depending on where their calls are from. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing what I call the languages switch many times, and it is still impressive when I hear it.
Many organizations have locations all over the world, and those firms must hire bilingual personnel, including bilingual receptionists. Consequently, it is an advantage to be a bilingual receptionist. It can make the job candidate for that position, or the current employee, more attractive to the company. A bilingual receptionist can communicate with more people and can connect with a broader and more diverse customer base. In other words, a bilingual receptionist is more valuable to a company these days.
A story that comes to mind is when I visited a company located in the US, which had offices in Costa Rica and Chile. The General Manager told me that for over twenty years they had a bilingual receptionist who was moving to be closer to her ailing parents, so the company inevitably was losing her. He went on to say that because their international offices called often, he needed a receptionist who could communicate with the Spanish and English speaking callers. Therefore, he would not consider hiring a receptionist unless he or she was bilingual. Not only did they have a hard time replacing her skills and gracious personality, but it also proved that having a bilingual receptionist was a vital position in their organization.
After looking for months, they found the right person, who exceeded their expectations by not only speaking English and Spanish, but Portuguese and French too. They are currently expanding into various markets worldwide, and calls are coming from many countries. According to the manager, their new receptionist has proven to be an excellent asset to the company.
As the target markets for companies continue to evolve, being bilingual is in higher demand and more important than ever. Click here to learn more about the Advantages of Being Bilingual and the Five Stages people go through to become Bilingual.
March 12, 2010
Q: I just recently interviewed an impressive candidate who had the experience and right qualifications for a job my company posted on BilingualJobFair.com . The candidate proposed a salary that was 25% higher than I wanted to offer, but within my budget. Should an employer stick with their offer to save the company money or accept a candidate’s salary proposal? Anne
A: Your question is an easy one for me to answer. When a candidate impresses you and you feel this is the right person for the job; then you need to view it as an investment and not a cost. If the candidate turns out to be an exceptional hire and works at the company for many years, you will be glad you made the initial investment. My advice would be to go ahead and hire this impressive candidate now before you lose him or her to your competitor.
March 10, 2010
Q: What do you think are the best attributes to include on a resume? Bonnie
A: Most employers have a small window of time to review the numerous resumes they receive, therefore, some of the more appealing information to include is:
- Career objective
- Problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Oral and written communications
- Leadership skills
- Team-building skills
- Bilingual skills
- Performance and productivity improvement
- Project management skills
- Prior employment that is relevant to the position being applied for
The goal is to set yourself apart from other applicants by highlighting your skills, experience and qualifications.
February 16, 2010
Q: I have a Master’s degree in business administration and I’m seeking a bilingual job. What advice can you offer to help me find the right company who would have competitive salaries to match my level of education? Vito
A: For those prospective bilingual candidates with a higher degree, I would first recommend a staffing firm advisor, your college/university career advisor or a head hunter who all have great resources and can help guide you in the right direction. Secondly, you should keep searching on your own for companies that have bilingual positions available in your field until you find the right one that matches your qualifications. After you’ve found the right company for you, your time, experience, skills and dedication will help you achieve the level of pay you desire.
February 9, 2010
Q: I have been in my current position for the past 13 years and would like to consider changing careers. How easy or difficult is it for bilingual people to find jobs? Clara
A: Certainly bilingual skills are an asset in today’s job market. Be sure to highlight these skills in your resume. Other factors that influence the success of your job search include your field, education, experience and personal attributes, which should also be emphasized when writing your resume. While employers do rely on your background and past experiences, personality can also be a deciding factor, such as how comfortable you appear while presenting yourself. Since you have been in your current job for 13 years, this will show any employer that you have long term potential. Good luck with your new endeavor!
February 4, 2010
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