Q: Can you suggest what types of bilingual careers are out there for young adults who have not gone to college yet? Thank you, David
A: Some of the positions that we get the most requests for are Sales representatives, Customer Service representatives, Administrative assistants, certain positions within the Medical/Dental fields, Insurance Agents, Retail Associates and Automobile Technicians just to name a few. There are some companies that do not require college degrees and are willing to train potential employees on site. If you are interested in pursuing any of these careers, check out our available job listings posted on the site. Be sure to highlight your people skills on your resume. For more tips on writing a resume when you haven’t gone to college, read this post. Good luck David.
February 2, 2010
Q: My organization is looking for a bilingual customer service representative to help our Spanish speaking customers worldwide. Can a person who speaks Spanish communicate with all other Spanish speaking people, regardless of their country of origin? Thanks. Yours truly, Susan
A: This is a great question because I’ve heard it many times, and the answer is YES. While both people will be able to communicate with each other, there may be certain words that are spoken differently in their respected countries. If this occurs, they will be able to discuss the differences to help ensure that they understand one another clearly. It’s great that your company is expanding their bilingual staff. You may be interested in reading more about how bilingual employees are an advantage to your business.
January 28, 2010
Q: English is not my first language, but I consider myself fully bilingual. I worry that the people interviewing me for bilingual customer service jobs doubt my qualifications because of my thick accent. What can I do to ensure that an interviewer is focused on my qualifications and not my accent? Valdemar
A: I faced the same predicament when I first looked for a job in the U.S. I still have an accent because I spoke only Spanish until I was 21. I suggest interviewing in person as opposed to over the phone so that you have a better chance of making an impression with your credentials, your personality, and your willingness to work hard. If you are concerned about your accent during the interview, mention it directly. You can say something like ‘You might have noticed that I have an accent (the person might smile at your comment) but I want you to know that I am fully bilingual and would love the opportunity to prove to you that I can provide quality customer service in both languages’. Ask the interviewer if they have any particular questions about your qualifications for the job. In other words, don’t leave the interviewer with any doubts because of your accent.
You may also want to read some of my previous posts about interviewing, as well as this post about the stages of becoming bilingual. Good luck.
January 26, 2010
Q: My company is looking to hire fluent bilingual employees this year (English & Spanish). My question is this: how do we know that they are truly bilingual? Thanks. Phillip
A: I recommend having a bilingual company recruiter interview the person in both languages; in your case, Spanish and in English. One of the questions for the job applicant should be about their level of proficiency in each language. Then, the question should be followed by a conversational test as well as a written exercise. This is the only way to make 100% certain that the job candidate is fully bilingual. Buena suerte.
January 21, 2010
Q: My last company downsized and my position was eliminated. I speak English and Spanish fluently and have been looking for a job for a year now. With so many companies wanting to target the Hispanic market, why is it so hard for me to find the right position? Thank you. Sara
A: The length of time for finding the right job varies depending on your specific field, job market, salary range, knowledge, experience and other factors. Your main task is to present yourself to the best of your abilities to the hiring companies, and hope that they like what they see in you. If after looking for a job for three months, you have not found the right company or position yet, take another look at your resume and at your cover letter. How are you presenting yourself to companies? How are you introducing yourself? Are you presenting the benefit that you’re bilingual? Have you pointed out the successes you’ve had in your last positions? If I were you, I would consider adjusting my approach and my overall presentation to companies. Read your resume as if you were a recruiter and see if you like it, and if it appeals to you. Another idea would be to have a friend check it out and see how they like your resume and cover letter. See if they have a different approach than your original presentation. You can also read a few blogs I wrote about resumes and cover letters. Good luck.
January 15, 2010
The entire team at Bilingual Job Fair wishes you a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. May 2010 be a successful year in your life, and may you exceed each one of your goals!
December 23, 2009
The ultimate goal of online job postings is to attract qualified candidates and increase the pool of applicants for the open position. The level of detail that you include in the job posting is the key to getting the quantity and quality of response you need.
To recap, here are our Top Five Tips for Writing Effective Job Postings:
1) Judge a book by its cover: Use the most descriptive job title possible.
2) Don’t go incognito: Include the name of the hiring company.
3) More is more: When describing the open position, be specific.
4) “Show me the money”: Include a salary range in the job posting.
5) Details, details, details: Be sure to mention company benefits.
December 22, 2009
Today’s Tip:
5) Be sure to incorporate the company benefits into the job posting. Job seekers want to know what unique benefits their prospective employers offer, and including these details helps generate more interest in the position. If your company offers a 401k plan, paid vacation, health plan (medical, dental, and or pharmaceutical), car allowance or company car, or other benefits, listing them in the job posting will help increase response.
December 21, 2009
Today’s tip:
4) Consider including the salary range for the position in the job posting. We have found that employers that include a salary range in their job postings get increased response and a higher caliber of applicants.
December 18, 2009
Today’s tip:
3) When describing a job, be specific. Paint a complete picture of the job opening. Make sure to include the job requirements, the level and type of experience you are seeking, the education and language proficiency preferences, as well a description of the daily responsibilities of the position. Job seekers like to have an idea of what their day at a job might be like and what the job entails.
December 17, 2009
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