Tag: bilingual job
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
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
In addition to not bringing family members with you to a job fair, you should take extra care to avoid this job fair mistake as well:
Mistake #2: Attending without (or with too few) printed resumes
The resume is essential to a job seeker’s success at a job fair. It is the introduction their credentials, their work experience, attributes and qualifications. (For more on resumes, click here.) A job seeker attending a job fair without copies of a resume to hand to prospective employers is equivalent to a baseball player stepping up to home plate and facing a pitcher to hit a ball without a bat. Don’t hurt your chances at a home run by making this mistake!
My advice: don’t leave home without plenty of copies of your resume! It is better to have more copies than you think you’ll need than not enough. Bring a folder or briefcase with you to the job fair to keep your printed copies organized and looking neat. (More on this here.) You don’t want to miss a single opportunity.
December 10, 2009
This week we will continue to cover job fairs, specifically mistakes that I have seen job candidates make at job fair events. When job seekers make any of these mistakes, I believe that they cut their chances of getting a follow up interview with the companies participating at the job fair.
Mistake #1: Taking family members to the job fair.
Believe it or not, I have seen this a dozen times. In some cases, the job candidate may not have someone to watch his or her young kids the day of the job fair, and they decide to bring the kids along. Or they bring Mom with them for company and moral support. Simply put, it is unprofessional and will not make a good first impression with any company. I’ve even seen people with strollers at job fairs — definitely not the best presentation of professional demeanor. From an employer’s perspective, if a job seeker is unable to find someone to take care of their kids the day of the job fair, it may give the impression that they will not have enough freedom to come to work every day, or that they have too many responsibilities at home to be able to perform well at work. Taking Mom along also gives the impression that the job seeker lacks confidence, and may not be able to independently manage the responsibilities that the position entails. My recommendation: to make the most of the job fair day, leave family members at home. Attend the job fair on your own, as you would the first day at a new job.
Read this post for more information about how to prepare for a job fair, and check back tomorrow for the next mistake to avoid.
December 9, 2009
You arrive at the job fair prepared, looking great, feeling positive — you are ready to start meeting companies. What now?
It’s time to make your plan for how to make the most of the day. As soon as you walk into the job fair, pick up a program. Review the map which shows where each participating employer is located and make some decisions about which companies you want to meet the most. Depending on the number of people at the job fair, you may be fighting through crowds, but your first objective should be to meet with your top 5 or 10 companies.
Approach your top companies one by one. Use the introduction you practiced as a way to begin a conversation about the positions each company currently has available, and the qualifications they are seeking. Offer a copy of your resume (and cover letter if you have one) and give a quick summary of your qualifications, being sure to touch on those that match the credentials they are looking for. Before you leave that booth, make sure you have expressed your interest in the position, thank the recruiter for their time and find out what you need to do to get a more formal job interview with the company.
After you have met with all of your top companies, take a break. Take a moment to drink some water and/or eat a little something. Take another look at the job fair program and booth map, and pick out your second tier of companies. Use the time you have left to visit the booths of your “B List” to make sure you are taking advantage of every opportunity to make a connection with a potential employer. By the time you have completed your secondary list, the job fair may be coming to an end. You should leave the event with a good understanding of what each of your top companies is looking for, ready to follow up with the companies that appealed to you the most.
Next: After the Job Fair: Following Up
November 23, 2009
A job fair day is a day when the job candidate needs to shine. To make the best first impression, it helps to come prepared.
You should have multiple copies of your well written one-page resume printed and ready to hand to the recruiters at the event. You can also bring copies of a cover letter introducing yourself and your qualifications. You may find that having a pen or pencil and some paper available for taking notes is helpful. To stay organized, bring a folder or portfolio to hold these materials, as well as any handouts you may receive at the job fair.
Self-confidence is very important. If you believe in yourself, it comes through to the participating companies. Dress for success. Put forth your best effort in how you dress for this day. Plan ahead and dress appropriately for the type of position you are interested in. Once you are ready with an outfit that is professional and gives you confidence, spend some time thinking about how to make an impact with your introduction. To feel more assured, it may be helpful to practice introducing yourself with a friend or family member. Be positive, smile, make eye contact, shake hands and say “Hello, my name is _____ and I am interested in learning more about opportunities with your company.”
If the information is available prior to the event, review the list of companies that will be participating in the job fair. The more familiar you are with the types of employers attending and the positions that they may have open, the better prepared you will be to discuss how your qualifications are a good fit.
Next: At the Job Fair: How to Make a Good Impression and Make the Most of the Day.
November 19, 2009
The final of our top five emerging industries for bilingual employees is retail. (The other emerging industries on our list are telecommunications, banking & finance, health care and education.)
Retail
The retail world is a large employer of bilingual personnel. The large chains such as Target, JC Penney, Sears, Wal-Mart and K-Mart, in addition to smaller retail outlets in malls all over the country, need to fill positions in human resources, management, sales, inventory management and customer service. In all of these job areas the chance for interaction with bilingual customers is high. It is a fantastic advantage to be able to serve and communicate with a multicultural customer base. The hiring of bilingual personnel can mean higher sales volumes for retailers because they can sell and service this growing segment of the market.
The possibilities are endless for bilingual personnel. For more thoughts on marketing bilingual skills to potential employers, read The Advantages of Being Bilingual, and How to Write a Cover Letter that Showcases your Bilingual Skills.
To browse the bilingual job opportunities in retail that are available on BilingualJobFair.com, click here!
October 30, 2009
We have a couple more industries to cover as part of this series on emerging industries for bilingual jobs in the U.S. The fourth industry that offers a growing opportunity for bilingual job candidates is education. (For previous emerging industries, read this post, this post and this post.)
Education
Participation in the local, national, and international community is strengthened by knowledge of the language and cultures of other people. The key is to teach language skills so we can communicate with each other and give everyone an equal chance to become a productive member of society. The increase in the number of students in the U.S. who use English as a second language is creating more positions for bilingual personnel in our primary and secondary school systems, as well as at the college and university levels. Opportunities will continue to expand for bilingual teachers, administrators, translators, financial aide advisors and school social workers.
There are many dedicated bilingual employees at schools and colleges who are helping our bilingual students advance. To learn more about what students go through to acquire a second language, read this post about the stages people go through to become bilingual.
Check back tomorrow for the final industry on our list.
Also, to browse bilingual job opportunities in education on BilingualJobFair.com, click here!
October 29, 2009
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