Tag: bilingual skills
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
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 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: 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
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
This week’s focus is on emerging industries for bilingual jobs in the U.S. and the types of jobs bilingual candidates can find within those fields. The third industry that we feel is among the top five for bilingual jobs is health care. (For previous emerging industries, read this post and this post.)
Health Care
Nowhere is it more evident than in the field of health care that the United States must respond to the needs of our diverse population. We need to increase the access to quality care for all citizens, including those who only speak a foreign language. Hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance agencies all hire bilingual employees to address these needs. In addition to improving communication between health care providers and their patients who come from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, medical care employers are also looking to broaden the diversity in health care leadership and administration.
Hospitals in particular are excellent sources of jobs for the bilingual job-seeker. The types of positions that are needed to be filled include: hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, medical assistants, emergency medical technicians, case managers, health educators, counselors, and billing/accounting representatives.
We have two emerging industries for bilingual jobs left to cover!
In the meantime, to browse bilingual job opportunities in the health care field on BilingualJobFair.com, click here!
October 28, 2009
Previous page
