Answer:  So far the number one job openings posted by companies in our site is for sales positions.  Those sales positions are specifically for sales territories, such as sales representatives and or sales associates, for inside and outside sales territories.  The number two posted positions from companies are for customer service. It seems like companies want to connect with their clients better and want to service their customers in their own language.  We also have had numerous positions for bank tellers, and from the banking industry overall, plus from large wireless and communications corporations.  Companies: Keep the FREE bilingual job postings coming.  We have heard great success stories of companies and bilingual candidates connecting through our BILINGUALJOBFAIR.COM  job site.

I can not believe that it has been 30 years now. My memories of the ‘big move’ to the ‘big apple’ are still pretty vivid. The road I’ve traveled in the USA has had its ‘ups and downs’, along with some curves, valleys, and numerous hills along the way (steep hills I should add) but I’ve traveled it all a-mile-at-a-time, and never losing the momentum needed to reach my final destination…my goals. I truly wouldn’t trade the road I’ve chosen for anything in the world. It’s been a good road thus far. Yes, it is true. The USA is the ‘land of opportunity’. If you have dreams, if you work hard and don’t deviate from those dreams, you can make them come true. Motivation, persistence, hard work and high standards have been my key to accomplishing my goals. Also, the people I have met along the way have been a blessing in my life, and have made it a better road for me.  Since this blog has a bilingual theme to it, I’ve thought that to commemorate my special moving date, that I would share some of my personal stories, which I’ve included in previous blogs.  Hope you can learn something from my experiences, and that they give you hope. May they help you in your path to becoming bilingual, help you in assisting someone who wants to become bilingual, or in accomplishing your own goals and dreams. Thank you for being an avid reader of this blog and for being a part of BilingualJobFair.com.

Let’s take as an example folks in the healthcare industry; such a nurse, a dietitian or even a physician.  If they are bilingual, they can communicate better with patients, and can provide better care for the patients.  A dietitian can explain the diet to the patient. A sick patient can explain his or her symptoms better to the doctor or the nurse, and there can be better communication among all parties.  Folks can take better care of each other.  By experience, I can tell you that one of the hardest things when you are learning a new language is to get sick and not be able to communicate your symptoms to the nurse or to the doctor.  If you are speaking to someone who can understand you totally, your chances to get better care can improve greatly.  This is an industry that needs bilingual professionals and has a long way to go. We can all get better health care if we can understand each other better.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.