This weekend I’ll be celebrating 30 years in the USA. On January 8th, 1981 - my plane landed at JFK Airport in New York City. The USA became ‘home’ for me, although I did not know it at the time my plane had landed. My intentions were to learn English, go to a good advertising university, work for about 5 years, and then go back home,to Puerto Rico. However, life had other plans for me. It all began when I met my husband in our last semester in college, at Syracuse University. From that point on, my commitment to the USA became stronger and this country ended up becoming my home forever.
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.
Below are some of my previous blogs, which include some of my personal stories:
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.
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!
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.
Mylene Duffy is the founder of the Bilingual Job Fair. She has hired many professionals over the course of her career, and is an advocate for bilingual employment. Mylene did not speak English when she came to live in the States in the early 80’s. She took an intensive English course and enrolled at Syracuse University, where she graduated with a degree in communications. She is now proud to be fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
