International students: Use Your Language Skills to Unlock Career Opportunities

As international students, you bring language skills that go beyond words alone. Your language skills aren't just a talent—they can increase your career prospects. Your ability to switch between languages isn't just about communication—it's a gateway to a world of opportunities. Your language skills can set you apart from other candidates, giving you an edge in competitive job markets. Here's why:

1. Languages are a necessity in some industries: In certain industries like tourism, hospitality, translation, or international relations, speaking more than one language is not just an advantage—it's a necessity.
2. Languages are good for business growth: In today's world, if you speak different languages, it's a bonus for companies aiming to grow worldwide. Your language skills can help a company talk to local people, customers, and partners in various countries. You understand different cultures and could help a business understand local ways of doing things. You can explain what people like in a specific country. This knowledge helps companies adapt their products, services, and marketing to fit in with the new market. Being able to speak different languages means you can offer better customer service in their preferred language - which makes customers happier and more likely to stay loyal. You could help a business create a brand message that aligns with the values and preferences of a new market in your home region.

Top tip: When you're applying for a job, see if the company works in places where they speak your language. Do they have offices or customers in countries where your languages are spoken? It's good to be ready - find out how many people speak your language around the world and in which countries it's used and be ready to use that knowledge in your application or interview.

3. Language skills boost your communication skills: Being fluent in multiple languages makes you a fantastic communicator. You can adjust your language, tone, and style based on the context, audience, or culture. Speaking multiple languages has broadened your perspective. You’ve gained insights into different worldviews and ways of thinking, which helps you better understand and relate to others' perspectives. Listening to accents, and speech patterns has strengthened your listening skills, making you a more attentive listener in conversations. These brilliant skills mean that you can communicate effectively with a broad range of clients, customers, and colleagues.

4. Languages increase your cultural sensitivity: Learning multiple languages involves understanding different cultures and customs. This cultural awareness means you can communicate respectfully with people from different backgrounds, avoiding misunderstandings and building stronger connections- which is great for business.

Where should I add my language skills on a CV?

How can you add your language skills effectively on your CV? Where could you add them? You could choose:

A dedicated language section: You could create a section specifically highlighting your language proficiencies.

How? List each language along with your proficiency level (e.g., fluent, proficient, intermediate). Remember that UK employers are likely to be familiar with European languages but may be less familiar with languages like Igbo or Tamil. Instead of just listing the language on your CV, give some extra information. You could explain how many people speak that language and where it is spoken. Try and help an employer see how that language could be of use to them. For example:

Relevant Experience: You could include examples of using your language skills during part-time work, internships or volunteer work. For example:

Education section: You could mention your language skills within your education section. Add to any coursework or any academic projects, like this:

Skills section: You could add your language skills in a dedicated section for skills:

These examples demonstrate how language skills were used in different ways, such as customer service, teamwork, academic support, volunteer work, internships, and research projects. How could you show practical applications of your language abilities within professional or academic settings for a CV?

Top tip: try to make the examples relevant to the job role you are applying for. If you aren’t sure how to do that, ask your university careers service for help.

Shining in Your Interview

When it comes to interviews, your language skills can be your secret weapon:

1. Show the benefits: Talk about times where your language skills made a difference in a job or at university. Talk about how your multilingualism can bring added value to the role and the company. How? Imagine you're interviewing for a marketing position. You could share an example from a university project where your language skills were useful. For instance, maybe you were involved in a multilingual social media campaign targeting different groups of people, resulting in a significant increase in engagement and audience reach. This shows how your multilingualism lead to great results. Top tip: research the role and the company before the interview and think about how your language skills might benefit the company. If you need help with preparing for interviews, ask your university careers service for help.
2. Problem-Solving Scenarios: Be ready to discuss situations where your language skills helped resolve a challenging situation or bridge a communication gap—an excellent way to demonstrate your adaptability and resourcefulness. Imagine you're interviewing for a project management role. You could explain an experience during a group project where language barriers made communication difficult within your team. Share how you took the initiative acting as a translator, facilitating discussions, and ensuring everyone understood. Emphasise how your communication skills and quick thinking resulted in a more successful project outcome.

Now you can show your language skills in a job interview, by talking about their practical uses and value in real-life situations. Interviewers will be able to see clearly how your language abilities make you a great problem-solver and collaborator.

Your language skills are more than words; they show your unique background, culture, and adaptability. Embrace them, showcase them, and watch them become your passport to a world of career possibilities......

What are some ways you have used your language skills since you’ve been in the UK? Share your experiences below! Let's celebrate the power of linguistic diversity together. #InternationalMotherLanguageDay #LanguageSkills #CareerSuccess #InternationalStudents