Article
One: A Tour of the World of Language Recruitment by Antoinette Odoi
As corporate institutions expand globally, recruiters are putting increasing emphasis on candidates’ language skills. Antoinette Odoi surveys the market for language skills revealing the value of multi-language proficiency and why language learning should not be viewed as a thing of the past.
If you thought the only career prospects for language graduates were teaching, translating or interpreting, think again. Language recruitment companies are experiencing a boom, and the call for language skills in the corporate world is growing.
But why is there a sudden demand for language skills and how can they be of benefit in the modern workplace?
Director of Euro London Appointments David Shacklock says: “Businesses of all sizes can now operate in the global market. "The challenge is being able to understand the needs of a customer base that spans the world. For the business leaders of tomorrow that means that languages will become even more important."
Miranda Reid, associate director of Multilingualvacancies.com adds: "If you have a good understanding of the local language you gain tremendous advantages in building relationships. "In addition to their language fluency, language graduates' relative 'worldliness' also appeals to employers.
James Munro, director of Appointments Bi-Language, a 15-year-old language recruitment company with a £4mn turnover, said: "Candidates who have had to set themselves up in a foreign culture [on their year abroad] tend to be more independent and world-wise.
"Dr Anne Green, head of the French department at Kings College London, believes employers "like the combination of intellectual training, cultural breadth and practical linguistic skills".
Lisa Thompson, 25, is one example of a linguist who developed her language and work skills on her year abroad in St Petersburg. She studied French and Russian at Cambridge but now works for a corporate finance and banking firm. She tried a number of 'traditional' careers after graduating, but found a more viable prospect in the corporate world. She said: "I taught and didn't enjoy it. Interpreting is difficult to get into and translation is boring. Also there's no real money in these professions and they're not as respected as jobs in the corporate world."
The impact of an expanding Europe has had a knock-on effect on the industry, and has precipitated the need for a broader range of languages. Shacklock states the major European languages are always in demand, but affirms the demand for Russian, Mandarin and Cantonese is growing. Candidates with Chinese, Eastern European and Arabic skills are also hot property.
However, the picture is not wholly rosy. Competition from a growing UK-based foreign workforce with impeccable English skills means native English-speakers are often required to have fluency in more than one foreign language. Already multilingualvacancies.com has two-thirds more foreign language applicants with languages than English-mother tongue candidates, and that language learning is no longer obligatory for 14-16-year-olds does not bode well. Research from the Centre for Information on Language Teaching has revealed two-thirds of state schools have already scrapped compulsory language teaching.
So if foreign language proficiency is so lucrative, why are students turning their backs on languages?
Dr Mark Allinson, head of the School of Modern Languages University of Bristol, says students underestimate their value. "A lot of people believe that the whole world speaks
English, so we needn't bother learning any other languages. "But pure language skills are one thing; getting inside a different culture and mentality is quite another," he says.
Dr Hugues Azerad, Senior Language Teaching Officer at Cambridge University's department of French agrees language courses have a bad reputation. But he continues, "For the past two years, schools and universities have seized the bull by its horns, and the syllabus is becoming more interesting again."
Language recruiters are also worried about the drop in interest. Language Matters consultant Mark Detre says: “Huge efforts have been made on the continent to teach English language and culture [but] the British have become steadily more arrogant about not learning the languages of other countries. "As the UK produces less graduates who have language capabilities, the UK becomes less competitive."
Yet the picture is looking up, with Azerad, Allinson and Green all saying that numbers in their respective courses are growing again. As far as the language recruitment industry is concerned, Munro thinks it will continue to be healthy. "Demand for this type of candidate depends mostly on the UK and global economies" he says. "If the current period of steady economic growth continues, I would expect this demand to increase exponentially."
So the message is clear - learn a language, stay ahead of the competition and increase your marketability. That's clear in any language.
Antoinette Odoi lives in London and works for the Financial Times. She has worked for the Observer and openDemocracy as well as for a number of local newspapers. She enjoys writing about education, race relations, social issues and the arts and can be contacted on
Annetteodoi@yahoo.com
|