One of the easiest ways you can boost your chances of getting hired is being able to demonstrate foreign language proficiency. Many of us have a basic understanding of at least one foreign language, but if you’ve failed to maintain your studies after high school, your bilingual fluency has probably suffered.
If you’re eager to improve your employment prospects, whipping your foreign language skills into shape is definitely a good idea. Studying at a language school is a good option for those with deep pockets and flexible schedules, but is certainly not a practical solution for many. Thankfully, learning online a new language is now more accessible than ever, with online tutoring a particularly affordable option.
German
Not only is Germany the official language of Germany, it’s also recognized in both Austria and Switzerland. It’s one of the most commonly spoken languages in Europe, with more than 100 million people across the continent being able to use it fluently. It’s also worth remembering that Germany is Europe’s leading economy. If you’re keen to explore career options in international trade, there’s no better European language to learn than German.
Spanish
Spanish is another massively popular language, with more than 543 speakers globally. After English, it’s the most commonly used language in the United States, with around 13.5 percent of the population speaking it. An increasing number of companies are seeking candidates who possess a high-level proficiency in Spanish as a second language. It’s also massively important to employers looking to explore business opportunities offered by Latin American economies. Because it’s so widely spoken, Spanish won’t add too much of a premium to your salary. However, this language is fairly accessible to first-time learners, making it an accessible option for those with minimal foreign language skills.
Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin is the most commonly spoken language in China. It’s also the second most commonly spoken in the world after English, with more than 1.1 billion speakers worldwide. China is currently the second largest economy on the planet, making Mandarin a particularly lucrative language for job-seekers looking to bolster their wage packets. The Chinese economy is also set to overtake the US economy in a few decades, making this East Asian language even more vital to learn.
For English speakers, Mandarin Chinese can prove particularly difficult to get to grips with. Unfamiliar characters and unusual grammatical structures mean non-native speakers need considerable guidance to learn the fundamentals. Despite being an incredibly sought-after skill by employers, Mandarin is one of the least studied languages in the US. Provided you’re prepared to invest the time into studying it, mastering Mandarin Chinese will give you a significant edge over rival job-seekers looking to explore career opportunities in East Asia and beyond.
French
French was once the most commonly spoken language on the planet. This European language was eventually supplanted by English after the emergence of the British Empire, but it has continued to remain popular. French is spoken by around 270 million people worldwide, with approximately 80 million of those being native speakers. It’s spoken in more than 40 countries, with 29 of those territories recognizing it as an official language. It’s also the official language of both NATO and the United Nations. In the wake of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, it’s also likely that French will become the language of choice when it comes to business in mainland Europe.
