USING LANGUAGES and working in Europe

Jenny Keaveney, Careers Advisory Service

USING LANGUAGES IN YOUR CAREER

• HOW can I use my languages?• WHERE can I use them?• WHEN will I get the opportunity to use

them?• WHAT ELSE are employers looking for?• WHAT do language graduates do?• DO I need further qualifications?

• HOW can I find out more?

HOW can I use my languages?

The “Obvious” careers• Translating• Interpreting• Teaching• International organisations• Travel, transport and tourism

HOW can I use my languages?

Some of the less obvious ways …

• Business - marketing, sales, buying• Administrative - conference organising,

PA• Finance - banking, accountancy,

insurance• Law• Information - media, library work

WHERE can I use my languages?

• In the UK - short or long term• In another country - short-term• In another country - long-term• Both in the UK and abroad -

travelling regularly

WHEN?

…. will I get the chance to use my languages?

• As soon as you graduate?• After further experience and/or

qualifications?

THE GOOD NEWS …

• In a survey of 2700 companies across 10 industries, more than half of HR managers said they would be more likely to hire someone who spoke more than one language

• Average earners with linguistic abilities could be paid up to 12% more

• Only one in ten workers in the UK can speak a foreign language

BUT ….

EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR MORE THAN JUST LANGUAGE ABILITIES

In most careers, it is not enough to speak another language (however fluently) - it is what you can do through that language that is important

What else do employers look for in language graduates?

Employers will look for skills such as:• Verbal and written communication (in

English as well as your other languages)• Analysing and using information• Teamwork• Time management• IT skills

What do past Kent graduates say was the most useful aspect of their degree?

Studying literature - the appropriate and creative use of language is particularly important in public relations (PR Manager)

Studying French literature helped me develop strong analytical skills which have been useful in my work; essay-writing too helps for preparing reports and plans (Marketing Manager)

What do past Kent graduates say was the most useful aspect of their degree?

Specific skills such as translation require a mental discipline that can be applied to other areas of activity - my work often involves sorting masses of data and drawing meaning and inferences from various sources (Police Officer)

Good written and verbal communication skills are essential in the workplace (Finance trainee)

The general analytical skills used for essay writing and seminar preparation and the ability to prioritise and work to deadlines (Export Assistant)

WHAT do language graduates do?

National statistics for 2009 graduates

a Employed in UK (47%)b Employed abroad (8%)c-g Further Study (27%)h ‘Not available’ (6%)i Believed unemployed (8%)j Other (4%)

Source: HESA. www.prospects.ac.uk/links/WDGD

WHAT do language graduates do?

Some of the 2009 Kent graduates in employment:

• Export Sales & Marketing – agricultural produce• Archive Assistant – Church of England• Finance Manager - University• Trainee teacher – Bromley Schools Consortium• Multilingual Network Support Analyst - BT• Tax associate – Deloitte• Recruitment Consultant• EFL teacher

WHAT do language graduates do?

2009 Kent graduates undertaking further study

• MA Gallery Studies – University of Essex• MA Modern French Studies - University of Kent• Diploma in Journalism - London School of Journalism• MA Translation Studies, University of Wales, Swansea• MA International Business Management, University of

Westminster

WHAT do language graduates do?

- in the longer term• School teaching

(17)• Banking/financial

services (11)• Sales/export (10)• TEFL (8)• Media (7)• Personnel work (7)• Administration (6)

• European institutions (6)

• Academics (5)• International

marketing (5)• Airlines/airports (5)• Legal work (4)• Public relations (3)

WHAT do language graduates do?

- in the longer term• Political research• Publishing• Librarians• Police officers• Drugs counsellor• Translator• Film publicist• Museum curator

• IT training officer• Italian Fashion

Manager for Vogue• Communications

Manager for international business consultancy in San Marino

Do I need further qualifications?

(almost certainly) YES

TeachingTranslation

LawLibrary workOffice work

VERY POSSIBLYJournalism & PR Personnel work

Hotel management

NOfor very many

employers, at least when first recruiting

Do I need further qualifications?

• 23 MAs ( in various subjects)

• 21 PGCEs• 8 doctorates (PhDs)• 6 TEFL certificates• 5 GDLs (law

conversion courses)

• 3 translating qualifications

• 2 MBAs• 2 MSc’s• Various

professional certificates and diplomas

75% of the Kent graduates surveyed had obtained one

A closer look at ….TRANSLATING AND INTERPRETING

• Many translators work freelance• Specialist vocabulary and “non-

mainstream” languages are useful• Postgraduate qualifications usually

needed• Interpreting is a very small career field -

3 or more languages are often expected• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/translating.htm

A closer look at ….

TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES• You will need a PGCE or equivalent

qualification to teach in state schools in the UK

• Languages are a “shortage subject” carrying additional funding for training

• Teaching experience is vital • http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteach.htm

A closer look at ….

TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

• A TEFL qualification is not always essential • You don’t need to know the language of the

country you are working in - greatest demand is from the Far East and Eastern Europe

• Often seen as a short-term job but can also offer a long-term career

• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tefl.htm

A closer look at ….

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS• Range from the UN and EU to small

charitable or campaigning organisations• Recruitment can be complex and irregular• Most staff recruited have experience

elsewhere - relatively few openings for new graduates

• With smaller organisations, you may need to start as a volunteer

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/internationalorg.htm

A closer look at ….

THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS• Annual recruitment of new/recent

graduates• Get experience and make contacts

through the stagiaire scheme ...• … or the European Fast-Stream• ... or the College of Europe in Bruges• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/

internationalorg.htm

A closer look at ….THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

• Languages are not required• All recruitment schemes are highly

competitive!• The next closing date for “Fast-Stream”

entry will be November 2011• Separate recruitment for individual

vacancies• Your career will be divided between London

and overseas postings• www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/working-for-us/

                                    

A closer look at ….

TRANSPORT, TRAVEL AND TOURISM• A number of companies run graduate

training schemes• It is equally possible and common for

graduates to enter at a more junior level• Some jobs may be largely seasonal• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/

transport.htm • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitestourism.htm

Other opportunitiesWhat do the following have in

common?

A painkiller?

A Playstation?A petrol pump?

A digital camera?

A bottle of lager?

EUROPEAN GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

• All offer “European Graduate Programmes”• BP, Canon, Heineken, Reckitt Benckiser, Sony and

many others• Some may require a business-related degree as well

as language skills• Programmes typically involve moving around

between 2 or 3 different countries and job functions• You don’t need a wide range of languages – English

is often the international working language• "You need to consider if you can imagine being far away from

home and friends for a long time. You also need to be able to fit into new teams and work environments every 6 months and learn very quickly to make the most of these placements."

EUROPEAN GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES

• BP European Graduate Programme http://bit.ly/b5zCzC

• Canon European Graduate Programmes www.canon-europe.com/graduates/business/index.asp

• Heineken International Graduate Programme www.graduates.heinekeninternational.com/intro.php

• Reckitt Benckiser www.rb.com/european-graduate-programme

• Sony European Graduate Programme www.sony.co.uk/hub/european-graduate-programme

For these and similar schemes, see http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/modernlanguages.htm#who

AND ALSO …. • Financial services – banks, accountants,

insurance companies ….• Retailers – buying, store management• Utilities – water, gas, electricity companies • Law firms (you don’t have to have a Law

degree!)• IT companies (IBM, Apple, Google, Yahoo etc)

• Advertising agencies • Car manufacturers

DO I NEED ANOTHER LANGUAGE?

Do you:– Feel that you are not sufficiently fluent

in any other language than English?– Speak another language but want to

work in a country where that language is not spoken?

– Want to broaden your language skills?

See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/LanguageSkills.htm

WHERE NEXT?

• Think about what you want from your career and what you have to offer employers in addition to your languages

• Use information sources and contacts to find out about the job market in other countries

• Be aware of early closing dates• Be flexible and open-minded as to how,

where and when you might use your languages ….

USEFUL INFORMATION SOURCES

• Occupational Profiles – detailed information on almost 600 careers

• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/

modernlanguages.htm• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Abroad• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/languages

• Careers Information Room• Career Planning Guide

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• Be informed about all the potential opportunities• Decide what is most important to you in a career• Be flexible• Develop other skills to add to your languages• Know what employers are looking for• Remember you don't stop learning after you

graduate• Don't give up!

Au revoirAuf wiedersehen

Ciao

AdiosTot ziens

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