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Job Opportunities For Linguists | ||
 Language Learning Forum : Languages & Work |  | |
| Uber_Geek Newbie United States Joined 6277 days ago 31 posts - 31 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese | Message 1 of 14 11 October 2007 at 8:47am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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What kind of opportunitys do a linguist or polyglot have?
I have heard of people been translators or working for government. Even some people do international business. Is It worth taking this on as a major in college or just a fun hobby? Edited by meramarina on 11 September 2010 at 5:35pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| Chung Diglot Senior Member Joined 7158 days ago 4228 posts - 8259 votes  20 sounds Speaks: English*, French Studies: Polish, Slovak, Uzbek, Turkish, Korean, Finnish | Message 2 of 14 11 October 2007 at 10:41am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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For those who're fluent in foreign languages, translation and interpreting are obvious choices.
For linguists, positions in teaching or research at universities and colleges are possible. Those who specialize in cognitive or computational linguists can sometimes find jobs that also need knowledge of psychology or information systems respectively. In those cases, their knowledge of linguistics isn't as emphasized as their other skills. For those who think that knowledge of foreign languages are the way into international business, must remember one thing. For anyone who goes into business, skills in business are MUCH more important than anything else. For example, a salesman who's a polyglot won't last long anywhere if he/she can't sell anything or win contracts. Likewise, an accountant who's a polyglot won't last long anywhere if he/she can't balance the books or deal with the auditors' technical questions. I remember when I took German at university, my professors and some of my classmates liked to think that knowing German is good for doing business in Europe. After a few years of working in the business world, I would now say that my profs and those classmates neglected to mention that you'd also need some transferable skills in business just to get your foot in the door. Outside jobs teaching foreign languages or translation/interpreting, aspiring polyglots who would like to use their languages actively at work, should focus on being a fit for the non-linguistic requirements of that job, be it tour guide, physicist, computer hacker, musician, salesperson, accountant or news broadcaster. 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| Uber_Geek Newbie United States Joined 6277 days ago 31 posts - 31 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese | Message 3 of 14 11 October 2007 at 11:06am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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Nice post
I heard that American people make good money learning Japanese for doing business with them. Since Japan sells enough goods to the USA to pretty much buy the country. Also learning Arabic for American people is good for government work in Iraq. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| IbanezFire Senior Member United States Joined 6696 days ago 119 posts - 124 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, Russian | Message 4 of 14 11 October 2007 at 11:25am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
Not quite sure. In America people look upon you as a smarter person if you speak a second or third language, especially if you are a native english speaker. Opportunities are usually always there it's just a matter of taking advantage when they present themselves.
Yes, you can do translation via self employment, state government, and federal government. I think federal averages around $20/hr. The more in demand the language is the better you have a chance of getting it. Plus from a security stand point those who can speak an in demand language would get hired over a immigrant, granted you have demonstrated the required proficiency.
Yeah, it's possible you really don't need a degree in business to get into business. Of course, if there's a specific job you want then you need at least some basic skills in that category.
Depends on your view of college. Is college a technical school where you are just there to get job skills to get a good job? Or is college for you a learning experience? If you do some planning you might be able to opt out of the beginner and intermediate classes. It's hard to predict the future. For instance I know one guy who graduate with a music education degree, but is now working upper level sales for a tech company. I know another who get an English degree, but got his CPA and now is an accountant, works ungodly hours, but is doing alright. I know another who got a psychology degree is working for an insurance company. But overall, unless you want to be working at Kmart praying for death, you'll need a degree in something. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| Uber_Geek Newbie United States Joined 6277 days ago 31 posts - 31 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese | Message 5 of 14 11 October 2007 at 11:47am | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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Well im working towards a degree in computer science and a community college and working my way up to University with a minor in buisness. Getting some Certs in a language probley wouldnt hurt.
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| angeltreats Diglot Groupie United Kingdom Joined 6296 days ago 48 posts - 49 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Portuguese, Swedish | Message 6 of 14 11 October 2007 at 12:50pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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It's a very female-oriented type of job, but there are lots of opportunities for legal secretaries and PAs who speak more than one language. Not very glamorous but the salary can be pretty good depending on what type of company you work for.
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| OrlMoth Groupie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6366 days ago 77 posts - 83 votes 2 sounds | Message 7 of 14 11 October 2007 at 3:43pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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Volunteer/charity - Maybe not really a job, but it's possible to make a living off of it (a very cheap, yet rewarding living). Back in the US, when I was unemployed I went and helped people with their language trouble for no charge. All I got was voluntary tips, when they could afford it, TONS of gifts (homemade food being the most frequent) and made lots of friends.
It's not gonna make you rich, but if you can somehow work out a way to live off donations, it's very rewarding. You make a lot of friends, get a lot of job offerings as a translator, travel opportunities, and experience in working in other languages. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||||||||
| alang Diglot Senior Member Canada Joined 7223 days ago 563 posts - 757 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish | Message 8 of 14 11 October 2007 at 5:11pm | IP Logged | |||||||||||
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I think Chung is very accurate in the assesment of skills. When it comes to a Linguistics degree, unfortunately opportunities seems limited. A lot of what I have read concerns about continuing with education. A Bachelor's is not enough. If you are aware of the limitation, then you can make plans if it truly is the field you will pursue.
A Bachelor's in Linguistics or Psychology can lead to a master's in Speech Pathology and Audiology. A person does not need to be a polyglot in doing this. Edited by alang on 11 October 2007 at 5:11pm 1 person has voted this message useful |
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