Working remotely has become “the norm” in different fields. After the pandemic, most employers have acknowledged the importance of adapting to another way of developing long-lasting working relationships, building trust with their customers, and advancing their businesses in a diverse economy. Nowadays, many employees don’t have to transport themselves to a designated office, and the impact of this new modality is inevitable. This way of doing business may not be suitable for all industries, however, the change is here to stay. The global economy has made companies aware of the growing need to rely on clear and effective communication tools more than ever before, and hiring multilingual professionals who work from home is a practical and effective recruitment strategy in today’s business world.
The Importance of Localization
Hiring candidates in different geographical sites who can command one or more languages to reach multicultural audiences who prefer to communicate in a language other than English is vital to avoid possible serious consequences of miscommunication that may jeopardize the success of the company. Providing customers with the services they need in their preferred language has become a necessity, and according to a recent survey, approximately 75% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase a product if they receive support in the language they select to speak (CSA Research 2020).
Benefits of Multilingual Workforce
There are countless benefits to any organization reliant on employees with language skills other than English and in hiring employees with a high level of language proficiency. Among those benefits are reaching out to new loyal customers, staying competitive in a global market, and boosting the company’s economic goals. “Your company will benefit tremendously if your employee can actually speak your native language and speak the lingo where they are located as well,” (Espie).
Language Proficiency Assessment
Does your business have a bi/multilingual remote workforce capable of meeting the needs of your ever-growing diverse clientele domestically and/or internationally? One valid solution to ensure your current or prospective remote team has the required level of language proficiency is partnering with a reliable proficiency assessment provider. Making language proficiency assessments a part of the recruitment process to meet the needs of the customers located locally or in different parts of the world is a worthwhile investment.
“Change is often tough, but it can also be rewarding. The increase in employees working from home will have impact, both good and bad, on individual employees, the organizations they work for, and the larger economy. For the companies, the struggle can simply mean changing the process and putting the right collaboration/communication tools in place,” (Hyken).
Growing Demand for Languages Other than English
A study conducted by ACTFL also states that the growing demand for language skills in languages other than English among U.S. employers is not expected to abate. According to the findings, a third of language-dependent U.S. employers report a foreign language skills gap; and 1 in 4 employers report being unable to go after a business opportunity due to a lack of foreign language skills. Thankfully, there are proven methods to remedy these language gaps across all industries anywhere in the world.
Language Testing International (LTI) has been an invaluable partner to organizations implementing strategic measures to address language barriers that might prevent them from seizing an opportunity to grow their revenues. LTI is an exclusive licensee of ACTFL and have over 30 years of experience in administering language assessments. They provide companies a valid measure of speaking, reading, writing, and listening proficiency along with language credentials in over 120 languages. ACTFL assessments can be remotely and securely proctored from anywhere, anytime, affording employers a chance to tap into a global pool of bilingual and multilingual talent effectively and cost-efficiently.
Sources:
CSA Research 2020. “Can’t Read, Won’t Buy – B2C”: https://csa-research.com/Blogs-Events/CSA-in-the-Media/Press-Releases/Consumers-Prefer-their-Own-Language
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Lead with Languages Campaign commissioned Ipsos Public Affairs, with the support of Pearson LLC and Language Testing International. (2019). “Making Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers.” https://www.leadwithlanguages.org/report
Espie Vidal, Maria. “How Hiring Multilingual Remote Workers Benefit Businesses”. https://confessionsoftheprofessions.com/how-hiring-multilingual-remote-workers-benefit-businesses/#:~:text=Hiring%20a%20multilingual%20team%20with%20a%20k…
Hyken, Shep. “The Impact of The Remote Workforce”. Forbes. Feb. 28, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/shephyken/2021/02/28/the-impact-of-the-virtual-work-from-home-workforce/?sh=17b318582873
