Mastering one or more foreign languages is a sure bet to enhance your career prospects. Being a bilingual or multilingual employee opens doors to a wide range of industries and positions within the workplace. “As a bilingual professional, you may also be able to negotiate your base pay during the hiring process if you describe how your language skills are an asset to the company and make you a highly qualified candidate for the role,” (Indeed Editorial Team)

Certify Your Language Skills

Growing Demand for Language Skills

 

findings from the survey for ACTFL on the importance of foreign language skills in business
Source: ACTFL

According to a survey conducted for ACTFL, employers of all sizes in the United States are currently witnessing an increasing demand for foreign language skills that is not expected to decrease in the coming years. Therefore, the advantages of being proficient in one or more foreign languages are undeniable—especially the one about job security.

Leveraging Your Bilingual Skills

The question remains: How can you effectively leverage your foreign language skills during job offer negotiations? Start by conducting research. It’s important to understand the current job market and salary ranges before determining your negotiation strategy. Then, evaluate your language skills and emphasize your qualifications with specific examples of how your linguistic abilities and cross-cultural experience can benefit the prospective employer. By highlighting the value you bring to the organization as a bilingual professional, you can set yourself apart from other candidates who are monolingual, including securing better pay.

To demonstrate that a higher compensation is justified, communicate with confidence how your language skills have a positive impact on customer service and business growth.  “Knowing what you are and aren’t willing to compromise prior to entering a negotiation can help you make clearer asks, and sometimes, figure out if a role is right for you in the first place,” (DePaul). Additionally, attentively listen to the potential employer’s perspective. Listening earnestly is just as important as speaking with conviction.

Read: How to Highlight Your Language Skills to Get Noticed

Negotiating Bilingual Benefits

Whether you are monolingual or multilingual, the employer may not always be able to meet your salary expectations. In such cases, be prepared to consider other benefits such as a flexible schedule or opportunities for training and/or professional development. “Don’t get fixated on money. Focus on the value of the entire deal: responsibilities, location travel, flexibility in works hours, opportunities for growth and promotion, perks, support for continued education, and so forth,” (Malhotra).

The List Foundation, a nonprofit job board points out that individuals fluent in a second language can explore the possibility of negotiating a foreign language bonus when first offered a job, particularly if their proficiency aligns with highly sought-after language skills. The bonus request can also be made during a performance review for individuals already employed or when transitioning to a new job.

Demonstrating Your Language Proficiency with a Language Assessment

It’s important to assess your foreign language proficiency to be able to leverage your bilingual skills effectively. You can expand your career opportunities by getting certified in the additional languages you command. Contact Language Testing International (LTI), a language testing provider with decades of research and certifying millions of people around the world in over 120 languages. LTI provides you with a globally recognized language credential in speaking, reading, writing, and listening through remotely and secured proctored assessments that can be taken at anytime, anywhere.

Watch: Your Language, Your Career. Certify your bilingual skills and give your career a boost.

Sources

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.actfl.org/uploads/files/general/MakingLanguagesOurBusiness_FullReport.pdf

Cathie. “3 Times You Should Negotiate A Foreign Language Bonus”. List Foundation. November 9, 2022. https://www.listfoundation.org/3-times-you-should-negotiate-a-foreign-language-bonus

DePaul, Kristi. “Negotiating a Job Offer? Here’s How to Get What You Want.” Harvard Business Review. December 23, 2020. https://hbr.org/2020/12/negotiating-a-job-offer-heres-how-to-get-what-you-want

Indeed Editorial Team. “13 Best Careers for Bilinguals.” Indeed. Updated June 24, 2022. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-for-bilingual

Malhotra, Deepak. “15 Rules for Negotiating a Job Offer.” Harvard Business Review. April 2014. https://hbr.org/2014/04/15-rules-for-negotiating-a-job-offer

Madeline Martínez is a Multicultural Navigator Specialist at URBANDER, a Woman and Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) specializing in transforming businesses to advance humanity. URBANDER’s role is to serve as an extension of Marketing, Diversity, Human Resources, Procurement, Community Relations, and Social Responsibility teams, providing innovative approaches in the areas of strategic marketing, content development, workforce development, community outreach and IDEAS (inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and sustainability). Madeline holds a both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and is an experienced copywriter and content developer dedicated to amplifying the voices of URBANDER’s clients. From blogs and articles to social media posts and interviews, Madeline is a skilled writer across diverse topics integrating her marketing, business and academic acumen. Though her earlier work as a Publications Officer at the Inter American University in Puerto Rico, and her most recent performance as a Spanish Interpreter, Substitute Teacher, and Instructional Assistant for English-language learning elementary school students, Madeline has impacted countless families as they have navigated migrating to the U.S. from Spanish-speaking countries. As a bilingual professional, Madeline is also proficient in translating written documents from English to Spanish, and vice versa. She has received LTI issued ACTFL Language Proficiency Certificates in Spanish as follows: Advanced Writing, Advanced Listening, Advanced Reading and Superior Speaking. During her downtime, Madeline loves spending time with her family, and enjoys dancing, movies, photography, and coffee. She considers herself a continuous learner. “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers”- Helen Keller

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