Katie Hedrick is the Community Inclusion Coordinator of the City of Roanoke’s Community Engagement department in Virginia. One of her responsibilities is to run a Bilingual Incentive Pay Program to address the concerns and needs of Roanoke’s diverse 100,000 residents.
Katie successfully implemented the program across all departments, and to date, many of the city employees have validated their language skills to qualify for the bilingual incentive pay.
Katie herself took an ACTFL proficiency test and was impressed how easy it was to register for and take. LTI continues to support her as more and more employees take the assessments to validate their language proficiency.
Have you ever heard about Foreign Language Incentive Pay (FLIP)? If the answer is “no” and you are bilingual, you could be missing out on a fantastic way to earn a higher income using your language skills.
Understanding how to determine language proficiency during the hiring process is essential. Language proficiency testing provides accurate results employers can rely on. Administering a language proficiency test for employment purposes ensures businesses and corporations hire the best candidates for open positions.
The current global and culturally diverse economy in which the United States is immersed has created more awareness regarding the importance of having a multilingual and multicultural workforce in most industries and organizations, including in the governmental sector.
Everyone is on a language journey. You’re involved with some form of communication every day, whether you’re speaking, listening, reading, or writing. If you’re multilingual or studying a world language, then you have even more paths on your language journey.
As you grow in your first language and other world languages, you’ll want to become more fluent. You may also understand the term “language proficiency” and wish you were more proficient. Proficiency and fluency in a language are two distinct concepts you need to differentiate between as you continue your language-learning experience.
If you speak a second language, you may wonder how to highlight language skills on your resume. Being able to communicate in more than one language can be the key to opening new doors in your career, so you should showcase your language skills as much as possible.
It’s also important to describe your language proficiency accurately without overstating or understating your language skills on your resume.
Learn how to list language skills on your resume so you can put your best foot forward as you work toward your goals.
Why You Should Include Language Skills on Your Resume
If you are proficient in more than one language, you have a skill that can advance your career. The three most frequently requested languages in job postings, according to Preply, are French, Spanish, and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin).
Consider this: As of May 15, 2022, Indeed has posted over 900 jobs in the U.S. with the keywords “multilingual speaker”. In 2021, Indeed also posted an article on the 13 Best Careers for Multilingual Professionals.
Learning another language is a skill that requires dedication and commitment. In addition, those who are bilingual and multilingual are known to be better multitaskers and problem solvers — qualities you want to make known while job hunting.
Achieving a level of expertise in another language is impressive and should definitely be highlighted, even if you’re not looking for a job where a second language is required.
When to Include Language Skills on Your Resume
Knowing how to add language skills on a resume starts with understanding when you should include them. Consider how your language skills are relevant to the position for which you’re applying. When applying for jobs, you want your resume to be as accurate and honest as possible while highlighting skills that make you a valuable candidate.
If the job listing requires specific language skills, be sure to include information on your language proficiency in your resume. It is also a good idea to mention your language skills in the summary section of your resume to ensure recruiters scanning resumes can see them and can tell you’re confident about your language proficiency.
You may also want to add the languages in which you’re proficient to the skills section of your resume, even if the job listing does not specifically ask for it. Research the company’s locations and determine whether it conducts business internationally. The company may find it valuable for you to have language skills in one of the languages in which they conduct business, especially if the job is public-facing.
Tips for Including Language Skills on Your Resume
Here are some of the main tips to keep in mind when you want to include language skills on your resume.
Determine Your Language Proficiency
Language proficiency can be subjective without the right context or criteria. In other words, your idea of being proficient in a second language may differ from someone else’s, including the recruiter who will be looking over your resume or interviewing you. Being able to carry a conversation in Italian with a waiter in Rome is far different than being able to negotiate trade deals or act as a translator in Italian.
To know how to describe language skills on a resume, you must honestly judge your language skills across four communicative mediums — speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Some employers may be more interested in your ability to write or read in a second language. Others may look for candidates who can speak and listen proficiently in a second language. You need a way to let your potential employers know how well you can communicate in the language and medium they require.
The best way to determine your second language proficiency in an objective way that potential employers can understand is by taking language proficiency tests. Language Testing International® is the exclusive licensee of ACTFL language proficiency tests, which employers and institutions worldwide recognize and trust when determining a candidate’s language proficiency. LTI delivers tests that can bescored in the following proficiency scales:
When you can include results from an ACTFL test delivered by LTI in one of the above proficiency scales on your resume, a potential employer will have accurate information about your language skills.
Make Your Language Skills Visible Everywhere
Your resume is the first place where you should put your language skills. To ensure recruiters notice these special skills, consider including them both in the skills section and the summary. As recruiters often only skim resumes, writing your language skills at the top of your resume will increase your chances of getting noticed.
LinkedIn is another place where you should highlight your language skills. If a job application process also requires a cover letter, be sure you mention your language skills there, too. Many companies are looking to expand globally in the near future, so even if language skills aren’t required for the job, being proficient will certainly make you a stronger candidate.
Be Clear About Your Language Proficiency
You may know several world languages and want to include your proficiency in each one. Or perhaps you want to get more specific and include your language skills in a particular medium, whether that’s reading, writing, speaking, or listening. Format your resume’s language skills section accordingly and clearly list your proficiency for each language skill you want to showcase.
For the most accurate list, choose a proficiency scale to use to display your language skills. The ACTFL, ILR, or CEFR frameworks of proficiency are common scales for assessing language skills. Then list all languages and mediums you have results for, including the specific results next to each language and medium. Listing these details makes it easy for recruiters to understand your language skills.
Be Specific With Your Examples
Have you used your language skills in professional settings before? Talk about it! Instead of simply stating that you command another language, give specific examples of how you used them.
Having a few concrete examples of how you incorporated your language skills into your work shows the hiring manager your level of ability and your proficiency level. Another idea is to post videos of yourself speaking or presenting in another language on your professional networks, such as LinkedIn. Recruiters searching for candidates will immediately notice them and acknowledge your language skills.
Get Language Proficiency Testing From LTI
The best way to show your language skills on your resume is to include your proficiency rating from ACTFL tests delivered by LTI. We havecertification tests for individuals that can accurately assess your language proficiency when you need an objective rating to share with prospective employers. As the exclusive licensee of ACTFL tests, LTI is theleader in delivering language proficiency testing you can trust to achieve your goals. Once your language skills are validated and certified, you will also receive an official digital badge through Credly. A language proficiency badge provides evidence of an indispensable skill and can be easily embedded in your resume, digital signatures, and on digital platforms, such as LinkedIn.
Today, workplaces across the United States require more than ever before a strong multilingual and multicultural workforce. A command of more than one language is a tremendous advantage for job seekers and people working in the United States because the population is continuously becoming more diverse. If you command two or more languages, the possibility that a federal, state, or local government agency could benefit from your skills is very high.
Have you ever reflected on the continuous growth of the immigrant community in the United States and the positive and direct impact your bilingual or multilingual abilities may have on the lives of people with little to no understanding of English? Nonprofit organizations across the country that serve recent immigrants oftentimes struggle to meet the language proficiency levels needed to effectively implement their outreach programs. Your ability to speak, read, write, or understand another language can be an asset to a nonprofit seeking these skills and for people suffering hardship due to language barriers.
English language learners from different cultural backgrounds face numerous challenges when looking for affordable housing, overcoming crises such as natural disasters, dealing with financial illiteracy, and/or seeking wellness for the members in their family, including the elderly. This is where the resources and support of the nonprofit sector play a fundamental role in the social and economic health of communities struggling to overcome language barriers to fulfill basic human needs.
There are countless organizations that have been aiding and transforming people’s lives for years and where your work as a bilingual or multilingual professional can make a difference. Family Promise, whose mission and goal is ending family homelessness, is an example of how a family’s livelihood can change when they have access to a nonprofit with staff members who are proficient in more than one language. One day, a single mom of two children who was struggling to pay her rent called their offices and left a message. A bilingual employee of Family Promise returned the call. The mom had reached out to several other organizations, but none had responded. Thanks to the bilingual employee’s language skills the mom was able to secure a rental assistance agreement and maintain the family in their home.
In addition, financial literacy assistance in various languages can help diverse segments of the population make better decisions about their finances. As English speakers, we sometimes find it difficult to manage our personal finances. Can you imagine how daunting it must be for non-English speaking people to understand how to navigate a financial system that is new to them? As a bilingual or multilingual professional, you can help guide individuals to information and resources that can help improve their economic situation and alleviate hardship.
If you are a person interested in helping the senior population and their caretakers with immediate food assistance, perhaps your local food pantry is a good starting point. The relatives and caretakers of elderly people often resort to their local food pantry for healthy and nutritious options when food is scarce. Most local food pantries determine a person’s eligibility for help through an application and interview, many times available only in English. Accurate communication is vital since certain state and federal programs may ask for supporting documents when going through the application process. As a bilingual or multilingual leader in your community or as a professional looking for a job opportunity in a nonprofit organization, looking for agencies near you that serve a non-English speaking senior population and that align with your interests can make you a champion of families who need help with their application forms. You can be the difference between someone experiencing food scarcity or not.
An ACTFL language proficiency assessment, delivered by Language Testing International (LTI) can help you determine your specific proficiency level. LTI offers language assessments in over 120 languages. ACTFL assessments are a valid and defensible language credential that is widely recognized by organizations worldwide. You can test for speaking, reading, writing and/or listening, and each test is designed to ultimately provide a valid and defensible credential of your language skills.
Sources
Carly Simon-Gersuk. MoveCU. “Five Financial Literacy Organizations You Should Know About”.
Senior-Meals.org. Elderly and Senior Meal Delivery Solutions from the Experiences of Family Caretakers for New Family Caretakers. “How Your Local Food Pantry May Be a Resource for Family Caretakers and their Loved Ones”. https://www.senior-meals.org/senior-food-pantries
Ricciott, Kacie. Family Promise. “Hispanic Heritage Month: The Importance of Bilingualism in Social Services”. September 28, 2022.
Jacqueline DiCanio is a multilingual professional who currently teaches Spanish in a public school. She realizes the importance of multilingualism and how it helps her be a better teacher and a better individual: “While teaching in a school with a diverse student body, I can connect with more kids,” she said. Jacqueline commands English, Spanish, and Italian. She obtained her ACTFL Proficiency Certificate with the plan to work for one of the DoDEA schools.
The demand for multilingual talent in the United States keeps growing across all industries, and the nonprofit sector is not an exception. If you are in a leadership position within a nonprofit organization, it is imperative to be aware that there is a high probability that your organization is engaging with people with low English proficiency, as volunteers or as clients. Have you asked yourself if your team is equipped with the necessary language skills to prevent a possible serious misunderstanding that can harm the organization’s reputation? Is your organization prepared to avoid a public relations crisis by eliminating language barriers? Through the recruitment and integration of language-proficient staff and volunteers, you can forge a strong and lasting relationship of trust with the diverse community you serve.
According to a survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for ACTFL, 65 million residents of the United States speak a language other than English, and about 10 percent of the United States’ employable population is of limited English proficiency. “As a nonprofit organization, it is important to be engaged and relevant to the community that you are located in. By becoming an active member in the local area, not only can you increase the recognition of your organization, but you can also meet the people that make up the very community you operate in” (Forbes Nonprofit Council).
The benefits of hiring individuals who can speak more than one language are mutual. The people being served will feel that their needs matter and your effective multilingual communication in the delivery of your organization’s services will make a positive impact that transforms lives, making your funders happy. Similarly, knowing and understanding the cultural background of the communities served and the challenges or concerns that frequently affect them can develop a bond of trust between both parties. Furthermore, effective communication will generate the engagement of more individuals in the community, either as partners, volunteers, or new donors.
A key factor in supporting and advocating for underserved populations is to make sure that the issues of the people you are working with are addressed in a compassionate manner. Opportunities to get members of the community involved in your mission are plentiful, so stay true to your purpose of helping people in need by identifying the most-used languages in your area and reaching out to your diverse clientele using their preferred language. Initiatives such as gathering important information through community assessment surveys can create awareness of the issues relevant to non-English speaking segments of the population and a closer bond with your organization. “If members of the community in which a nonprofit serves do not feel comfortable working with the staff, they will not get the most out of what an organization has to offer. Additionally, if there is distrust between community and staff, the organization will not fully understand the needs of the community” (Oberlin).
Remember that providing clear in-language communication can save you time and money, and more importantly broaden the impact of the work you do for the betterment of society. Make sure your current or prospective bilingual and multilingual employees are truly prepared to handle challenging linguistic situations that may arise in your organization. The members of the community you serve will be loyal collaborators if your outreach efforts are developed and implemented with them in mind.
To ensure current and prospective staff and volunteers have the required level of language proficiency, make language assessments part of the recruitment process. For 30 years, LTI has been a trusted language testing provider for academic institutions, commercial clients, and federal, state, and local government agencies. As the exclusive licensee of ACTFL language proficiency assessments, they deliver valid and legally defensible language tests in over 120 languages. Scheduling tests is easy with LTI because their secure remote proctoring services allow test-takers to complete the assessments anywhere and at any time that is convenient to them.
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.leadwithlanguages.org/report
Forbes Nonprofit Council. “Nine Ways Nonprofits Can Increase Community Engagement”. Oct 17, 2017.
Carissa Oberlin. Arizona State University (ASU). ASU Lodestar Center Blog. “How Can Nonprofits Increase Leadership and Staff Diversity?” January 30, 2017.
Katie Hedrick is the Community Inclusion Coordinator of the City of Roanoke’s Community Engagement department in Virginia. One of her responsibilities is to run a Bilingual Incentive Pay Program to address the concerns and needs of Roanoke’s diverse 100,000 residents.
Jacqueline DiCanio is a multilingual professional who currently teaches Spanish in a public school. She realizes the importance of multilingualism and how it helps her be a better teacher and a better individual: “While teaching in a school with a diverse student body, I can connect with more kids,” she said. Jacqueline commands English, Spanish, and Italian. She obtained her ACTFL Proficiency Certificate with the plan to work for one of the DoDEA schools.