Why It Pays to Be Bilingual

Do you command two or more languages? Congratulations! Regardless of how you became proficient—at school, at home, or during your travels—learning a language takes a lot of time, work, and dedication.

Become Bilingual Certified

In the increasingly globalized and interconnected world, being able to communicate in more than one language is a highly marketable skill that often commands a higher salary. In fact, research shows that those who are bilingual or multilingual can earn 5%-20% more per hour than those who aren’t. What’s more, bilingual and multilingual jobs are on the rise. In today’s global economy, employers are looking for candidates who can effectively communicate across cultural divides and help expand business globally. And that means that as a bilingual or multilingual, you possess a competitive advantage over your monolingual peers.

In this post, we explore five reasons why it pays to be bilingual/multilingual.

1. Increasing Demand for Bilingual & Multilingual Jobs

There is no denying it—for the past several years there has been a steady growth in the demand for bilingual and multilingual jobs. This demand more than doubled between 2010 and 2015, and since 2020, there has been a 30% increase in bilingual remote jobs. And this trend is not expected to change. A 2019 survey among U.S. employers conducted by ACTFL has revealed an incredible reality:

• 9 out of 10 employers rely on employees who can speak languages other than English.
• 56% reported that their demand for bi/multilingual speakers will increase in the next five years.
• 1 in 3 reported a language skills gap.
• 1 in 4 has lost business due to a lack of foreign language skills.

As you can see, language proficiency is a high-demand skill, and many employers are willing to pay more to attract and retain bilingual and multilingual talent.

2. Increased Job Opportunities

Being proficient in more than one language opens many opportunities, both domestically and internationally. Many businesses hire bilingual and multilingual employees to reach customers who prefer to communicate in languages other than English. Others, such as healthcare centers, hospitals, and state and local governments, seek multilingual speakers to comply with laws and regulations. Finally, there are companies who are expanding business globally into diverse markets and need employees who can communicate clearly with their global colleagues and customers.

Are you curious which bilingual/multilingual jobs are in the highest demand? Departments with the greatest foreign language skills needs are customer service, sales, marketing, management, and IT. This article from Indeed lists the top 13 best career choices for bilinguals. So, if you command more than one language, there are job opportunities both domestically and internationally available to you that your monolingual peers do not have. And many employers are willing to pay more for your language skills!

3. Competitive Edge

Being bilingual or multilingual is rapidly becoming a necessary job qualification. Indeed lists bilingualism as one of the top in-demand skills for today’s work environment, so your command of more than one language sets you apart from the hundreds of other applicants for the job that you want. In today’s global economy, more and more companies are searching for diverse, bilingual and multilingual employees who can serve their diverse clients both domestically and globally. In a highly competitive market, such employees are hard to find. Your language skills make you stand out to potential employers and boost you to the top of the interview list.

Read more: How to Highlight Your Language Skills to Get Noticed

4. Better problem-solving, decision-making, and multitasking skills

Did you know bilinguals and multilinguals are great multitaskers, problem solvers, and decision makers? There are multiple studies that show cognitive advantages of multilingualism. For example, a study done by the National Institute of Health shows that multilinguals are much better and faster at switching tasks than their monolingual counterparts. In a corporate environment where flexibility and the ability to pivot quickly is important, bilingual and multilingual employees can be a great asset. Another study has found that multilingual speakers process information faster and more efficiently than their monolingual colleagues, making them excellent problem solvers and quick thinkers. These are qualities you definitely want to make known while job hunting.

5. Improved communication

Since learning another language also means learning about the culture of the new language, bilingual and multilingual speakers can understand cultural nuances, empathize with speakers of that language, and close the cultural and linguistic gap. And that’s a valuable skill for employers who are looking to expand and reach diverse markets. There are millions of people in the U.S. who prefer to communicate in a language other than English. In fact, 76% of customers said they’re more likely to purchase a product if information is available in their own language. Employees who can communicate with non-English speaking customers in their preferred language build deeper and longer lasting relationships. This is even more important when a company is looking to expand its business globally. Those employees are not only able to communicate easily with global customers but can also understand and interpret cultural details and nuances that influence customers’ decisions.

Proficient? Prove It with Language Certification

If you speak more than one language, you possess a highly marketable skill. Proving your language ability sets you apart from the hundreds of other applicants for the job that you want. Instead of simply stating on your resume that you have skills in a language, you can demonstrate your specific level of proficiency with an official language credential, instantly standing out to potential employers. Language Testing International (LTI) offers proficiency tests and language certificates for professionals in over 120 different languages. For individuals who wish to certify specific language skills, we offer ACTFL certifications in listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

There are many benefits of certifying your language skills. Watch this video to learn more.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTTY1PKQlc0&t

 

Ready to get certified? Start here.