New languages can be a highly rewarding experience both on a personal and professional level. It can enrich your knowledge about other cultures, help you see the world from a different perspective, improve your cognitive skills, and make traveling exciting. And, the best part about it is that is now easier than ever before to learn a new language. On platforms like Preply.com, you can find private teachers and tutors according to your budget and needs. So, if you need tutors for Spanish , for example, all you have to do is to connect to the platform and find the perfect pick.
In this article, however, we’re going to focus on the professional benefits of learning a second language.
How Speaking a Second Language Helps Your Career
Here’s the thing: in this overly competitive world, experience or motivation is not always enough to help you get your dream job. You need something that can differentiate you from other candidates and allow you to bring something new to the table. In a society that is becoming more and more diverse, speaking a second language is certainly a valuable asset. Almost every company, from start-ups and large corporations to hospitals or government agencies, understand the importance of cultural diversity and are often looking for employees that can help them thrive in this global world.
So, there’s no question about the fact that speaking a second language can give you a competitive advantage. But, can it help you earn more money than those that speak just one language?
Numerous Job Opportunities
Speaking more than just one language can help boost your career and provide you with more opportunities than your monolingual counterparts. In fact, a lot of companies are listing language skills as a requirement or added advantage. And, it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Most of them are trying to expand to international markets and engaging customers in their native tongue can help them understand their needs better and create better strategies. Obviously, a person who speaks the language and is aware of the cultural difference is a valuable asset that companies are willing to pay for.
Do You Earn More Than Monolingual Employees?
Employees that speak a second language usually get better-paying jobs. That is a fact. However, the amount of money you can get depends on factors such as the language you learn or the country you work in, the industry, and so on. On average a bilingual person will earn about 10% more than a monolingual one. If the job requires that the employee knows a particular language, then the earning may increase by up to 50%.
That is pretty impressive! And, that’s not even the maximum increase you can get. As mentioned above, the language, geographical context , and job type can add significantly to your bottom line. For example, if you’re working in a non-English-speaking country, mastering the native tongue can get you up to two times more money than your monolingual colleagues.
In addition to better wages, some companies even offer bonuses to the team members who make recommendations for potential bilingual employees. The reason companies are investing heavily in bilingual talent has to do with their growth, on the one hand, and the global market they’re activating in, on the other hand. Because more and more businesses see bilingual employees as a strong link between them and foreign markets they are willing to pay the money to get access to the best talent.
Getting paid more requires being attentive to the modern business needs and willing to develop new skills . In this case, speaking a second language is the way to accomplish it. Therefore, being bilingual does help you earn more, both on a personal and professional level.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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