Title: USING LANGUAGES and working in Europe
1USING LANGUAGES and working in Europe
Jenny Keaveney, Careers Advisory Service
2USING LANGUAGES IN YOUR CAREER
- HOW can I use my languages?
- WHERE can I use them?
- WHEN will I get the opportunity to use them?
- WHAT ELSE are employers looking for?
- WHAT do language graduates do?
- DO I need further qualifications?
- HOW can I find out more?
3HOW can I use my languages?
- The Obvious careers
- Translating
- Interpreting
- Teaching
- International organisations
- Travel, transport and tourism
4HOW can I use my languages?
- Some of the less obvious ways
- Business - marketing, sales, buying
- Administrative - conference organising, PA
- Finance - banking, accountancy, insurance
- Law
- Information - media, library work
5WHERE can I use my languages?
- In the UK - short or long term
- In another country - short-term
- In another country - long-term
- Both in the UK and abroad - travelling regularly
6WHEN?
- . will I get the chance to use my languages?
- As soon as you graduate?
- After further experience and/or qualifications?
7THE GOOD NEWS
- In a survey of 2700 companies across 10
industries, more than half of HR managers said
they would be more likely to hire someone who
spoke more than one language - Average earners with linguistic abilities could
be paid up to 12 more - Only one in ten workers in the UK can speak a
foreign language - BUT .
8EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR MORE THAN JUST LANGUAGE
ABILITIES
- In most careers, it is not enough to speak
another language (however fluently) - it is what
you can do through that language that is important
9What else do employers look for in language
graduates?
- Employers will look for skills such as
- Verbal and written communication (in English as
well as your other languages) - Analysing and using information
- Teamwork
- Time management
- IT skills
10What do past Kent graduates say was the most
useful aspect of their degree?
- Studying literature - the appropriate and
creative use of language is particularly
important in public relations (PR Manager) - Studying French literature helped me develop
strong analytical skills which have been useful
in my work essay-writing too helps for preparing
reports and plans (Marketing Manager)
11What do past Kent graduates say was the most
useful aspect of their degree?
- Specific skills such as translation require a
mental discipline that can be applied to other
areas of activity - my work often involves
sorting masses of data and drawing meaning and
inferences from various sources
(Police Officer) - Good written and verbal communication skills are
essential in the workplace (Finance trainee) - The general analytical skills used for essay
writing and seminar preparation and the ability
to prioritise and work to deadlines (Export
Assistant)
12WHAT do language graduates do?
National statistics for 2007 graduates
a Employed in UK (49) b Employed abroad
(8) c-g Further Study (28) h Not
available (6) i Believed unemployed (5) j
Other (4)
Source HESA. www.prospects.ac.uk/links/WDGD
13WHAT do language graduates do?
- Some of the 2007 Kent graduates in employment
- Import/Export Administrator logistics company
- Bilingual Executive Assistant University of
Sydney - Management Trainee MDS Ltd
- Graduate Trainee (supply management) Gomez Ltd
- Nationwide marketing assistant
- Trainee teacher Maidstone Grammar School
- Tax adviser
- EFL teacher
14WHAT do language graduates do?
- 2007 Kent graduates undertaking further study
- MA Spanish Latin American Studies Kings
College London - MA French, University of Kent
- Diploma in Local Services Management (France)
- MA Writing, Theory Visual Culture, University
of Kent
15WHAT do language graduates do?- in the longer
term
- School teaching (17)
- Banking/financial services (11)
- Sales/export (10)
- TEFL (8)
- Media (7)
- Personnel work (7)
- Administration (6)
- European institutions (6)
- Academics (5)
- International marketing (5)
- Airlines/airports (5)
- Legal work (4)
- Public relations (3)
16WHAT do language graduates do?- in the longer
term
- Political research
- Publishing
- Librarians
- Police officers
- Drugs counsellor
- Translator
- Film publicist
- Museum curator
- IT training officer
- Italian Fashion Manager for Vogue
- Communications Manager for international business
consultancy in San Marino
17Do I need further qualifications?
- (almost certainly)
- YES
- Teaching
- Translation
- Law
- Library work
- Office work
- VERY POSSIBLY
- Journalism PR
- Personnel work
- Hotel management
NO for very many employers, at least when first
recruiting
18Do I need further qualifications?
75 of the Kent graduates surveyed had obtained
one
- 23 MAs ( in various subjects)
- 21 PGCEs
- 8 doctorates (PhDs)
- 6 TEFL certificates
- 5 GDLs (law conversion courses)
- 3 translating qualifications
- 2 MBAs
- 2 MScs
- Various professional certificates and diplomas
19A closer look at .
- TRANSLATING AND INTERPRETING
- Many translators work freelance
- Specialist vocabulary and non-mainstream
languages are useful - Postgraduate qualifications may be needed
- Interpreting is a very small career field - 3 or
more languages are often expected - www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/translating.htm
20A closer look at .
- TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES
- You will need a PGCE or equivalent qualification
to teach in state schools in the UK - Languages are a shortage subject carrying
additional funding for training - Teaching experience is vital
- http//www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteach.htm
21A closer look at .
- TEACHING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
- A TEFL qualification is not always essential
- You dont need to know the language of the
country you are working in - greatest demand is
from the Far East and Eastern Europe - Often seen as a short-term job but can also offer
a long-term career - http//www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tefl.htm
22TEFL want to find out more?
- Come to a TEFL workshop
- Wednesday 18 March
- 2.00 4.00 pm, KS16
- Run by a TEFL course provider in Madrid
- Interactive games to give a taste of what it is
like to teach (and learn!) English as a foreign
language
23A closer look at .
- INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
- Range from the UN and EU to small charitable or
campaigning organisations - Recruitment can be complex and irregular
- Most staff recruited have experience elsewhere -
relatively few openings for new graduates - With smaller organisations, you may need to start
as a volunteer - www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/internationalorg.htm
24A closer look at .
- THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS
- Recruitment to permanent posts is irregular and
unpredictable - Get experience through the stagiaire scheme ...
- ... or the College of Europe in Bruges
- www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/internationalorg.htm
25A closer look at .
- THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
- Languages are not required
- Two recruitment schemes both highly competitive!
- The next closing date for Fast-Stream entry
will be November 2009 - The mainstream recruits separately
- Your career will be divided between London and
overseas postings - www.fco.gov.uk
26A closer look at .
- TRANSPORT, TRAVEL AND TOURISM
- A number of companies run graduate training
schemes - It is equally possible and common for graduates
to enter at a more junior level - Some jobs may be largely seasonal
- www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/transport.htm
- www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitestourism.htm
27Other opportunities
- What do the following have in common?
A bathroom tap?
A power drill?
A Walkman?
A petrol pump?
28EUROPEAN GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES
- Wolseley European Graduate Programme
http//egp.wolseleyplc.com/ - Black Decker European Graduate Leadership
Programme http//www.jobtrain.co.uk/BlackandDecker
/GraduateCareers/EGLP.aspx - BP Eurograduate Programme
www.bp.com/careers - Sony European Graduate Programme
www.sonycareers.com/Sonycareers?stateEU_PRO
29AND ALSO .
- Financial services banks, accountants,
insurance companies . - Retailers buying, store management
- Utilities water, gas, electricity companies
- Law firms (you dont have to have a Law degree!)
- IT companies (IBM, Apple, Google, Yahoo etc)
- Advertising agencies
- Car manufacturers
30DO I NEED ANOTHER LANGUAGE?
- Do you
- Feel that you are not sufficiently fluent in any
other language than English? - Speak another language but want to work in a
country where that language is not spoken? - Want to broaden your language skills?
See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/LanguageSkills.htm
31WHERE NEXT?
- Think about what you want from your career and
what you have to offer employers in addition to
your languages - Use information sources and contacts to find out
about the job market in other countries - Be aware of early closing dates
- Be flexible and open-minded as to how, where and
when you might use your languages .
32USEFUL INFORMATION SOURCES
- Occupational Profiles detailed information on
almost 600 careers - www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations
- www.kent.ac.uk/careers/modernlanguages.htm
- www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Abroad
- www.prospects.ac.uk/links/languages
- Careers Information Room
- Career Planning Guide
33TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- Be informed about all the potential opportunities
- Decide what is most important to you in a career
- Be flexible
- Develop other skills to add to your languages
- Know what employers are looking for
- Remember you don't stop learning after you
graduate - Don't give up!
34Farvel
Hyvästi
Auf wiedersehen
Au revoir
Do widzenia
Viszontlátásra
Nägemiseni
Ciao
Adjö
Sveiki
Zbohem
Sahha
Adeus
Viso gero
Nasvidenje
?????????
La revedere
Adios
????? ???
Tot ziens
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/