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USING LANGUAGES and working in Europe

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Title: USING LANGUAGES and working in Europe


1
USING LANGUAGES and working in Europe
Jenny Keaveney, Careers Advisory Service
2
USING 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?

3
HOW can I use my languages?
  • The Obvious careers
  • Translating
  • Interpreting
  • Teaching
  • International organisations
  • Travel, transport and tourism

4
HOW 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

5
WHERE 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

6
WHEN?
  • . will I get the chance to use my languages?
  • As soon as you graduate?
  • After further experience and/or qualifications?

7
THE 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 .

8
EMPLOYERS 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

9
What 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

10
What 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)

11
What 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)

12
WHAT 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
13
WHAT 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

14
WHAT 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

15
WHAT 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)

16
WHAT 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

17
Do 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
18
Do 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

19
A 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

20
A 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

21
A 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

22
TEFL 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

23
A 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

24
A 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

25
A 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

26
A 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

27
Other opportunities
  • What do the following have in common?

A bathroom tap?
A power drill?
A Walkman?
A petrol pump?
28
EUROPEAN 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

29
AND 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

30
DO 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
31
WHERE 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 .

32
USEFUL 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

33
TIPS 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!

34
Farvel
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/
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