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Careers with Languages

  • Languages open up a huge number of opportunities and can give you the edge in finding a job.
  • In a recent poll of 500 employers, languages came second only to IT in a list of desirable skills for job candidates. (Source: CBI/Edexcel Education and Skills Survey (June 2008) – Key findings; Personnel Today, 31 March 2010)

There are two career paths with languages:

  • Specialist language occupations, such as translation, teaching, interpreting
  • Occupations with languages, such as marketing, international sales, bilingual customer support, pilots, technicians and engineers, lawyers and bankers

Perks of careers in languages (Source: CBI/Edexcel Education and Skills Survey, June 2008; Personnel Today, 31 March 2010)

  • Travel
  • Responsibilities
  • Funding support eg. teaching
  • 8–20% extra salary
  • Low unemployment rates
  • Use of non-linguistic skills – listening, cultural awareness, summarising

 

Career Prospects

83% of School of Languages' July 2009 graduates went on to employment and/or further study 6 months after graduation*
* Where data known and graduates available for employment, six months after graduation.

 

What kind of job could I get?

There are plenty of opportunities for employees with language skills

Specialist occupations: translation

  • In-house translator. Major engineering firms, international organisations, legal and financial institutions as well as press agencies are among those that maintain a permanent staff of translators. Some games companies also employ in-house translators.
  • Freelance translator. Working freelance gives you greater flexibility in the type of subject matter you specialise in. Potential clients include multinationals, governmental and non-governmental organisations and translation companies.
  • Localiser. Localisation is the translation and cultural adaptation of digital content for local markets. Areas include computer games, websites, software, multimedia and information systems.
  • Audiovisual translation (subtitling / dubbing film and corporate videos). You'll need cultural knowledge and creativity, and is a great option for anyone with an interest in media and languages.
  • Legal, medical, financial specialist translation;
  • Literary translation – How do you say ‘Quidditch’ in French, German or Spanish?
  • Lexicography (dictionary making)
  • Terminology management. This is a great way to start a career in translation, and involves maintaining project glossaries and memories across a range of languages.
  • Project management. Translation project managers manage translation projects from initial quoation through to completion, and this involves liaising with clients, translators, proofreaders and interpreters.
  • Editor/proofreader. There is a high demand for linguists in this type of role, and it involves refining, revising and checking translations.
  • Précis writing
  • Travel guides, public service leaflets, manuals for machines, company processes, patents…

Specialist occupations: interpreting

  • International Institutions (EU, UN, ICC)
  • Diplomatic interpreting (MoD, MI5, MI6)
  • Non-governmental Organisations
  • Business Interpreting
  • Military interpreting
  • Public service Interpreting

Occupations with languages

  • Bilingual accounts
  • Market research
  • Marketing
  • International sales
  • Bilingual customer support
  • PA
  • Pilots
  • Technicians and engineers
  • Lawyers
  • Bankers

 

Examples of School of Languages' graduates job titles (six months after graduation, 2008 & 2009 graduates)

  • Conference, Exhibition and Event co-ordinator     
  • Foreign Exchange Broker
  • Researcher
  • Educational assistant
  • Translator
  • Export and import manager   
  • Proof reader
  • Secondary Teacher
  • Retail/wholesale manager

 

Where could I work?

Typical industries using linguists

  • Telecommunications – T-Mobile, Vodafone
  • Travel and tourism – British Airways
  • Market research – NOP
  • Media – BBC, Reuters
  • Manufacturing – Peugeot, Rolls Royce, Michelin tyres
  • Banking/finance – HSBC, Citibank
  • Multilingual helpdesk: IBM, Claire’s Accessories, Eurocar, Shell
  • Public services – MI5, NHS

Examples of school of Languages’ graduate employers (2008 & 2009 graduates)

  • Air France                              
  • Decathlon
  • Chamber of Commerce          
  • Marks and Spencer
  • Université de Haute Alsace   
  • Astra Zeneka UK
  • Rider Levett Bucknall                       
  • Bank of New York Mellon
  • Co-operative group (food)     
  • Industrial Acoustics Company

 

Find out more about the careers support offered to students studying at the School of Languages.

Read some case studies of School of Languages' graduates.