Being multilingual in America is becoming more common and less of an oddity each year. In fact, one in five U.S. residents, or 61.8 million people, now speak a foreign language. So, we thought it was the perfect time to talk about the benefits of expanding your language fluency and the positive impact it could have on a career in multilingual sales.
Languages to Learn
Before we get into the benefits of language fluency in a sales role, it's a good idea to go over some of the languages you might want to consider learning.
Spanish – There are currently 6 million Spanish speakers in America, which is only second to Mexico's 121 million. If you learn Spanish, the Economist estimates you could add up to 1.5% to your salary.
French – Only two million Americans speak French, making it a rarer skill that could possibly boost one’s yearly salary by 2.3%.
German – If you speak German, you could add up to 8% to your yearly salary.
Mandarin – With over 873 million Mandarin speakers in the world, the demand is very high for digital marketing workers fluent in Mandarin in America.
How Can My Additional Language Help Me Land a Job?
As learning another language is becoming more important every day, it’s not surprising that 66% of the world's children are being raised bilingual. While only 18% of Americans speak a second language, major job markets like New York (47%) and Los Angeles (57%) have a high percentage of bilingual residents, so it makes sense that the demand for multilingual job candidates is higher. According to some surveys, 1/3 of recruiters in North America agree that being bilingual is critical in today's business environment and can earn as much as 20% more per year than monolingual workers. These benefits aren't just for those who work in full time jobs, though. Bilingual freelancers are also in high demand in digital marketing and many other popular fields. At 24 Seven Talent, we have a wide range of bilingual job listings.
Language Fluency in Sales
The digital revolution of the past two decades has completely changed the global business landscape. Most businesses need to think internationally and that means having multilingual employees.
Finding Your Next Multilingual Job
Once you've learned a second (or third or fourth!) language, you will be ready to find multilingual full time or freelance work. Want to learn how to find the perfect multilingual job? Look no further than 24 Seven Talent. Contact us today or visit our website to place or check out a multilingual job listing