CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGN
LANGUAGE MAJORS
SKILLS & ABILITIES OF THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE MAJOR
Cross‐Cultural  Understanding of cultural differences  Knowledge of culturally specific behaviors, customs, and values  Language competency for speaking, wri ng, reading, and listening  Apprecia on of diversity  Sensi vity to cultural issues  Awareness of differences in cultural perspec ves  Global experience  Ability to adjust to new environments and interact with people from different backgrounds Analy cal  Cri cal thinking  Analyzing and comparing cultures  Crea ng/clarifying ideas  Defining complex problems  Weighing values and assessing needs  Ability to conduct research Organiza onal  A en on to detail/good observa on skills  Ability to instruct/mo vate  Genera ng innova ve ideas and solu ons  Ability to work coopera vely and to coordinate work with others  Flexibility in learning and thinking  Ability to take risks  Overcoming obstacles and barriers Communica on  Clear/concise wri ng  Understanding of audience needs  Ability to persuade/influence  Effec ve use of language  Listen and clarify well  Summarizing  Wri ng and presen ng informa on clearly *ParƟally taken from Vistaworld.com
POTENTIAL CAREERS












Linguist Language Specialist Literary Translator Judicial Interpreter/Translator Teacher English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher Import/Export Agent Hotel Manager Travel Agent Foreign Service Officer Passport Examiner Writer/Editor 











Interna onal Visitor Exchange Specialist Border Patrol Agent Inves gator Coordinator of Interna onal Students Director of Study Abroad Programs Interna onal Educa on Director Visi ng Student Counselor Market Analyst Pharmaceu cal Representa ve Tour Director Overseas English Language Media Staffer Interna onal Banking Loan Officer TYPES OF EMPLOYERS










Professional Language Schools Publishers Hospitals Federal Government Agencies State and Local Governments Transla on Agencies Import/Export Firms Elementary/Secondary Schools Colleges/Universi es State Department 






Central Intelligence Agency Bureau of Interna onal Informa on Programs Voice of America Ci zenship and Immigra on Services Department of Defense Peace Corps Na onal Endowment for the 






Humani es Department of Jus ce Environmental Firms Sports Organiza ons Adver sing Agencies Public Rela ons Firms Magazines/Newspapers/Radio Sta ons Manufacturing Firms *Taken from Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors (DeGalan & Lambert) 2007
TOP 10 OCCUPATIONS EMPLOYING PERSONS WITH A
BACHELORS IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Teachers, secondary school Top and mid‐level managers, execu ves, and administrators Sales occupa ons, including retail Secretaries, recep onists, typists Other administra ve (record clerks) Other management‐related occupa ons Insurance, securi es, real estate, business services Teachers, elementary school Other service occupa ons, except health 14.8% 8.4% 7.1% 6.7% 6.0% 4.6% 4.4% 3.9% 3.9% ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB

43% of employed foreign languages graduates regularly perform management and administra ve du es at work.  Sales, purchasing, and marke ng ac vi es are regularly performed by 26% of all employed foreign language graduates.  The majority of the workweek of 9% of foreign language grads is spent providing professional services such as financial services and another 9% consider computer applica ons, programming and system‐
POST GRADUATION ACTIVITIES

45% proceed to earn a post‐graduate degree. 34% earn a master’s degree; 6% graduate with a doctorate; 5% earn a professional degree  Only 28% earn a master’s degree in foreign languages. About 28% are earned in educa on and 13% in business administra on and management. Taken from the College Majors Handbook (Fogg, Harrington, & Harrington) 2004
RELATED BOOKS THE CAREER RESOURCE LIBRARY (CLC 530)


OpportuniƟes in Foreign Language Careers
Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors