When we think about careers in Foreign Language field, we generally have two options. One option is to teach the language and the other is to work for a corporate company. Language expert jobs include teaching and writing jobs, and if you want to enter this stream of career then you can open your own school for foreign languages or become a language expert on demand by taking lessons in person or online. However, if you are looking for a job in Foreign Language field that will earn you more money, then the corporate companies’ are the best career options for you.
1. Language expert job in Corporate
As the world today moves rapidly towards a global economy, the need for people who are fluent in many languages increases. Many language experts are needed around the world to assist in translation, interpretation and education. There are various opportunities opening up for those people to apply their language skills in the corporate sector. Whether you are a translator or a freelance interpreter, there are plenty of openings available and they offer great career prospects. English is widely used as an international language because of its importance in business and the demand on those who speak English goes up exponentially. The growing number of global businesses has led to a demand for native language experts all over the world.
2. Translator
There are various jobs which fall under the category of foreign languages and one can choose one as per his/her interests and liking. Chances are you have thought about what it would be like to have a nice, relaxing job as a translator. A job that pays well, requires a fair amount of skills and work, but doesn’t require lots of training and such, right?
If you have studied a foreign language and enjoy languages then the job of a translator could be for you. Translators translate written words from one language to another which is called written translation and translates spoken words from one language to another which is called spoken translation. The job of a translator may be challenging but once a person acquires the needed skills, it will be quite interesting and challenging.
3. Interpreter
The world’s labor markets demand not only specific knowledge, cultural and linguistic experience and skills but also good presentation and communication skills, a high level of ethics, required knowledge about laws, etc. If you want to work in a foreign country as an interpreter, you will need a skill level that is high enough to communicate with other people rather than just translating texts. Interpretation is one of the most interesting careers in the Foreign Language field. It involves the translation and explanation of information from one language to another. Interpreting is an integral part of all international conferences, meetings, seminars, summits and other such gatherings. A majority of the job opportunities for interpreters are concentrated in government, legal and medical realms. Interpreters can work for the federal government or state governments, military services, law offices, court systems, hospitals, schools and educational institutions and much more.
4. Proofreading
A Proofreading job is a lucrative career choice. A proofreader’s job is to make the meaning of a written work as close to the intended meaning of the writer as possible. This involves correcting errors made by the writer, editor or typesetter, and possibly checking for consistency in style. You would be surprised to know the fact that companies and clients who have a large chunk of their services revolving around documents rely on proofreaders for a variety of reasons.
It is a very competitive business. It requires that you have excellent writing skills, and at the same time, you need to have the highest standards for grammar and proofreading.
5. Language teacher
There can always be an opening in the local school for a foreign language teacher. This is one of the options that you need to take into consideration if you want to raise your income with this profession. There is a good chance for being able to earn some extra cash from private tutoring if you are fluent in languages. Of course, that doesn’t mean that this will work great for everyone and their ability to help students improve on their foreign language skills. But, it might be worth giving it a try if you have the right level of expertise, background, and skills.
6. Travel guide
Everybody knows that the opportunity is worldwide, as well as the assumption that a career in foreign languages will take you to the most remote places on Earth. However, this may not be the only thing that an individual who speaks multiple languages can be engaged with. Travel guide is another option to go with if you are fluent in speaking multiple languages and interested in working abroad. Just like a freelance interpreter, a tour guide can make use of his or her skills while helping visitors to familiarize themselves with tourist destinations irrespective of their mother tongue. More emphasis lies on getting acquainted with various cultural aspects and creating a base for a long-lasting relationship between locals and guests – often during their trips along picturesque streets. Travel industry is definitely going to be on the boom in the coming years. If you have good knowledge of multiple languages and have a warm heart for people, then this job can be one of the most lucrative for you.
7. Subtitle/ dubbing artist
If you are fluent in speaking and writing multiple languages, then you can opt for a job as a subtitle or dubbing artist. As a subtitler, you will have to convert the dialogues into subtitles in sync with the speech so that the viewers can understand. As a dubbing artist, you will have to lend your voice for different roles like men, women, old people, children etc.
When it comes to the world of entertainment, multiple voices and languages are definitely a plus point for both foreign and local producers if one can be comfortable in speaking several languages. This is why most TV channels prefer using Dubbing Artists or Subtitle services.
8. Entrepreneur
Over the last ten years, the demand for foreign language and bilingual skills has been increasing to an unprecedented level. Nowadays companies understand well the role and importance of foreign languages in a globalized environment. The ability of a person to speak several languages is always regarded as a great advantage in any business undertaking. The global market of the Internet is getting bigger and bigger now. Online business has become one of the most popular ways to find success and achieve your goals, especially in the Foreign Language field. Opening an online store in Foreign Language field has its own positive sides for developed and developing countries alike.
9. Freelancing
You can opt to freelance in a variety of fields by creating your own webpage and marketing yourself as a freelance teacher/writer/trainer. Once you have acquired some sort of following, there are many ways you can make money online. If writing is not your forte, you may choose to earn passive income or rather residual income through Affiliate Marketing, or even through creating and running an E- Learning Platform online, making it easier for existing companies to develop e-Learning products and make use policies more clear/convenient for their existing & potential customers!
10. Journalism
There is a huge demand in this field. The bilingual journalist can act as a bridge between the foreign language country culture and his/her audience’s culture. Students with foreign language proficiency can have many career options. All those who have special interest in foreign languages can go for a career in this field. Students opting for journalism and mass communication can have their career in this field. Presently, due to changing times and modernization, this field is offering a wide range of job opportunities. Journalism can be a great choice for those with proficiency in a foreign language. News networks provide live interpretation during special events and conferences. For those who are fluent in the language, or who have studied abroad in the country’s native language, there is employment as an interpreter.
It never hurts to diversify your professional experience. Even if you lack knowledge and skills, it is good to start developing them. The fact that this subject is so popular unambiguously proves that more and more people want to work in this sphere. However, when accepting a position as an interpreter or translator you should remember about the following. Any specialty requires constant development and continuous self-improvement. Only in this way can you become successful and loved by your colleagues because only in this case may you do a great job.