Graduates should learn a second language to enhance their employability and stand out in competitive job markets, as many organizations operate in multinational environments. Proficiency in languages such as French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish is particularly valuable across various industries, aiding in effective communication and relationship building. Additionally, graduates are encouraged to choose a language that aligns with their career goals for maximum benefit.

1. Why all graduates should know a second language
To stand out from other graduates you need more than a First-Class degree and some work
experience under your belt. Your CV needs a sparkly extra to catch the attention of the decision
maker of the management programme you really want to get on to. That special skill that makes her
stop at your CV could be the ability to speak a second language.
Teresa Tinsley, Director of Communications at CILT, the Government-funded National Centre for
Languages said in an interview for the Independent "Languages give you so much more flexibility in
terms of where you work and how quickly you get a promotion". More of the sought after and
fiercely fought after graduate schemes are being offered by large multinational organisations. In this
time of interconnected globalised economies, it is the norm for organisations to outsource large
chunks of work. This means face-to-face meetings or Skype meetings with co-workers who speak
foreign languages. For instance, I know several Project Managers leading technical projects that have
daily Skype meetings with developers that are based in India, China and Slovakia.
It is not just the IT industry that relies on cohesive global working. If you want to go into sales your
suppliers or clients could be based internationally. If you would like to go into Engineering, you may
be working in the Middle East and have Arabic speaking contractors. If you are a Financial
Consultant, speaking European languages will help you interact with your international colleagues to
get the job done.
Now, you may be thinking that knowing English can get you by in most of the world, however only
4.83% of the world population are native English speakers. We have 101 countries in which it is
spoken and 1.5bn learners of English as a second language thanks to the imperial past of our nation.
However, there are more native Chinese, Spanish and French speakers then there are English.
This means that you may be able to get by just using English. However, to work collaboratively you
need to build relationships. And speaking the native language of your colleagues can help you do
that. It has been proven to break down barriers and help you achieve the best result possible. Also in
certain roles, such as journalism for instance, knowing the local language can help you pick up details
and juicy bits of information that colleagues who do not know the local language will miss.
If you are competing with hundreds, possibly thousands, of other applicants for a graduate training
programme the employer will be searching for anything on your CV that differentiates your ability to
add value to their organisation. If you are fluent in English and German and are applying for a
training programme for an organisation that has an office in England and Germany then you have an
advantage over the other candidates. The organisation will see that you will be better placed to
communicate with your international counterparts.
We know that a language can help with career prospects, but which of the 12 most common
languages should you choose? The Independent says “Analysis of job specifications in
advertisements shows the strongest demand remains for French and German. But proficiency in
Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and other non-European languages can also be immensely
useful.”
In UK school’s students gain basic exposure to French, Spanish and German. These languages are
extremely important for roles that span Europe. For instance, if you become a Retail Manager you
may find warehouses and stock dispersed throughout Europe and the knowledge of another
European language can prove invaluable when you’re clarifying an important order.

2. The language that is growing most in popularity is Mandarin Chinese. BBC business reporter Mary
Hennock goes as far as to say "China's economy is growing so quickly and becoming so influential in
the world economy that people can't afford to ignore it. People who want to be ahead in whatever
industry need to think about China and learning Chinese." Chinas emergence as a leading economy
has resulted in unprecedented opportunities for English and Mandarin speaking graduates.
Have a think about your career goals before you choose your second language to ensure its
beneficial. For instance, while Mandarin may be currently hot, it won’t be much use if you’re career
goal is to work as a Petroleum Engineer in Africa. Arabic would be invaluable in that role. Also, if you
want to be a Fashion Designer or a Purchaser for a retail company, you may find knowing French or
Italian gives you that special edge.
Learning a second language will not only support your application for an entry level position, it can
also support your career advancement. If speaking your colleagues native language supports
relationship building and the breaking down of barriers then you are more likely to achieve your
work targets. The team members that consistently achieve are considered for managerial positions.
Southampton University website states ‘being fluent in another language is vital for companies to
conduct business internationally. Many of our graduates have gone into professional or managerial
roles in large corporations such as Amazon, Film4 and the International Tennis Federation.’
Remember no one expects you to have a level of fluency like the native speaker. The aim is to be
able to competently communicate with counterparts in their own language well enough for them to
understand your needs. When writing your CV or application form don’t under sell your ability to
communicate in a foreign language, but just as importantly do not over sell it as you may find
yourself in a tricky, red-faced, hide-under-the-table situation. The kind that has fuelled comedic
escapades in dozens of movies.
Options on how to learn a second language can vary depending on your schedule. Your University
may be offering evening classes that have a structured class-room based approach. This will have the
added benefit of meeting new people. If you have a tight schedule, then there are some great on-
line courses that boldly claim to make you conversant in a language within a matter of weeks. You
can even try the good old-fashioned way of learning via CD’s and books.
For those seeking to highlight their language skills on their CVs, CV Folks offers professional CV
writing services to help graduates effectively showcase their abilities and stand out to potential
employers.