Perhaps you’ve been thinking about learning a new language for business or to build a successful career. Whatever may be your reason, the benefits of learning languages for business are aplenty!
According to a US-based recruitment company, almost 40% of employers plan to hire bilingual or multilingual employees in 2021. As communication is key for any successful relationship, knowing the local language of your customer or partner can go a long way in creating a profitable business together.
From bridging communication gaps to creating long-lasting relationships, learning a new language can help you build a strong rapport with your colleagues as well as clients. For those planning to take their business to a foreign country, knowing the local language can help you understand the wants of your new clients, truly relate to their culture and enter the market with more confidence.
Choose from 5 of the best languages to learn for business and give your CV/Resume an edge over others.
Spanish
In the United States, there are 52.6 million Spanish speakers, making it the second most spoken language after English. That’s roughly 6 million more speakers than there are in Spain. With 559 million Spanish speakers worldwide and 20 countries with Spanish as the official language, the ability to communicate in Spanish is an incredibly useful skill for businesses that operate internationally or have a large Spanish clientele.
Portuguese
According to American Express, Brazil is on its way to becoming a major business powerhouse and is home to the seventh most popular language in the world – Portuguese. With over 236 million speakers in the world, fluency in Portuguese could really amp up your resume for exciting opportunities in large businesses across the world. Moreover, if you’re already fluent in another Romance language such as Spanish, Italian or French, learning Portuguese will take no time yet offer great results!
French
If you’re located in the Northeast, French can be incredibly useful. No matter what your business, you’re bound to run into French speakers at one point or another. Many Canadian organizations work with businesses in the Northeastern United States. Even broader than Canada, French is one of the best languages to learn for business thanks to France’s strong community of successful global businesses and the growth of 10 African countries with French as their official language.
Russian
Did you know that people who have Russian on their resume earn on average 4% more than others? With 250 million speakers in the world, Russian is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and can be a very useful language if you’re pursuing international business or politics. Proficiency in Russian is also a highly demanded employee skill by various federal organizations. So, if you’re looking for a job in the public sector or want to make the most of your visit to an exotic and beautiful country, learning Russian is the way to go!
Arabic
Arabic is one of the more challenging languages to learn for English speakers but its benefits are definitely worth it! Arabic is another one of the United Nations’ six official languages and is spoken in approximately 25 countries around the world. While many think of Arabic as another political language, a large number underestimates its importance for doing business in and with the Middle East. With the low number of speakers in the United States and the Middle East’s growing economy – speaking Arabic will REALLY set you apart.
Conclusion
Now that you know what are the top languages to learn for business, ace any (and every) career goal you set your mind to and make the most of your newfound language skill. More importantly, use your skills to travel the world, visit new countries and build relationships with people from all walks of life.
Whatever it is you’re looking for, just make sure you enjoy doing it and learn your new language while having fun! When the time is right, test your proficiency level and get started.
What according to you are the most useful languages to learn for business? Don’t forget to let us know in the comments below!
Andrie Steliou
Latest posts by Andrie Steliou (see all)
- 8 Ways to Help Keep Your Child Focused and Engaged in Online Learning - October 19, 2022
- How to Improve Social Intelligence Skills? - May 10, 2022
- How to Improve Organizational Skills at Workplace? - May 6, 2022