Foreign language skills in demand
By MARK PITSCH
(Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal
Becca Hash speaks, reads and writes Spanish while researching utilities in Mexico as part of her first job out of college as an energy rate analyst for a Louisville, Ky., consulting company.
Just 10 years ago, Summit Energy wouldn't have placed any special value on people who speak a foreign language, but Hash's boss said those skills are key as the company expands into Central and South American markets.
"Nobody comes out of college knowing a lot about the energy industry," said Jordan Joy, a Summit manager. "That's something we teach when we hire them. But we can't teach someone a foreign language."
Career-placement experts say the job market is rapidly expanding for graduates with language skills.
"This is probably the best market for graduates with foreign-language skills that we've ever had," said Steven Rothberg, president of CollegeRecruiter.com, a Minneapolis-based job site. "They have a fantastic advantage over their solo-language fellow graduates."
Hash, 24, said her 2004 degrees in economics and foreign language and international studies from Bellarmine University have already proved to be valuable on the job.
"I've studied their culture, and I know a little bit about how they do their transactions, so they're a little more willing to talk to me as opposed to someone who calls them and treats them like an American," Hash said of utility officials and clients in Mexico.
In the past, foreign-language speakers had limited job choices, such as becoming a teacher, translator, interpreter or diplomat. But university and career experts say that has changed because:
Ramsey Younis, who will complete his degree in humanities with a foreign-language concentration in August, said he hopes to work for the State Department or Central Intelligence Agency. He has studied Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Greek, and also knows Spanish.
Paul Hutcherson, 27, graduated in 2003 with degrees in French and computer science, combining the majors because he wasn't sure whether a French degree alone would provide many career options.
Now he works in the international division of Yum! Brands Inc. as a technology specialist. He said he uses his French only a couple of times a month, but he said knowing the French culture helps him remember that each country has different customs and ways of doing business.
His supervisor, Bob Scoggan, said Hutcherson's language skills weren't required for the job and didn't net him more pay.
But Scoggan said Hutcherson was hired into the international division because of them, and he is more likely to be tapped for overseas work than other employees.
