| Two major factors fuel the increasing demand | | | | Therapisto Legal Assistanto Customer Service |
| for bilingual professionals in the U.S. First, Hispanics | | | | Representativeo Mortgage Call Center |
| now represent over twelve percent of the U.S. | | | | Representativeo Health care Professionalo Retail |
| population; their spending power has more than | | | | Sales Associateo Medical Office Assistanto Health |
| doubled in less than 20 years. Since customers | | | | Educatoro Counselor for Internationally Adopted |
| often prefer to do business with someone who | | | | Children |
| speaks their language, companies need bilingual | | | | Some positions address language and diversity |
| employees to communicate with their | | | | directly, such as diversity trainers, translators, and |
| Spanish-speaking customers. | | | | diplomats. In elementary and secondary education, |
| The second factor is the expansion of U.S. | | | | prospects for teachers in bilingual education are |
| companies into other countries. Companies in the | | | | particularly good as the number of |
| Standard & Poor's 500 Index earned 36% of | | | | non-English-speaking students increases. |
| their total revenues in foreign markets in | | | | It certainly is a plus to know more than 2 |
| November 2007. While the recent economic | | | | languages and there are some companies who will |
| downturn has slowed foreign revenues, overseas | | | | pay premium or provide extra pay for being |
| business is still a major force in the U.S. economy. | | | | bilingual. A variety of employment resources are |
| In the international marketplace, bilingual | | | | available who eagerly assist bilingual professionals |
| executives help their companies acquire and | | | | and connect them with companies who seek |
| develop new markets and build global presence. | | | | bilinguals. Many small businesses as well as Fortune |
| Their language fluency and cultural sensitivity | | | | 500 companies are looking for qualified bilingual |
| contribute to bridging the differences between the | | | | professionals. Job fairs and numerous career |
| countries. | | | | websites specialize in the employment of bilinguals |
| Which industries are seeking bilingual employees? | | | | who speak English and other languages. They may |
| Financial institutions are among the largest | | | | specialize in Hispanic or Asian languages or act as |
| employers seeking bilingual professionals. The | | | | a central clearinghouse for hiring speakers of any |
| insurance, consumer products, and health care | | | | language. |
| industries also employ large numbers of bilinguals, | | | | Companies that succeed in integrating a diverse, |
| as does the U.S. government, particularly the | | | | multi-lingual global workforce stand by their |
| Department of State, Census Bureau, and Social | | | | commitment to treating everyone with dignity |
| Security Administration. Non-profit organizations | | | | and respect. They hold diversity training and |
| that serve non-English speaking people in the U.S. | | | | foster communications about cultural awareness |
| or work in foreign countries also need workers | | | | and differences. Once word gets out that a |
| who speak more than one language. | | | | company places a high value on diversity, the |
| What type of positions can you expect to find on | | | | company will automatically attract a multi-lingual |
| the market? | | | | workforce. |
| Jobs for bilingual professionals span all industries | | | | Bilingual professionals are in high demand at all |
| and levels. While positions in sales/marketing and in | | | | levels in most industries. In the increasingly global |
| operations dominate, recent job openings include a | | | | economy, organizations need people who speak |
| wide variety of jobs, including:o General Store | | | | more than one language to bridge language and |
| Managero Insurance Claims Adjustero Editoro HIV | | | | communications differences. |
| Testing and Outreach Coordinatoro Family | | | | |