Where are all the Jobs?: Bilingual? 3 Ways to Showcase Your Skills to Employers

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Bilingual? 3 Ways to Showcase Your Skills to Employers | Career Rocketeer

Bilingual? 3 Ways to Showcase Your Skills to Employers

Posted: 20 May 2011 03:30 AM PDT

For most of us, showing off skills to potential employers is tough when everyone seems to have the same ones. However, speaking another language fluently is one of the few skills that won't be discounted just because a lot of people can do it.
Bilingualism is a coveted skill in any industry since speaking another language can do more than help you get around another country. It can also help you land a job. So, if you have the good fortune of knowing more than one language, here's how you can showcase your talent to potential employers:
Emphasize your skills. Speaking another language fluently is one of the best skills you can have apart from knowing the ins and outs of your industry. Emphasize your skills by promoting them on your social networking sites, particularly LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a fantastic resource for any job seeker because you can do so much more with it than just a regular resume.
For example, it may be a good idea to have two sections in your profile, one in English and one in the language of your choice. So, if you are fluent in French, complete your biography section first in English and then translate it to French. Emphasizing your skills in this way may be a good idea since it could catch the eye of the recruiter or hiring manager looking for a bilingual candidate.
Start a bilingual blog. Apart from emphasizing your skills on LinkedIn, you should think about using your talent to further separate yourself from the crowd, like starting a bilingual blog. Why would this be an effective tool? Well, you actually exhibit your talent beyond just translation and show interest in using the language through another coveted skill, blogging. Combining the two will give the employer an updated portfolio piece that's unparalleled to any other.
Further, once you gain momentum with your bilingual blog, it will do more than just help you land a job. It can be a resource for other people who have the same skill as you, putting you on perhaps an unpredicted path to thought leadership.
Let employers know what you can do for them. In the job search, it's not about you. You may think it is, but really, it's about what the employer wants and what you can do for them. So, why not use your talent and cater it towards employers?
For example, if you are a native Spanish speaker and you know that your potential employer operates in South America, why not come up with a short plan to help expand production in the area? You could list ways you could personally assist management achieve these goals, emphasizing your knowledge of the language and culture. Even if your suggestions don't come to life, your efforts won't go unnoticed. In fact, they will be applauded since you showcased what you can do for an employer based on a skill you have proven.
How do you showcase your bilingual skills to employers?

Guest Expert:
James Alexander is Vizibility's founder and CEO. He's the guy with two first names. If you 'Googled' his name in 2009, you would never have found him. Now, he ranks within the first few results of a Google search. Find James in Google at vizibility.com/james.