The "language" of getting a job

By Matt Guerriero, Campus representative, University of Pittsburgh

The knowledge of more than one language can be a huge advantage for students applying for jobs. Schools in general are putting a large emphasis on learning foreign languages because the world is constantly changing. As more diverse ethnic groups appear in the world, there is a need to understand different languages. This is very important in the business world because an employee might have business relations with individuals or companies from different countries throughout the world. To increase the probability of understanding another language, many schools are allowing children to start learning foreign languages as early as 6 weeks old. Enrolling in a school like this would allow the children to have huge advantages over other students because it is much easier to learn a new language at a young age. Beth Walton from USA TODAY writes:

Not only is learning a foreign language easier for children than it is for adults, but children who are exposed to other languages also do better in school, score higher on standardized tests, are better problem solvers and are more open to diversity, says François Thibaut, who runs The Language Workshop for Children, which has nine schools around the East Coast.

I wish I would have known about a school like this when I was young because I would have signed up immediately. I have been taking Spanish classes since middle school, but this would have given me an advantage over other students. This applies to business students that have an interest in international relations. Speaking and understanding another language such as Spanish, Chinese, or Italian can make a candidate more appealing to an employer. Knowing another language could be the one thing that differentiates one person from another. I recommend learning another language because it can provide such a benefit in the workplace and can be a lifelong skill.