Being bilingual opens you up to way more employment opportunities. Companies across Canada are on the hunt for proficient bilingual/multi-lingual employees. In a competitive job market, graduates are always looking for a way to stand out. Being fluent in another language can definitely help. Read on to get the low down on the bilingual job market.
So, Who’s Bilingual?
Canada’s Cultural Mosaic…
There are tons of languages heard everyday across Canada, but only English, French and certain aboriginal languages are recognized as ‘official’. But, about 5 million Canadians list an ‘unofficial’ language as their first language.
The question remains, what are the top languages used besides English and French?
The Three Most Known Languages Other than English or French: National Canada
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Chinese: 3.5% of the population or 1,028,440
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Italian: 2.3% of the population or 680,970
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German 2.1% of the population of 635,520
With such a beautifully diverse country, Canada definitely has a lot to offer bilingual job seekers. Here’s how to find and get the bilingual job of your dreams
Let the Search Begin
Marijke Kanters, Managing Director at Nevian Consulting & Placement Services, says bilingual job seekers should look for, "Any type of positions where there is some type of client contact. That could be from technical support to customer service, to administration, coordination, marketing, translation etc. Look for any junior to mid level management positions. I’m finding that the higher level management usually already has their people in place." Chantal LeBel, Manager, Bilingual Division at Bryan, Jason & Associates, also says that she’s seeing a demand right now in property management and retail operations.
Companies to Target
Marijke says that bilingual people can, "Really work in pretty much every industry across the board." But, she adds that the types of companies that will most likely always be in need of bilingual employees are large multi-national corporations, large financial institutions, and national associations. So, keep your eye out for those!
For a full list of specific companies hiring Bilingual people (Guide of Companies) see: bilinguallink.com
How to Really ‘Sell’ Yourself as Bilingual
How you represent yourself on your resume can mean the difference between getting a call for an interview and never hearing back. Chantal says to really sell yourself as bilingual on your resume it’s important to, "Make sure to indicate the language they speak and write at the beginning of their resume. Also, make sure to have bilingual in front of any current or previous positions they’ve had. It’s important to also indicate any courses they’ve taken and the level achieved. Under work experience, mention how they use the languages and who they dealt with."
Must-Visit Bilingual Job Boards:
1. Bilingual Jobs Canada – bilingualjobboard.com
2. Bilingual Career – bilingualcareer.com
3. Nevian Consulting and Placement Services - nevian.com
4. Bryan, Jason & Associates Inc. – bryan-jason.ca
5. BilingualOne- bilingualone.ca
6. Bilingual Link- bilinguallink.com
SOURCES:
- http://english.bilinguallink.com/pages.asp?muidx=1993&menu=Guide+of+Companies (list of companies hiring bilingual employees)
- http://www.patrimoinecanadien.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/pubs/census2001/2_e.cfm
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