sp2008

How useful is knowing a foreign language when applying for a business position?

If it is useful, would knowing 3 foreign languages distinguish oneself much more than knowing just 1 or 2?

I want to pursue some career in business that utilizes foreign languages and international travel. I'm fluent in Japanese and I want to study Chinese. (I'm Caucasian, if that matters.) I've been toying with the idea of learning Hindi or continuing Spanish. I love languages, so it wouldn't be too difficult for me.

I really would like to learn Hindi, but not if there isn't any benefit that outweighs the ongoing effort of sustaining fluency. Plus, I could use those elective credits to learn something else in college.

VectorWega

Knowing multiple languages is going to give you more options. Companies (generally) hire based on need. If they need someone that can speak Japanese, then you will be a good candidate for that job, but they probably aren't going to pay you any more because you know Chinese and Spanish.

However, if you are good at picking up languages, then definitely do so. This will increase your job prospects and give you an opportunity at jobs with few competing applicants. For example, you may be competing with 30+ students from your school for certain jobs. However, if a job comes up that requires Japanese, and you are the only one in your class that speaks that fluently, then you may have no competition and the company will likely pay a premium for that skill.

pcristiani

I think spanish would be wayyy more useful than hindi..

Japanese and Chinese are good for business too

chewygooey91

hindi is a good language to take as india is climbing up on the economic ladder. Chinese and Japanese work well too.

Gil

they speak very good english in India, so no, hindi would not be a good language if all you want is to make business with indians.

Calcruzer

Considering the fastest growing economies right now are in China, Russia, and Brazil, I'd say one should consider Chinese, Russian, and Portuguese.

And let's not forget all the Middle East countries and the way they are spending their money on new infrastructure. Farsi or Arabic would probably rank 4th on my list.

GlueEater

I don't know, it seems like much of the middle east is going to collapse when the oil runs out...

VectorWega

Oil won't "run out" in our lifetimes. Aside from that, if supply decreases at a faster rate than demand (which is still increasing) then oil prices will go up.

GlueEater

Well from the figures and projections I've seen it's about 50 to 75 years away, though environmental groups like to push the 20-30 figure. No doubt the prices will go up with the increasing demand. I'm saying, at some point there will be no supply left.

VectorWega

Oil will essentially become too expensive to ever actually run out. In other words, if the supply got that small, the price would be too expensive for the masses to use.

Aside from that, when the price goes up, it becomes economically viable to get oil via more expensive means, which effectively increases the amount of oil available for use. We are seeing this right now with the oil being collected up in Canada and it's why areas of the country like West Texas are booming.

aj16

I strongly suggest you dont study Hindi

I am born and brought up in India and let me tell you that corporate india barely uses or needs Hindi in any work-related task. Almost everyone in the business world here speak ONLY English. I know of so many corporate leaders who can barely string together works in out national laguage.
Despite the fact that Hindi is out national laguage, India IS an english speaking country.

So unless your genuinely interested in Hindi, I suggest you dont spend much time actually studying it.
Languages like Spanish, Chinese/Japanese, German/French would be more useful.