When looking to get ahead in the job search, many students will consider their additional skills and talents. At BU, there are many students with experience in a language other than English, whether from high school classes, completing CAS requirements, or because English was your second (or more!) language. Here are a few tips on how to best communicate the value of those skills during your job search.
1. Include your language skills on your resume
Even beginner-level language skills demonstrate a commitment to learning and an awareness of another culture. Check out this blog post for tips on how to list your language skills on a resume.
2. Highlight language-based stories on your resume and cover letter
Moving beyond the skills section of your resume, consider experiences where you were able to use your language skills. Study abroad, exchange programs, working with a local community in your target language. All of those experiences show deep examples of you using your language outside of the classroom.
3. Relate your language skills to the job you are applying for
In the cover letter and interviews, make sure the connection between your language skills and the job you are applying for are clear. Sometimes this can be obvious, such as if the ability to speak that language is required. Other times you may need to draw connections about how your language training has provided you with transferable skills. Learning a new language requires a long-term commitment to learning, cultural competency, and communication skills. All of these are skills that employers want to see regardless of the job title.
Not every job is going to ask you to be fluent in an additional language. But if that is a skill you have, communicating both the concrete and the transferable skills that you have gained along the way can help enhance your job applications.
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