How Foreign Language Skills Help MBAs

 

For job seekers, knowing a foreign language helps you and your CV stand out amongst the crowd. Why are so many companies looking for bilingual job candidates? Many of them are expanding their operations beyond the US, and are looking for people who can communicate with their non-English speaking clients and employees. Global expansion is expected to occur more frequently, since US companies will need to partner with companies in the BRIC countries (where tech development has increased) in order to stay competitive in industries such as aircraft and green energy. Foreign language skills can build the relationships that lead to these partnerships. Knowing a foreign language is particularly helpful if you work for a company that's based in another country, you work for a company that's doing business abroad, or if you manage employees who do not speak English as their first language.

 

If aspire to be a global manager, speaking a second language will give you a much better sense of proper business communications within another country's culture. Not only does a second language help you communicate better with people of other cultures, it also makes you a more effective communicator in your own language. In addition, studying another language gives you a much better understanding of other cultures, ideas, and values. This understanding, as well as a demonstrated appreciation of another culture, can help you as you do business overseas.

 

For example, if you study German, you'll learn that business is more formal in Germany than it is in the US; a handshake signals that a business deal has just been made and missing a deadline is considered out of the question. The farther you get from your home country, the bigger the differences in business culture.

You don't need to be fluent in a second language to reap the benefits. In terms of knowing about cultural differences, knowing another language gives you insight into the ways you could potentially offend people. To clients, speaking another language, even imperfectly, signals that you made an effort to understand their culture and language. Even a short conversation can go a long way toward building customer relationships, which in turn can help you build your career. Speaking another language can also help you build your soft skills, since it allows you to greet and meet with clients. Speaking another language allows clients to see you in another, more positive light, which helps you keep those clients.

 

Even if you use a translator, speaking another language is still an asset. It can help you identify mistranslations, and pick up on things people are saying that they don't think you understand.

 

Higher salaries are another potential benefit of knowing a second language. According to a 2010 Guardian article, knowing a foreign language can increase your salary by 10% to 15%.

 

As an MBA, knowing a foreign language will help you if you go on an international trip, something that is becoming a requirement at more and more MBA programs, or intern overseas. It also makes you globally savvy -- a quality that more employers have come to expect from MBA job candidates. More employers expect MBAs to speak multiple languages and work overseas. In fact, travelling overseas is often a pre-requisite for working in an advanced management position. If you choose to pursue a marketing career, understanding another language will help you better market products overseas.