It is often a common belief that in this day and age, the only education that truly matters is a scientific one. After all, the world today needs all the physicists, engineers, and IT specialists that it can get. The reality is somewhat different. While it’s true that all of the STEM jobs mentioned above are in high demand, so are the linguistically talented professionals. In fact, the career choices for such individuals are almost equally diverse as those for science and math oriented students.
No matter how advanced our society will become and what new frontiers it will conquer, languages and those capable of mastering them will always be necessary. These days, this need can be reflected in numerous career choices available. Career choices include personal interpreters, document translation, foreign language teaching, copywriting, and even opportunities in academia.
Read on and discover the wealth of options available to those fascinated by languages!
Personal Interpreting
This is one of the most lucrative careers that many who have an interest in languages pursue. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a native speaker of the language you are interpreting! It is enough that you possess a high level of fluency in it and can translate in such a way that the meaning is conveyed without any ambiguity whatsoever.
It is not uncommon for personal interpreters to make anywhere from $25 dollars an hour, all the way up to $100. This can depend on experience and demand. That being said, business entities will always need to search for financial translation services, or legal ones. There should always be a demand for personal interpreters and translators.
If you are capable of holding business meetings and conferences, your earning potential will skyrocket. This has to do with the fact that such jobs are often quite time-consuming and highly stressful. Most personal interpreters nowadays have college degrees in various fields, including linguistics, education, or even business administration.
Many also have a master’s degree in Translation or Interpretation. Having an interpreter’s license can give you a competitive advantage over other candidates as well. In fact, some companies prefer to hire interpreters with such licenses because they ensure the quality of service.
Document Translation
Another great one of the many career choices for those with an interest in language is a document translator. The translation industry is thriving and highly competitive. This means that you will have to work hard in order to distinguish yourself from the rest of the applicants.
There are many types of documents, including legal documents, technical documentation, medical records, contracts, and various others. If you only have an interest in translating, there are some companies that will hire you for part-time work. Document translation is also one of the best side gigs that can help you earn money on the side.
However, if you want a full-time job, you will have to become a member of an accredited association. Such membership will allow you to advertise your services, receive more assignments, and consequently, make more money.
Foreign Language Teaching
If you do not have an interest in being a translator or interpreter, feel free to choose this path! Foreign language teaching is one of the many great career choices for those who love languages.
While you won’t be able to make as much money as either of these professions, it is still possible to be financially fit by becoming a teacher. There are many countries around the world that need native speakers to teach their children the local language.
These jobs are usually well-paid and offer a good insight into the local culture. So, if you like traveling and want to meet new people every few months, this job is perfect for you!
Copywriting
Copywriting is a very versatile profession – you can practice this skill in many different industries. If you’re fluent in several languages, you can use them to write advertisements, sales letters, brochures, etc.
Most clients prefer copywriters who can speak the target language because it makes communication easier.
Copywriting jobs can be relatively secure and well-paid. If you have an interest in this type of career, think about being a freelancer and cooperating with international companies whose products and services have to be advertised across the globe. If you do that well you will be able to make a decent living! Copywriting is one of the great career choices those interested in languages may want to pursue.
Academic Career
Finally, a career that you can pursue if you don’t want to be an interpreter or teacher is academic or research work. This can also include research career choices. If you are fluent in at least two languages, you can pursue a career as an academic researcher who specializes in exploring the various theoretical and practical aspects of the languages themselves!
In this case, you will need to attend graduate school and get a Ph.D. degree. This type of career might not be very lucrative, but it allows you to develop your skills and contribute to the world’s overall knowledge. Moreover, having a Ph.D. can be very beneficial later on when hunting for your next line of work.
There are a ton of research related jobs when it comes to languages. You can become a linguistic anthropologist, or even get a job working with a team of computer scientists working to develop artificial intelligence that utilizes speech recognition. One field in particular is natural language processing or NLP. This is a subfield of linguistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Professionals in this field research and test interactions between computers and human language, and how to program computers to be able to process natural language data.
The possibilities are endless.
Career Choices for Those Interested in Linguistics – Summary
These are some of the most common career choices for those who are linguistically talented and interested in the field. In all of these professions, you will need to have a high level of competence in at least one language and have a strong interest in languages and cultures.
However, your work won’t be limited to reading, writing, and speaking languages. That is why many people interested in this type of career choose to pursue a degree in Linguistics or Applied Linguistics so they can learn everything there is to know about language and communication.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, you’re free to choose the path that seems right to you! Good luck!
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