The study of foreign languages is not just learning about speaking the language. Linguistics, literature, and culture of that language are a very important educational piece. The ability to speak another language fluently and understanding the culture can be an asset in today's global society.   Employment opportunities exist in many career fields for students that are proficient with a foreign language.

Listed below is a small sampling of the varied careers that require a second language. Click on the career area for a list of occupations:

Arts, Media, Entertainment

• Artist
• International Art Dealer
• International Art Historian
• Musician
• Recording Specialist in Multilingual Music
• Singer - Multilingual
• Journalist
• Film Producer
• Foreign/Overseas correspondent

Business

• Advertising Copywriter
• Advertising Manager
• Bilingual Clerks
• Business Executives
• Fashion Buyers
• Finance Director
• Financial Planning Associate
• Hotel Manager
• Importer/Exporter
• Income Tax Consultants
• International Account Manager
• International Agency Staff
• International Business Manager
• International Buyer
• International Consultant
• International Lawyer
• International Sales Representative
• International Trade Economist
• International Trade Specialist
• Market Researcher
• Multi-Lingual Port Receptionist
• Overseas Personnel Manager
• Overseas Plant Manager
• Paralegal
• Patent Attorneys
• Personnel Manager
• Production Supervisor
• Public Relations Expert
• Quality Control Supervisor
• Receptionists, Secretaries, and Sales Personnel
• Specialists for Import/Export firms
• Textbook Representative/Sales
• Transport Equipment Manager
• U.S. Representative for Foreign Companies
• Technical Writer/Translator

Communications

• Advertising for Ethnic or Foreign Markets
• Editors for University and other Presses
• Film Production and Entertainment Media
• Filmmaker
• Foreign Correspondent
• Foreign News Photographer
• International Communications
• International Radio Correspondent
• International Telephone Operator
• International Teletype Operator
• International TV Correspondent Media Specialist
• Newspaper Correspondent, Foreign Desk
• Simultaneous Interpreter
• Translator of Books, Articles, and Review

Education

• Bilingual Educator
• Teacher
• Foreign Student Advisor
• Overseas teaching for private corporations/schools
• Overseas teaching for diplomats' families
• TESO/ESL Teacher
• Textbook authors or editors
• University Professor

Finance

• Accountant in ethnic communities
• Bilingual Teller
• Banking Correspondent
• Bank Officer
• International Banking Officer
• International Finance Consultant

Government

• Bilingual Staff in Federal Agencies (e.g. Social Security, Red Cross, etc.)
• Court Interpreter
• Cultural Attaché
• Cultural Officer
• Diplomatic Corps
• Foreign Consul
• Foreign Diplomat
• Foreign Exchange Trader
• Foreign Service Officer
• Foreign Service Peacekeeping
• Foreign Service Specialist
• Foreign Service Officer
• Immigration/Customs Official
• Intelligence Officer
• Intelligence Researcher
• Intelligence Specialist
• Interpreter
• Linguist
• National Security Agent Negotiator
• Peace Corps Volunteer
• Peace Corps Worker Representative
• U.S. Customs Agent
• U.S. Naturalization Service Agent
• U.S. Postal Service
• UNESCO Official
• VISTA Volunteer

Information Services

• Classifiers of foreign documents
• Copywriter
• Editor
• Librarian
• Library Acquisition Specialist
• Library Technician
• Publishing Specialist
• Research Librarian
• Translator of Foreign Publications in Libraries

Medicine

• Botanical Medicine Specialist
• Doctors working with minority population
• Emergency Medicin
• Health Services Hospital Management
• Hospital Admissions
• Laboratory Technician
• Nurses working with minority populations
• Nursing and Medicine in Ethnic Communities
• Pharmaceutical
• Studying or practicing medicine overseas
• Tropical Disease Specialist

Science

• Archaeologist
• Museum Curator
• Researcher
• Scientific Interpreter
• Scientific Linguist
• Scientific research and translating
• Scientific Translator
• Technical liaison for U.S. businesses operating in a foreign country

Service Work

• Missionary
• Overseas medical or agricultural worker missions
• Bible Translators
• International vocational missionary
• Peace Corps Volunteer
• Vocational missionary to US minority groups
• Social Worker

Social Services

• Bilingual Police Officer
• Bilingual Social Worker
• Case Worker
• Civil Service Employee
• Court Interpreter
• Fire Fighter
• Foreign Social Worker
• Human Resources Director
• Immigration Counselor
• International Police Officer
• Law Enforcement Officer
• Multilingual Defense Attorneys
• Nursing in ethnic communities
• Public Assistance Interviewer
• Social Work Specialist

Travel/Tourism

• Airline Flight Attendants
• Airport Personnel
• Foreign Travel Advisor
• Hotel and Resort Staff Manager
• International Conference Planner
• Restaurant Staff Manager
• Tourist Guide
• Travel Agent
• Travel Writer

*Adapted from Harding University, Arkansas