Being bilingual can make you a manager

Speaking the right languages can land you promotions

Speaking the right second language can make your job search much easier, but in some cases fluency can also be the fast-track to a promotion. Here are a handful of the many jobs where speaking a second language can spell success, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Construction

Being bilingual in construction is a handy skill, period. But if you want to get promoted to supervisor or foreman positions, being able to communicate in both Spanish and English is becoming vital in many parts of the country. This varies by location, but in many areas supervisors need to know Spanish and English in order to communicate with the employees they are supervising and their own manager. In addition to being generally fluent in Spanish and English, supervisors and foremen should to be able to communicate job site safety and trade instructions quickly in both languages – you won’t have time to pull out a dictionary when someone is violating a safety precaution.

Food Service

Supervisors who speak a foreign language are in demand for many quick-service and restaurant locations. Food service reaches a large and diverse percent of the population (either through employment, enjoyment or both); supervisors who can communicate with the staff, the management and the clients easily have a major advantage. The languages that will boost your food service job may be dependent on your location, the restaurant staff makeup, or the patrons. Look for restaurants with cuisine, staff or patrons that coincide with the language you speak, or simply add your language skill to your resume (and be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge during interviews).

Emergency Response

Police officers, detectives, EMTs, firefighters and other workers that deal with people in high-stress emergency situations can be especially valuable when they are bilingual. Those who have just dealt with a traumatic event aren’t likely to communicate very clearly to begin with. Imagine if none of the emergency responders speak their language on top of that? Getting a clear picture of what’s going on, what should be done and who does or doesn’t need help is going to be a huge challenge, and waste precious time. As an emergency response professional, knowing and speaking the popular second language in your area can supply some major job security and give you opportunities to advance your career.

You still need to be qualified, motivated and personable to get promoted, but being bilingual (in the right language) link to the right language for the job can allow you to more easily understand your coworkers, your customers and (if you play your cards right) your staff members.