1. Intelligence Officer

We’ve all seen spy movies where people work mysteriously and make secretive phone calls in dark offices. Well, all that glamour and action may not be realistic. But government intelligence roles can be hugely exciting and challenging. They involve a variety of roles like fieldwork, analysis and STEM roles. Your language skills will be vital to collecting, translating and analysing data. Plus, you will get many opportunities to travel to other countries.

Language specialists within the UK government earn more than £30k. They also receive extensive training and support. So if you don’t want just any old mundane job but dream of some mystery and excitement, then an intelligence role would be perfect for you.

2. Aid Worker

If you have a passion for helping people, then getting involved with an aid organisation or NGO like UNICEF and the Red Cross is ideal for you. Charities set up projects all over the world. So having bilingual employees is pretty essential. Being able to speak multiple languages helps when doing ground work in developing countries. It is also useful within office based roles.

By working for an aid organisation, you will not only have a very rewarding job role helping disadvantaged people. But you will also have the opportunity to travel and witness the positive impact of the work first hand.

3. Flight Attendant

You may not have thought about it when you’ve gone on holiday before. However, for anyone working in the air transport industry, speaking more than one language is a very useful skill. Especially for flight attendants who interact with a cohort of very international people.

With the increase in air travel and more competition between airlines, offering high quality customer service is very important. Therefore, airlines are seeking out bilinguals to employ. In 2018, thetravel.com reported that airlines were prioritising applicants who spoke French, German, Italian, Japanese and/or Mandarin. All of which are taught by our expert tutors at Learn&Co. If you’re a people person and enjoy customer service and travelling, then definitely look into becoming a flight attendant.

4. Translator

This pretty obvious career path for bilinguals is not as easy as it may sound. Being a translator requires strong writing skills and knowledge of the specific field you’re working in. It’s the perfect opportunity for bilinguals to combine a passion for a specific subject/field with their ability to speak two languages. For example, if you love classical literature and speak French, then you can translate famous works such as The Three Musketeers and Les Misérables.

With more businesses expanding globally, the need for translators is constantly growing. Translators are required in almost every field to translate important documents and literature. This includes places like hospitals, universities and law firms. Moreover, the employment of translators and interpreters is expected to grow 20% from 2019 to 2029, so you are highly likely to find yourself a job in this field.

5. Interpreter

Contrary to the popular misconception, interpretation and translation are very different things! Translation involves the written word. Whereas interpreting is about spoken language, and is arguably more difficult. You have to use your cultural knowledge and understanding of colloquial expressions in order to interpret conversations efficiently and accurately.

Because the world is becoming more interconnected and countries are becoming multicultural, interpreters are required in every sector. You could find yourself working for the police, legal courts, in a corporate company or for an aid organisation. Interpreting can be a challenging job, but it keeps you on your toes and can involve travelling around the world.

6. Teacher

This may seem like the most obvious career path for bilingual people, but it is an incredibly diverse and rewarding career to be in. Language teachers can range from being a school teacher in a classroom to doing private or online tuition that is flexible and allows for remote working and travelling. If you have a nurturing nature and enjoy working with students, then being a classroom teacher is a great way to utilise your skills. It gives you the chance to pass on your passion for languages to a new generation.

Alternatively, becoming a private tutor for a company like Learn&Co provides a freedom and flexibility not offered within a school environment. Our tutors support students at the beginning of their language learning journey. They have a very rewarding role helping them thrive and grow within their studies.

Bilingual teachers are in demand everywhere. So having a teaching qualification in languages could be your golden ticket to travel the world, and you’ll never be short of a job.

7. Customer Service Representative

Don’t worry, I’m not talking about working on the checkouts at Tesco here. I’m talking specifically about roles within the hospitality, tourism and sales industry. Being bilingual makes you highly desirable for international companies that communicate with customers from all over the world. You may be working within a hotel, for a travel agency or as a marketing manager. Regardless, being able to speak multiple languages will make you stand out and is incredibly useful within the industry.

If you’re thinking bigger and want to work your way up the career ladder, then working as a marketing director could be a great option. Minority groups continue to rise in buying power. As a result, companies need marketing directors that can communicate and understand non-English clients. So, being bilingual is an asset to any company.

8. Online Content Creator (blogs, vlogs and podcasts)

To finish off the list of 8 best careers for bilingual people, is probably the newest and most non traditional career path on the list. However, it’s a rapidly growing industry. If you like getting creative and don’t mind putting yourself on the internet, then working as an online content creator is great for you. Sharing your language learning journey online with other like minded people will not only inspire others and act as a creative outlet for you. But it can also make you some good money!

The main benefit of being an online content creator is that you are your own boss, and can do whatever you want whenever you want. This flexibility means you could travel whilst working. Or do it as a “side hustle” to your regular job. In our modern world, social media and the internet is incredibly important. Thus, making a career online is a smart move.

So, have you found your dream job after reading the 8 best careers for bilingual people? Being able to speak more than one language is a truly valuable skill. It will benefit you in whatever career you decide to pursue. In our ever growing and interconnected world, being bilingual is an asset and makes you highly desirable to any company. Use your language abilities to your advantage. Find a job where you can utilise your skills in order to have a truly fulfilling and rewarding career.