Despite the fact that a lack of foreign language skills could be costing the UK economy up to £48 billion each year, many top level candidates are still finding it hard to kick start their linguistic careers.

There are a diverse range of foreign language jobs in the UK. Just a quick look at our jobs page and you’ll see we’re currently looking for a German-speaking sales manager, a Dutch-speaking customer support executive and Swedish-speaking market researchers, so there are plenty of jobs out there, you just need to know where to look…

Specialist language job recruiters

Generalist recruiters tend to shy away from language jobs because they do not always have the skills in-house to accurately test the candidate’s language proficiency. A ‘basic’, ‘intermediate’ and ‘advanced’ tick box simply doesn’t cut it when you’re recruiting for foreign language jobs.

That’s why you’ll usually find the best range of well-paid language jobs at specialist language recruiters like Linguistica Recruitment. All our candidates must complete written and spoken language tests to ensure the highest level of candidates for our clients, and the right type of job for you.

Picking the right role

The current skills shortage in the UK means  there are a whole host of positions available for foreign language speakers with the right level of experience. As with any job search, it’s essential you not only have the necessary language skills, but also the experience and core competencies to fill the role. Whilst this might seem obvious, it’s amazing how many people apply for a foreign language job, such as a German Marketing Manager, without having any previous experience in marketing.

Of course, you should also make sure your language skills meet the requirements of the job. If you have an intermediate ability in French, you would not be suitable for a role as an English to French translator or interpreter. As a general rule, if you couldn’t handle a face-to-face interview for the job in the target language, you probably shouldn’t apply.

Employers looking to fill a foreign language position will generally require a fluency in that language. Millions of Brits have GCSEs or A Levels in a European language, but that level of proficiency is not sufficient for a foreign language job.

Quick tips for conducting your foreign language job search

Here are six quick tips to help in your foreign language job search:

• Make sure you upload your CV to Linguistica Recruitment and other specialist language recruitment agencies
• Take a look at the language job boards online
• Conduct an online search for jobs in your chosen language, skill type and location. For example, enter the search term: ‘French speaking finance workers in London’
• Use social media to find suitable language roles (LinkedIn and Twitter are probably your best bet)
• Use Google to search for companies with an international presence that you’d like to work for. Then take a look at the careers section on their website for details of their current vacancies.

Still struggling to find foreign language jobs in the UK? Just get in touch with the friendly team at Linguistica Recruitment who will be more than happy to help.