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Advising & Registration

Careers in Foreign Languages

Areas of Concentration:

Careers in U.S. Government:

  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Teaching
  • Journalism/Broadcasting
  • Linguistics
  • Diplomacy
  • Civil Service
  • Foreign Service
  • Immigration/Naturalization
  • Armed Forces
  • Customs

U.S. Government Employers:

  • Overseas dependents' schools
  • Overseas aid agencies
  • Intelligence and law enforcement agencies
  • The Foreign Service
  • Armed forces
  • Library of Congress
  • United Nations
  • Voice of America

Preparation for U.S. Government Employment:

  • Learn federal, state, and local job application procedures
  • Plan to attend a specialized school that teaches foreign languages
  • Join armed forces as a way to get experience

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Careers in Arts, Media, Entertainment:

  • Advertising
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Journalism/Broadcasting
  • Publishing/Editing

Arts, Media, Entertainment Employers:

  • Museums
  • Foreign news agencies
  • Book publishers
  • Hotels, motels, restaurants
  • TV networks/radio stations
  • Film companies

Preparation for Employment in Arts, Media, Entertainment:

  • Learn about the customs and culture of the country in which your language of study is primarily spoken, possibly by spending time in that country
  • Read international newspapers to keep up with developments overseas

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Careers in Industry and Commerce:

  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Customs
  • Banking
  • Secretarial Services
  • Sales/Customer Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Market Research
  • Consulting
  • Imports/Exports

Industry and Commerce Employers:

  • Banks, finance-related institutions
  • Import/export companies
  • Foreign firms operating in the U.S.
  • American firms operating in foreign countries
  • Manufacturers
  • Retail/department stores

Preparation for Industry and Commerce Employment:

  • Find out which companies do business with the countries in which your language of study is spoken
  • Consult resources such as:
    • Directory of Foreign Firms Operation in the U.S.
    • Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries
    • American Register of Exporters and Importers
  • Supplement coursework with business classes

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Careers in Travel and Tourism:

  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Airline Services
  • Hospitality Industry

Travel and Tourism Employers:

  • Tour companies
  • Travel agencies
  • Hotels, motels, restaurants
  • Airlines/airports
  • Cruise lines

Preparation for Employment in Travel and Tourism:

  • Take courses in hotel/restaurant administration
  • Get a part-time job in a hotel or restaurant to gain experience
  • Spend some time abroad to learn the traditions of fine dining, wines, etc.
  • Brush up on your knowledge of geography
  • Contact airline headquarters to call the Future Aviation Professionals of America (1-800-JET-JOBS) to find employment opportunities
  • Plan to attend a travel school
  • Develop office skills such as typing, organizing, and working with computers
  • Read international newspapers to keep up with overseas developments

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Scientific and Professional Careers:

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Library Science

Scientific and Professional Employers:

  • Corporate and research libraries
  • School and public libraries
  • Hospitals/laboratories
  • Foreign firms operating in the U.S.
  • American firms operating in foreign countries

Preparation for Scientific and Professional Employment:

  • Develop good oral and written communication skills
  • Look into M.L.S. Programs (Master's degree in Library Science)
  • Develop clerical skills such as typing and organizing
  • Work on computer skills
  • Read newspapers and magazines to keep up with world events

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Service and Education Careers:

  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Teaching
  • Educational Administration
  • Linguistics
  • Civil Service
  • Social Work
  • Library Science
  • Health Services

Service and Education Employers:

  • Hospitals
  • Religious and volunteer organizations
  • International organizations
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Social service agencies
  • Universities/colleges
  • Pre-schools
  • K-12 schools
  • Professional language schools
  • English language institutes

Preparation for Service and Education Employment:

  • Learn state certification process for teaching
  • Develop superior written and oral communication skills in the English language including proper sentence structure and comprehensive vocabulary
  • Notify local hospitals, schools, and chambers of commerce of your availability to translate or interpret for international visitors
  • Minor or double major in another subject that you could also teach
  • Investigate teaching English in another country

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