The capacity to speak a few languages gives career seekers a valuable advantage in today’s job market. Customer Service, Call Centre, Account Executives, Human Resources, Credit and Collections, Project Management, Financial Analysts, Administrative, Reception, Order Desk staff could gain up to 8-10% salary increase in certain companies if they are bilingual workers.

A bilingual/Multilingual worker in Ireland is a person employed to use their language skills in English and another language/languages with a linguistic proficiency in two/more languages appropriate to the function of their position who also understands and shares the values of the background of the community they are employed to work with. 

If you are a bilingual job seeker, you have reached a special status that makes you a valuable asset to employers. Bilingual workers are recognised world wide as workers with exceptional skills. Lots of recruitment agencies place candidates with demonstrated fluency in two or more languages in a variety of challenging positions with companies who appreciate ability and flexibility, whether you are looking for temporary, temp-to-perm, or full-time opportunities.
 
Within the literature there are three main types of bilingual workers: interpreters and translators, ethno-specific workers and bilingual staff.

The difference between ethno-specific workers and bilingual staff lies in the role they undertake, where the ethno-specific workers do not undertake direct roles but act as internal consultants and are usually involved in community advocacy for a specific language group.

Generally there is a good understanding of when it is appropriate to use interpreters, but there are many situations identified where arranging a professional interpreter is not possible, or doesn’t meet the needs of the client. For example, the time that some bilingual workers spend with clients e.g. nurse, attendant carer, customer’s service representative, travel consultant can provide them a relationship advantage over an interpreter, such as a calming or reassuring role.

Bilingual staff is a valuable asset to the business-social system at all levels of language proficiency. Social language proficiency can be used to help clients feel better, to provide information, to increase dialogue with the client to meet their needs more effectively.

In some roles a bilingual worker performs two communication roles:

1. Direct one-to-one encounter with a client who speaks the same language; Examples of that are a translator, sales personnel, customer service assistant, language teacher, multilingual counsellor, receptionist, information provider, travel agent, community development officers, or even case management personnel who focus on clients from the same ethnic background, or may undertake joint case management, or consultation with other staff or be involved in community education or families support, etc. In this role, the worker is explicitly recruited for both their bilingual and other relevant professional skills. Their language ability is not always incidental or preferred but a core component of their employment.
2. Three-way encounter between provider, client and bilingual worker. An example of that is the interpreter or ‘language facilitator’ these may be employees who use their second language to assist in the communication between English-speaking employees and clients who have difficulty communicating in English in either a face-to-face or a telephone enquiry.

There are bilingual workers who have been employed as group educators and information providers. In this role workers are hired as community educators and are recruited for their bilingual skills then trained in both presentation and content by their employer or contracting agency. Within this position the bilingual workers are not required to interpret and are provided with written material to support their presentations. The bilingual educator’s task is to transfer the information they learn in training into a ‘culturally’ effective format for their community. However, the bilingual educators must uphold the values of the organisation and may not omit information. In these roles the English language, proficiency and ethnic identity of the bilingual worker are the main priority.

There are some examples of where the ethnic identity of the bilingual worker is a critical factor.
Example is bilingual community facilitator, which may work in different areas with the specific roles but picked up to work because they are recognised as leaders in their own ethnic communities and may influence or educate people within them. In this role the English language is a not main factor. Proficiency and network are the main factors. Another example here is bilingual workers who work for community guide programmes and employed to work intensively with families who have entered the country. Their role is to engage newly-arrived refugees in social and education services. The people employed are often refugees themselves and so have an empathy with the client group. In this role the English language proficiency is a non critical factor. Proficiency and ethnic identity are critical factors.

Make this the turning point in your life. Who knows where it could lead? Once you are confident in one more language you could be starting a new high paid job or have the ability to be in charge of over 100 people and a rig, or travel around the world within a few years and get paid for this a massive wage, what more could you dream about?

The Benefit of being bilingual:

• Has a positive effect on intellectual growth.
• Enriches and enhances a mental development.
• Encourages flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening.
• Gives a you the ability to communicate with people you would otherwise not have the chance to know.
• Opens the door to other cultures and helps you understand and appreciate people from other countries.
• If you decided to study, gives you a head start in language requirements for college.
• Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.
• For an immigrant to Ireland knowing the English language gives more possibilities to get a well paid job with a salary increase of twice, three times or much more.