Careers in languages
Choosing a major
Why major in a language? Below are articles describing the personal and academic value of learning languages:
Developing skills
The skills you acquire at UFV in a language are highly applicable to many different careers, and include the following:
- Gain receptive (listening and reading) and productive skills (speaking and writing) in another language
- Interact with others fluently in another language
- Analyze, interpret, and present information
- Adapt more easily to other cultures
- Communicate with people from diverse backgrounds
- Learn and apply linguistic rules
- Listen, respond, and record information accurately
- Formulate thoughts and ideas in another language
- Think critically and sift through relevant information
Discovering your career
Studying language can lead to a range of exciting careers, such as:
- Language teacher
- Translator
- Government worker
- Editor
- Tour consultant
- International marketer
- International aid worker
- Airline service
- Foreign or civil public service
- Communication specialist
- International development
- International education specialist
- Official language monitor
- Immigration office
- Import/export specialist
- Freelance writer
Career exploration tools
Informational interviews
The informational interview is a research tool that you can use to find out more by talking to people in a specific occupation or career area.
CareerLink
Sign up to UFV's CareerLink to receive career event updates and emails from the Career Centre. You can also check their website for career event updates.
LinkedIn Alumni tool
Gathered from the profiles of more than 200 million members, LinkedIn’s Alumni tool helps you explore alumni career paths from more than 22,000 colleges and universities worldwide — and build relationships that can help you along the way.
Acquiring professional experience
While you study, there are a variety of ways you can gain work experience and enhance your résumé both on and off campus:
Browse CareerLink
Browse job postings at UFV's job portal CareerLink. Work part time while you study through UFV's work study opportunities.
Get involved in professional associations
Participate in the student newspaper
- The Cascade, UFV's autonomous student newspaper, posts opportunities, including employment
Finding employment
The Career Centre is available to all UFV students and alumni and provides free access to the following:
- Job search tools
- Résumé writing assistance
- Job postings
- Co-operative education
- Work study opportunities
- Career coaching appointments
- Career resources and events
Building on your degree
Studying languages prepares you for further study in fields such as:
- Linguistics
- Education
- Journalism
- Political science
- Translation
