Guest Blog: 5 Industries Where the Chinese Language Will Get You Far
Language skills can carve a better career path for you. The ability to speak another language boosts your confidence, improves our employability and increases the chances of getting an excellent salary.
Right now, Chinese speakers are in demand. Your expertise in the language will pay off because you’ll stand out against competition, as Chinese speakers are less common.
When you’re deciding which language to learn, there is no wrong or right answer. What is more important is to learn a new language and study diligently. You’ll find that learning is easier if you choose a language that interests you, since you will remain engaged because you’re curious. Another factor to consider is the field you are interested in and the viability of your choice in the career you want to pursue.
Why Choose the Chinese Language
Keep in mind that China right now is one of the world’s largest economies, which clearly means there are plenty of businesses trading with China, ensuring that there are plenty of employment opportunities domestically and overseas. Chinese (Mandarin) is the most spoken language is the world and Chinese diasporas are spread worldwide. Therefore, speaking Chinese as a second language, combined with your chosen degree will accord you employment opportunities in various fields.
If you’re having a difficult time looking for the right job where your Chinese speaking skills could make you excel in the workplace, here are a few tips.
Top Job Opportunities for Chinese Speakers
We know that so many job opportunities are available for bilingual employees and those who can speak Chinese are one of the top priorities. One of the things you should ensure before you look for a job is to pass the Chinese Efficiency Exam or the HSK. It’s the sole standardized test that China approves to test the proficiency of Chinese speakers who do not speak the language natively. It was started by the Beijing Language and Culture University and it’s now held every year in China and several authorized test centers abroad. The test is in simplified Chinese and available in paper-based form or online. Test schedules are released by The Office of Chinese Language Council International or Hanban. Passing the test is one thing but to be fluent, you need to practice speaking Chinese as much as you can.
Make sure that you have the right requirements and Chinese language certifications so that you can focus on finding the right job.
Your Chinese language skills can give you the chance to travel overseas and earn as well. You can work in Singapore, Taiwan, Mainland China, and anywhere in the world where Chinese speakers are in demand. Working in a country where Chinese is the primary language will give you never-ending opportunities to practice, which will improve your skills quickly. Here are some options.
1. Education
If you are interested in teaching, this can be a very good opportunity for you to find a language teaching post domestically or overseas. You may want to get more experience teaching in your own country before venturing abroad when your proficiency in teaching and speaking the language has improved further.
Your college degree and level of proficiency will determine whether you are capable of teaching in high school, university or community college. You should have completed a teacher education program or a bachelor’s degree as well as certification to be a Chinese language teacher or acquire a certification waiver.
2. Media (transcribing or subtitling)
If you do not want to be tied down to a desk job but you have good Chinese speaking skills, you can look for freelance work. You can try working for a media company that accepts subtitling work for educational videos, TV shows and films. You can also work as a transcriber, a job that fits those who have excellent typing speed to listen and transcribe the dialogue into the target language. Given that English and Chinese language videos are used heavily by consumers from different countries, this job is a good option if you want to work freelance and earn money quickly.
3. Broadcasting and Media (news reporting)
If journalism is your vocation, being a Chinese news correspondent could be your ticket to a very exciting and rewarding career. Many broadcast companies are looking for qualified people to become their bilingual reporters for their various platforms. Of course you need experience in the field of reporting, good at translation skills and have cultural knowledge so you can fit the script according to the preferences of the target viewers. If you are good at research and analysis and have experience writing scripts and commentaries, you can work as a news analyst.
4. Finance
If you’re a graduate of business and finance and have gained enough experience in the field, you can try to find a job as a financial or research analyst. The work entails doing extensive research, investigating industry movements (primarily the competition) and creating reports for the company. Your Chinese speaking skills would be very handy when you’re working for a firm whose main competitors are Chinese corporations, since many of the information might not be written in English.
5. Language Services
Becoming an English-Chinese interpreter or translator is another option if your Chinese speaking fluency is close to native-level. It is a demanding but quite exciting job. It’s rewarding as well, knowing that you become instrumental in facilitating effective communication. You can be a specialist in different fields, such as medical, financial or legal. You can work for a Chinese translation services provider or work as a freelancer. You can even work in the government or join a private firm.
Several more job options are available where you can apply your Chinese speaking skills. You can join the travel and tourism industry or work in a hotel. You can find work at a travel agency specializing in group tours since Chinese people prefer to travel in groups. Being a professional tour guide offers you plenty of chances to practice your language skills as well as understand other cultures better.
Bernadine Racoma, content writer at Day Translations, Inc. is passionate about learning different cultures. Her passion leads to numerous overseas trips, making her more appreciative of cultural diversity. Her travel experiences add more dimension to her writing.
