The ability to speak a second language can give individuals an edge in the competitive jobs market, recruiters at the 2017 Careers UAE job fair say.

1. Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai
Dubai Phase 2, Healthcare City, Al Jaddaf 505002
04 375 0600
Experts Say Learning a
Second Language Can
Improve Career Prospects

2. The ability to speak a second language can give individuals an edge in the
competitive jobs market, recruiters at the 2017 Careers UAE job fair say.
Head of talent acquisition for the National Bank of Abu Dhabi Talal Abdulrahman
says individuals who speak English, Spanish, French or German have a distinct
advantage when seeking job opportunities. He shares NBAD’s human resources
reflect the UAE's diverse economic environment, and out of 7,600 employees, 33%
are Emirati with 80% are of various nationalities. These numbers communicate that
language skills are among their most vital recruitment criteria.
Company Assets
Multilingual team members help their respective companies expand both local and
global reach. For this reason, companies in the aviation and logistic industries also
seek multilingual candidates.
Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Mohammed A Ahli shares that they
particularly look for candidates who can communicate in a foreign language,
specifically English. He adds that Emirati youth have gained a reputation for their
exceptional bilingual skills, and he believes that this ability can empower them to
pursue opportunities in multinational entities, on a global scale.

3. A Diverse Workforce
Other global companies are also expressing a preference for bilingual candidates.
In the US, for instance, a survey revealed that businesses are looking to onboard a
diverse workforce with the intention of appealing to an assorted client base.
Broadening companies appear to take a special interest in candidates who speak
English and another language, and according to Salary.com, most of these bilingual
jobs offer bilingual pay differentials of up to 20% more per hour.
On top of learning a new language, Undergraduate Career Management and
Recruitment senior director at the Fisher College of Business Margie Bogenschutz
suggests acquiring knowledge and experiencing an immersion in another culture.
She says students who maximise international internships and study abroad
programs learn beyond basic communication -- they also become familiar with the
trends and tendencies of a foreign country.

4. References:
http://sisd.ae/our-school
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/language-skills-put-you-ahead-in-race-for-jobs-say-
uae-recruiters
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-26/classified/chi-bilingual-jobs-
20121126_1_foreign-language-foreign-language-fastest-growing-language
http://blogs.transparent.com/language-news/2014/10/27/6-ways-bilingualism-can-
further-your-career/
http://www.relocatemagazine.com/articles/bbis-learning-languages-improves-
childrens-career-prospects