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Graduate job hunters advised that languages help employability

Published: Thursday, 25 February 2010   Category: Food and drink

Recent university leavers looking for graduate jobs in food and drink may be interested to learn that a poll has shown that understanding a modern language is second only to IT skills in terms of desirability on an applicant's CV.

In an article in Personnel Today it was reported that one-in-four (43 per cent) of recruiters say that speaking a language gives a candidate the "x factor" when looking for a job.

Dr Lid King, the government's national director for languages, told the website: "This research shows that UK employers are demanding candidates with languages and that having these skills can really give young people entering the jobs market the edge.

"Languages are vital for the success of the UK economy but for young people themselves they can also have tangible benefits, as just having a language on your CV could be they key to getting your foot in the door."

This news comes on the same day that some 300 firms including British Airways and Boots pledged their support to the Try Life In Another Language campaign, launched by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the National Centre for Languages.

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