Will Knowing Chinese Benefit Job Searching

by Simon Yu

August 6, 2021

Scabble blocks spelling out learn Chinese

It’s no secret that having a variety of skills will benefit you in the job seeking world. Skills such as problem-solving, leadership, and communication traits are all desired by many employers. But what about knowing another language?

 Does being able to fluently communicate in another language help candidates stand out and make them more attractive? To be more specific, will knowing the Chinese language benefit you in the job searching world?

To start, one of the clear benefits of understanding Chinese for your future career is the influx of additional opportunities it presents. One of the reasons why Chinese has become a popular language to learn over the recent years is due to many believing that it will expand their pool of employment. For instance, positions such as translators and research analysts are some roles that require a certain extent of Chinese knowledge. With China being so successful economically, many believe that learning the language will be beneficial. Excellent communication skills are sought after; being fluent in multiple languages is a skill many recruiters value.

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Aside from gaining opportunities,  possessing the ability to converse in Chinese will enable you to develop relationships with your potential coworkers who may also speak Chinese. It can also benefit you after landing the job, as fluency in Chinese can potentially allow you to collaborate with global partners in China. On top of that, if you’re somebody who's interested in the prospect of traveling, being fluent in Chinese can grant you the opportunity to work overseas.

With that being said, learning Chinese shouldn’t come to the expense of other skills. In other words, it should act as a supplement to the skills that you already have. By no means will it guarantee you a job. However, it may make you a more attractive candidate and help differentiate you from other applicants.

Attempting to learn Chinese may be intimidating to many, but there are a plethora of resources available to guide you along the way. While learning Chinese won’t automatically land you a job, there is no denying that it would improve your chances of obtaining one. Understanding the language widens an individual’s job pool significantly as it’s viewed as a valuable skill by various employers. Mastering the Chinese language can potentially open up a world of opportunities for many.