Whatever language you choose to learn, it will make a difference in how you see the world and in how the world sees you. There is no correct or definite match between a language and a profession, but here are some things to consider:

More and more businesses work closely with companies in other countries.

No matter what career you choose, you’ll have a real advantage if you’ve learned a second language. A technician who knows German, the head of a company who knows Japanese or Spanish, or a salesperson who knows French or Chinese can work successfully with many more people and in many more places than someone who knows only one language.

Many Americans need to speak languages other than English.

Nurses, doctors, or police officers may need to speak more than one language to do their jobs well. Hotel managers or journalists who know English and Spanish may look much better at promotion time than people who know only English.

Professionals who know more than one language have more career opportunities.

A second (or third) language can give you an advantage in the fields of government, business, law, medicine and health care, teaching, technology, the military, communications, industry, social service, and marketing. An employer will see you as a bridge to new clients or customers if you know a second language.

Studying another language can improve your test scores.

Studying a second language can improve your skills and grades in math and English and can improve entrance exam scores (SATs, ACTs, GREs, MCATs, and LSATs). Research has shown that math and verbal SAT scores climb higher with each additional year of world language study. Studying a world language can improve your analytic and interpretive capacities. And three years of language study on your record will catch the eye of anyone reading your job or college application.

Explore Internships, Service Learning, and Career Resources

Internships and service-learning courses are a proven way of helping you in your job search once you graduate. Employers know that these experiences give students hands-on experience with workplace skills, challenges, and environments — experiences that make those students valuable employees. Internships give you the chance to try out a profession and collect references and professional contacts. You can also get course credit. Learn more about the official WLL internships and service-learning courses.

Another good resource for internship and job listings is UAB Career and Professional Development Services. They are a source for career advice and planning, along with information on job fairs, tools like resume builders, and many more resources for UAB students. We recommend that you take advantage of all that they have to offer.