“Life after graduation” are the three most chilling words a college student can hear. For many, the topic leaves us rattled to the core, shaken with the idea of preparing for meetings on a Tuesday night rather than indulging in a two-for-one drink deal at the infamous Kollege Klub.
We let our minds haze over the concept of a nine to five workday with the perception that we don’t have to grow up quite yet. However, on that dreaded day when we realize we can’t jump around on autumn Saturdays forever, we’re left with a few simple questions: what did I learn and how can I use it?
In an era notorious for a competitive job-hunting climate, the skills we learn in our years at the University of Wisconsin are vital in ensuring a successful career. So when scouring the course guide trying to make up your next semester schedule, a foreign language class can be one of the most helpful things to add to your calendar.
As cited by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, one of the top ten skills employers look for in a college graduate is the ability to understand the global context in which work is now performed. As the world becomes more interconnected and borders seem to melt away amidst advancing technology, employees with language skills become extremely important in supporting business endeavors both at home and abroad.
Learning a language also correlates with cultural awareness, a valuable skill in any diverse workplace environment. Additionally, research by the National Research Council found those who studied a foreign language better understood English grammar and had improved overall communication and problem solving skills. These are imperative in any career.
If you’re still not convinced, in a 2004 survey of hundreds of alumni, The American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona, most respondents reported their language study to be a critical factor in their own hiring decisions and a skill that greatly enhanced their career paths. While many choose to place value solely on experience and internships, a second language can be a deciding factor in many job markets.
Michael Kruse, the International Directions Advisor here on campus, recalls a student whose experience he feels exemplifies the importance of having foreign language skills. After graduating from UW, this student landed a job working in finance in Chicago without ever having earned an undergraduate degree in the field.
The reason? This young woman had strong language skills in Japanese. Despite only having limited experience in finance, her expertise in her language of study eventually steered her to the career she desired. Though her story may defy the norm when it comes to seeking out jobs in high demand, her experience captures the growing need for language skills in our diversifying nation.
However, if your plans don’t include being one of the 400 students, on average, who graduate from UW with an undergraduate degree in a foreign language, our campus abounds with different opportunities for acquiring language skills.
Kruse encourages everyone to get involved, whether it be through language conversation tables, residential programs for languages, study abroad or one of the dozens of cultural or language oriented student organizations.
Students who study languages receive a comprehensive education complete with invaluable skills that transfer to all aspects of life. With lessons in art, history, literature and more, a language degree invokes a cultural awareness that is vital to maneuver through today’s job market. Many of us still choose to live under the impression that our days in Madison are endless. However, the unfortunate truth is that we before we know it, “life after graduation” will be more than just three words that leave us unnerved.
As thousands of questions swerve through our minds regarding our post-college years, I’ll end on just one. As a student at the university with the highest number of students earning foreign language degrees in the country, why not take advantage of all the opportunities our campus has to offer?
Dara Brody ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in Spanish.
